Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the benefits of global trade improve the lives of Americans and American communities by fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 440 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the benefits of global trade improve the lives of Americans and American communities by fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 24, 2023 Mr. ALLRED submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the benefits of global trade improve the lives of Ameri- cans and American communities by fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy. Whereas international trade provides numerous benefits to American businesses and people by helping to raise living standards and provide affordable goods and services, sup- porting good jobs, and fueling economic growth; Whereas, in 2022, the Bureau of Economic Analysis cal- culated exports and imports of goods and services com- bined were equivalent to 27 percent of gross domestic product; Whereas, in 2021, exports alone support 9,053,000 United States jobs; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 May 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR440.IH HR440 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 440 IH Whereas small- and medium-sized businesses account for around 98 percent of United States exporting companies and account for nearly one third of all United States ex- ports; Whereas the establishment of strong bilateral and plurilateral trade relations with other countries is of national inter- est; Whereas ‘‘friendshoring’’ can create more resilient supply chains by helping to ensure that trade flow to and from the United States are not disrupted significantly; Whereas free trade agreements (FTAs) reduce and remove barriers for American goods and services in countries that have FTAs with the United States; Whereas countries with FTAs with the United States rep- resent 6 percent of the world’s population; Whereas the Constitution gives Congress the primary author- ity to regulate international trade; Whereas Congress along with the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, the Treasury, and State, along with the United States Agency for International Development, the International Trade Commission, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative have a role fos- tering the trade environment of the United States that works for American businesses and workers; Whereas the World Trade Organization provides the founda- tion for the global trade system based on creating and enforcing rules which reduce obstacles and help to ensure a level playing field; Whereas multilateral organizations, like the World Trade Or- ganization, provide a forum for nations to resolve their VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 May 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR440.IH HR440 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 440 IH trade disputes peacefully and in an internationally recog- nized fashion; Whereas the Department of Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security maintain and enforce our Nation’s trade remedy laws, ensuring that American businesses, workers, and manufacturers are not being undercut by unfair trade practices; Whereas the Secretaries of Commerce and the Treasury li- cense and regulate the foreign-trade zones which provide special custom’s procedures for companies and supply chains, and keep jobs in the United States; Whereas the Department of Commerce also aims to promote United States exports, including by maintaining United States Export Assistance Centers around the country which assist small- and medium-sized businesses with the process of exporting, including understanding foreign markets, and locating foreign buyers; Whereas the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service works with both the government and the private sector to promote United States exports and protect United States commercial interests abroad; and Whereas the Export-Import Bank of the United States is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government and provides United States exporters needed loans to facilitate export activities, or by providing liquid- ity enabling United States business to accept new busi- ness, international sales, and compete in the international marketplace: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 May 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR440.IH HR440 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HRES 440 IH (1) supports international trade for its critical 1 role in the health of the United States economy, 2 which is of vital national interest; 3 (2) continues to work with the appropriate 4 trade agencies to ensure that American businesses, 5 American workers, and American consumers benefit 6 from rules-based trade; 7 (3) continues to work, where appropriate, with 8 the executive agencies to address unfair foreign 9 trade practices; 10 (4) continues to work with the appropriate 11 agencies to shore up supply chains and move them 12 into more reliable regions and nations; and 13 (5) directs, where appropriate, the United 14 States Trade Representative to negotiate trade 15 agreements with allied nations that are beneficial to 16 the United States. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:45 May 24, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR440.IH HR440 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB