Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act

Mr. Speaker, despite my reservations regarding the lack of deliberation and transparency in how this bill has come to the floor, I nevertheless rise in support of H.R. 6406, however, I believe there are serious concerns regarding the process and the fairness of this administration trade bill.

This bill includes several important provisions which promote the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy, ensure greater economic opportunities for the United States, and to foster broader U.S. national interests, especially in helping the people of Haiti overcome the poverty with which many of them are afflicted. Indeed, the inclusion of the provisions relating to Haiti is the main reason I support this bill.

This legislation includes several key trade measures, such as crucial provisions to expand trade with Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Without the increased economic engagement with Haiti that this legislation provides, Haiti's situation will undoubtedly worsen, undermining broader U.S. goals for the region.

This legislation also renews several expiring longstanding U.S. trade programs that are important for promoting economic opportunities in the United States, as well as in developing countries in Africa and elsewhere. The programs include the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), and provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This legislation would also authorize Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Vietnam, which is critical to ensure that U.S. companies, farmers and workers will be able to benefit fully from the market-opening commitments that U.S. negotiators secured from Vietnam. It will also ensure that the U.S. Government has the ability to enforce Vietnam's WTO commitments. Without this legislation, the United States would be put at a severe competitive disadvantage and would be denied rights to enforce Vietnam's WTO commitments when it joins the WTO in early January 2007.

The Haitian HOPE Act encourages hemispheric integration and promotes the use of U.S. and other trade bill inputs in apparel assembled in Haiti. The Haitian HOPE Act will help Haiti while expanding opportunities for U.S. textile interests. Just over two-thirds of Haitian apparel exports to the United States are assembled from U.S. and CBI fabric, made from U.S. yarn. The Haitian HOPE Act encourages this partnership to continue to thrive, rather than to switch to China. President Preval needs our help and this bill can do a lot for the struggling people of Haiti.

Put simply, H.R. 6406 would provide new economic opportunities for the world's poorest people. H.R. 6406 is one of the most important humanitarian steps that Congress can take for some of the poorest countries in the world, including some of the nations of sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, and the Andean countries. One of the best ways to lift people out of poverty is to promote economic activity through increased trade and investment.

There are 314 million sub-Saharan Africans living in poverty, which is nearly half the African population. Likewise, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with over 80 percent of its population living in abject poverty.

The textile provisions for sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti will bring economic opportunities to these least developed countries and, in the case of Haiti, also expand opportunities for U.S. textile and apparel interests.

The Haiti/AGOA provisions will greatly benefit those countries while having a minimal impact on overall U.S. imports of apparel and

U.S. domestic markets. Apparel imports from Africa and Haiti barely register in U.S markets while millions of workers in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador owe their livelihoods to the Andean trade preferences.

In addition to Haiti, other nations in Latin America will also benefit from this bill. Peru and Colombia have extended their hands in economic cooperation by negotiating comprehensive, commercially meaningful trade promotion agreements. However, the Administration did not submit for Congressional consideration these two agreements with democratically elected governments before the expiration of preferences. It would add insult to injury if Congress does not provide a short-term extension of preferences until the agreements can be considered early next year.

Similarly, extending trade preferences to Ecuador and Bolivia will encourage those countries to follow the lead of Peru and Colombia and act quickly to conclude trade promotion agreements with the United States.

Furthermore, granting PNTR to Vietnam furthers bilateral relations, fosters economic growth, and will serve as a catalyst for much needed political reforms in Vietnam. Granting permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to Vietnam represents a significant milestone in our efforts to mend the wounds of one of the most divisive conflicts in our nation's history .

Vietnam's membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will serve as a catalyst for continued economic and political reform in Vietnam. The State Department's 2005 Human Rights report notes that economic developments in Vietnam are a ``major influence on the human rights situation, and economic reforms and the rising standard of living continue to reduce ``government control over, and intrusion into, daily life'' in that country. However, I do continue to express grave concern about Vietnam's continuing Human Rights Violations.

Vietnam will officially join the WTO later this month, and its membership will bring substantial economic benefits to American businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers. However, if PNTR is not granted before Vietnam joins the WTO, the United States would not be able to take full advantage of many of Vietnam's WTO commitments until PNTR is approved.

For all of these reasons, and especially for the benefit of the people of Haiti, I rise in support of H.R. 6406.

Mr. Speaker, I reluctantly rise in opposition to this omnibus trade bill, which includes a provision to grant permanent normal trade relations for the government of Vietnam.

While I support this trade bill's important benefits to the people of developing countries such as Haiti and those affected by the African Growth Opportunity Program, I deeply regret the decision to extend permanent normalization of trade relations to Vietnam, a country which continues to violate the human rights of its own citizens.

I believe it is a grave error to include this PNTR provision within the trade bill. The Vietnam government has failed to prove to the world that it values democracy and the freedom of its own citizens.

The government of Vietnam is one of the most egregious human rights abusers in the world. According to the 2005 State Department human rights report, here are just some of the human rights problems reported at the hands of the Vietnamese government:

Police abuse of suspects during arrest, detention, and interrogation; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary detention or restriction of the movement of persons for peaceful expression of political and religious views; denial of the right to fair and expeditious trials; imprisonment of persons for political and religious activities; restrictions on freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association; restrictions on religious freedom; restrictions on freedom of movement; prohibition of the establishment and operation of human rights organizations; violence and discrimination against women; trafficking in women and children; and child labor abuse.

The State Department's report says that Vietnam's ``human rights record remained unsatisfactory.''

I receive reports almost daily confirming that these human rights abuses are continuing to occur. I am contacted every week by Vietnamese-Americans in my congressional district who are concerned for their families and friends in Vietnam who face repression and torture as they stand up for democracy and freedom.

The government of Vietnam also continues its harassment of people of faith.

For Catholics, Vietnam retains the ability to choose all bishops and screen all seminarians. Charitable and educational activities are severely restricted.

For Protestants, individual churches affiliated with Mennonite, Baptist, and 7th Day Adventist denominations have been allowed to register. However, churches with dissident pastors are not allowed to register nor are churches outside Ho Chi Minh City.

In the Central Highlands in 2001, authorities closed 1,250 religious sites in this region. As reported by Human Rights Watch, Protestants who refuse to affiliate with the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam and seek independent status are accused of ``sowing division.'' Individuals are harassed, literature confiscated, leaders are detained and interrogated and pressured to give up their faith tradition.

In the Northwest Provinces, forced renunciations of faith continued in the last year. Hmong Protestants in the Northwest Provinces have encountered the most problems in seeking legal recognition, as Vietnamese authorities have refused to acknowledge the legal existence of a reported 1,110 Protestant churches in the region. Approximately 200 Hmong churches have applied for registration under the new law, but they have encountered numerous obstacles, including some overt harassment.

For the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, UBCV leaders Thich Quang Do and Thich Huyen Quang are still restricted in their contacts and movement. At least 13 other senior UBCV monks remain under some form of administration probation or actual ``pagoda arrest.''

At the time that the report was printed, the State Department estimates that there were six religious prisoners and 15 other individuals being held in some form of administrative detention on account of their religious beliefs. According to experts this number is likely to be higher.

While pressure on the government of Vietnam has begun to move the government to change its abusive practices, life for the average person in Vietnam continues to be grim.

I am extremely disappointed to hear that the issues of human rights and international religious freedom were not a priority during the

President's trip to Vietnam in November despite ongoing and widespread human rights abuses.

The people of Vietnam deserve our support. It is a tragic error to reward the government of Vietnam with normal trade relations while the people of Vietnam continue to be exploited.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6406 and the various trade bills it includes. Unfortunately, I cannot be present to vote in favor of it because of a prior engagement in my district. However, this legislation is a good example of how honest trade can help American consumers, workers, and businesses and promote growth in poor countries at the same time.

Honest and fair trade will help the U.S. and other countries grow more prosperous and stable. Trade barriers, quotas, and restrictions hurt all but a select few by raising prices for consumers, limiting efficiency, and restricting the ability of developing countries to improve their economies. I am pleased that this legislation moves us toward more open markets in a number of significant areas.

Extending the Generalized System of Preferences, the Andean Trade Preference Act, and the AGOA third party fabric rule, as well as establishing trade preferences for Haiti, promotes jobs and growth in some of the world's poorest countries, part of a strategy to help move countries toward self-sufficiency and giving workers more options and bargaining power. At the same time, preferences support and preserve manufacturing jobs here in the United States as it makes many of their inputs cheaper. So too are consumer products from these countries less expensive, giving Americans more purchasing power. I recognize the concerns that many people have expressed over changes being made to these programs and I look forward to working with Chairman Rangel in the upcoming Congress to strengthen them to ensure that they are as effective and fair as possible

I spoke the first time we considered the Vietnam bill about the benefits of granting permanent normal trade relations to Vietnam. Vietnam has agreed to open their markets to U.S. manufactured goods, services, and agricultural commodities, including key Oregon products such as beef and pears, while imports from Vietnam are also important to supporting many jobs in Oregon at companies like Nike and Intel. Perhaps most importantly, this bill will contribute to reform in Vietnam and the process of U.S.-Vietnam normalization.

Finally, this legislation includes important tariff relief provisions for the bike industry, allowing the duty-free import of certain specialty bicycle parts not produced in the United States, and for my hometown of Portland, Oregon, facilitating the import of streetcars for our local public transit system, at a time when there's no domestic supplier, saving money for Portland taxpayers. I particularly appreciate the help of Jennifer McCadney of the Ways and Means staff for making the inclusion of these provisions possible.

