VIDEO: Smith Supports Customs Bill to Boost U.S. Trade

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 644, the Conference Report to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, to modernize and streamline the U.S. customs system to improve exporting. The bill passed the House this afternoon with Smith’s support.



Remarks:

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

This legislation will update and streamline our country’s customs and border policies to facilitate trade and enhance U.S. competitiveness.

Included in the bill are a number of additional commonsense provisions.

For example, the bill fixes a technical error which inadvertently increased the tariff rates on outerwear.

Not only is this fix important to producers, retailers, and consumers, but it also brings the U.S. back into compliance with our commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

While I am disappointed we couldn’t find a path forward on the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill process, I am pleased the bill contains language in support of continued work on this issue.

The conference report also takes important steps to strengthen Trade Promotion Authority.

TPA is necessary to ensure the U.S. gets the best possible deal in trade negotiations as we move forward, and these agreements should leverage our country’s comparative advantages in all industries, including energy.

For this reason, I was happy to see the inclusion of language to prevent the administration from using trade agreements to negotiate costly greenhouse gas emission rules in the United States.

I want to make sure Nebraska producers can make the most of the opportunities provided by a level playing field to increase exports.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I yield back.

Smith is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy.