US: Trade representative to speak to Senate and House comittees

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will be in the spotlight this week, testifying before the Senate Finance Committee June 21 and the House Ways and Means Committee June 22.

The new US trade representative will field questions on the administration’s revised and expanded trade agenda, which is expected to be released in advance of the hearings, as well as the USTR budget.

“I look forward to learning more about the administration’s plans for seamlessly modernizing and upgrading NAFTA, as well as opening up other markets through the negotiation of strong new agreements,” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said. “I also look forward to discussing how we can more effectively enforce our existing agreements, including [World Trade Organization] rules….”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), like Brady, spoke of the need for opening up new markets for US exports. He also homed in on a favorite trade topic during and after negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership: protecting intellectual property rights.

Lighthizer has only testified before Congress once since becoming USTR: before the House Agriculture Committee May 24. He must submit the US objectives for the NAFTA renegotiations to Congress 30 days prior to the talks start, which under trade promotion rules could be as soon as mid-August.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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