For too many Americans, trade has been a source of insecurity and inequality, instead of growth. For too long, critical questions of how the United States engages in an increasingly global economy have been used as partisan and political wedges. We must develop an honest trade policy that can be broadly supported by Americans of all political stripes and that reflects the concerns that I hear from Oregonians. While this will be a long-term process, this legislation meets that basic test and moves us in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed to have to speak against this trade proposal today. I am from one of the most trade dependent states in the country and I have always supported the expansion of trade opportunities and fair trade agreements. I am well aware of how complex and interrelated the global economy is today and how important it is that we remain engaged with our trading partners to bring down trade barriers. I support Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Vietnam and many other provisions in this package.

However, I have a duty to speak out against this bill, because it proposes to continue unfair trade concessions to select Andean nations in exchange for absolutely nothing. I am speaking of the extension of the Andean Trade Preferences Act, which has been rolled into this package. ATPA is not a trade agreement--it is a one-sided proposition that writes off the interests of American farmers under the false premise that South American drug lords are going to give up lucrative cocaine production if they simply had the opportunity to export legitimate products duty free into the United States. It is fundamentally unfair for American farmers and has had dramatic repercussions in my district in Central Washington state.

One of the Peruvian products that have benefited most from the ATPA windfall is asparagus, which grows in the sandy coastal areas of Peru-- not the mountain highlands where coca is produced. Since the implementation of the Andean Trade Preferences Act in 1991, imports of fresh Peruvian asparagus have soared from 2,800 metric tons to well over 55,631 metric tons. Similarly, imports of frozen asparagus from Peru have increased more than twenty times. This flood of duty-free imports has been devastating for American asparagus growers in the major production areas of Washington, Michigan, and California. It has also decimated much of the domestic asparagus processing capacity. In fact, facing a flood of inexpensive Peruvian imports, many asparagus processors simply closed their U.S. operations and reopened down in Peru.

Perhaps if you are not from an asparagus production area in this country, you may think this trade-off is worth it if it results in less narcotics production. The unfortunate reality is that this policy has failed. According to the White House Office of National Drug Policy, coca cultivation in Peru has increased to 94,000 acres--the highest level in eight years. The International Trade Commission noted that any impact to narcotics trade from ATPA is ``small'' and ``indirect.'' Yet the impact to the American asparagus producer is the exact opposite. Nevertheless, here we are, asking American farmers to sacrifice their livelihoods for another six to twelve months under this bill to pursue a wholly unrelated anti-narcotics strategy.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that we are once again putting the interests of a handful of large industrial asparagus exporters in Peru ahead of our own fanners in Washington, Michigan, and California. It is an unfair policy that sends the wrong message at a time when we need to revive momentum for expanding global trade opportunities. I must therefore oppose this flawed legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as a combat Vietnam veteran, I have a strong personal understanding of why granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to Vietnam is so important for both our country and theirs. Reconciliation with our former adversary has been a long and on-going effort, and today we are taking a long step toward furthering that process.

This process began more than a decade ago when we lifted the trade embargo on Vietnam in recognition of the cooperation received from Vietnam in POW/MIA accounting. In May, the United States and Vietnam signed a bilateral WTO accession agreement, which was required as part of Vietnam's bid to join the WTO.

For the United States to participate in this trade agreement, Congress must pass legislation granting PNTR to Vietnam.

Mr. Speaker, it's important to understand that congressional approval of PNTR for Vietnam is a necessary step toward maintaining our competitive edge in the 21st century global economy.

By passing PNTR, farmers, ranchers, businesses, manufacturers and consumers will be able to take full advantage of Vietnam's rapidly expanding economy.

The facts speak for themselves: Vietnam has become our fastest growing export market in Asia. In just the last five years, trade between the U.S. and Vietnam has increased more than 400 percent, going from under $1 billion a year to $7.8 billion.

If we fail to pass PNTR, we are putting ourselves at a distinct disadvantage because we will be the only WTO member country that will not have access to Vietnam's booming economy.

Foreign competitors will get the benefit of lower trade barriers-- benefits we negotiated--as U.S. farmers, manufacturers and businesses watch from the sidelines.

Also, granting PNTR status to Vietnam advances our interests in areas other than trade.

PNTR will promote ongoing internal reforms within Vietnam. WTO membership will require Vietnam to adhere to WTO rules of law and provide greater transparency where trade matters are concerned. Vietnam's laws and regulations that affect foreign trade and investment will need to be published and made publicly available.

In addition, Vietnam has been cooperative with our efforts to achieve full accounting of U.S. soldiers missing in action.

Enactment of PNTR will further this good working relationship.

Mr. Speaker, today, we have an opportunity to expand our economy and improve American prosperity. We also have an opportunity to eliminate the remnants from a war that ended more than three decades ago.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6406.