Sen. Brown Statement On Obama’s Nomination For U.S. Trade Representative

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of Mike Froman:

“I look forward to meeting with U.S. Trade Representative nominee Mike Froman, and hearing his views on enforcing trade laws to ensure Ohio workers and businesses compete on a more level playing field, and how the Administration will work to narrow our goods trade deficit with China. With an ambitious trade agenda that offers opportunities to American workers and businesses, it's important to understand how nominee Froman will work with Congress and its often divergent views on trade policy.”

Brown is the author of the Currency Exchange and Oversight Reform Act, legislation that represents the biggest bipartisan jobs bill—at no cost to U.S. taxpayers—passed by the Senate in 2011. Brown plans on reintroducing the bill later this month. The legislation would allow the U.S. government to stand up for American jobs when China cheats by manipulating its currency to give its exports an unfair advantage.

Brown also has urged the Obama administration to put American businesses and workers first as it continues to negotiate terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Last month, Brown, U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), and U.S. Representative Sander Levin (MI-9), led a group of 49 of their colleagues in urging President Obama to prioritize American interests as negotiations continued with Japan on its potential entry to the TPP. Brown and his colleagues specifically cited Japan’s longstanding efforts to impose trade barriers and block U.S. exports as actions that have hurt the American economy, domestic job creation, and specifically its auto-industry.

The TPP is a proposed trade agreement that currently includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, and Mexico. Last month, Japan expressed its intent to join the TPP. Congress has the constitutional authority to set the terms of trade and commerce with foreign nations. The Administration is conducting the TPP talks using authority which officially lapsed in 2007, suggesting it will seek renewed Trade Promotion Authority, known as “Fast Track,” to conclude TPP negotiations, as well as other trade initiatives. 

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