Wyden Praises Effort to Boost Clean, Innovative American Exports

Finance Chairman Say Environmental Goods Agreement Key to Creating Jobs

WASHINGTON –Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., at an event today applauded the recently launched WTO Environmental Goods Agreement negotiations that would reduce tariffs on environmental goods. The event, organized by the Coalition for Green Trade, featured a host of American businesses whose products would benefit from the agreement.

“Supporting trade in environmental goods present a huge opportunity for American businesses and workers. Companies like Met One in Oregon are at the forefront of innovation, but if they are going to compete and win new opportunities overseas, they are going to need a level playing field,” Wyden said. “An ambitious environmental goods deal that brings down tariffs could make a real difference for American companies, American workers, and for the planet. I am pleased that the WTO is moving ahead on this initiative, and with hard work by Ambassador Froman and his team I hope we will see results soon.”

Other speakers at Wednesday’s event included Ambassador Michael Froman, United States Trade Representative; House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich.; Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.; Timothy J. Regan, senior vice president at Corning Inc.; and Joe McSwiney, president of Cascade Designs.

Forty-one economies are negotiating the Environmental Goods Agreement in Geneva to reduce tariffs on environmental goods, such as wind turbines, water treatment filters, and solar water heaters, which can run as high as 35% and which pose a significant barrier to trade for U.S. companies. Reducing tariffs on environmental goods can make them less expensive while helping U.S. exporters access foreign markets and supporting green jobs.

The Coalition for Green Trade is composed of a broad range of associations and companies doing business in the United States which seek to remove barriers to global trade in environmental technologies, including through the timely negotiation of an ambitious Environmental Goods Agreement.

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