[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2134-E2135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MAINTAIN UNITED STATES TRADE [MUST] LAW RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 19, 1999

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have joined 200 of my colleagues as 
cosponsor of the Maintain United States Trade [MUST] Law Resolution. 
This bill is about more than steel. It is about the over 290 products 
from 59 different countries that are being dumped on open markets.
  All American products, such as steel, agricultural goods and 
manufacturing items are currently protected under the antidumping and 
countervailing duties laws. However, some countries would like to open 
debate on these laws. Opening these rules to renegotiation could only 
lead to weakening them, which would in turn lead to even greater abuse 
of the world's open markets, particularly that of the United States.

[[Page E2135]]

  When the World Trade Organization's Ministerial Conference meets 
Seattle on November 30 through December 3, a new round of trade 
negotiations will be held. The MUST resolution will request that the 
President and his trade representatives refrain from renegotiating 
international agreements governing antidumping and countervailing 
measures.
  The President must not participate in any international negotiation 
in which antidumping or antisubsidy rules are part of the negotiating 
agenda. He should also not submit for congressional approval agreements 
that require changes to the current antidumping and countervailing duty 
laws and enforcement policies of the United States. Above all, he must 
enforce antidumping and countervailing duty laws vigorously in all 
pending and future cases.
  The MUST resolution has wide bipartisan support from Members from 37 
States from every region of the country. Already, successful 
antidumping cases have been filed on behalf of producers of industrial 
goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, advanced technology products, 
agricultural goods, and the American steel industry.
  No longer can we stand idly by as more and more workers face 
unemployment lines and uncertain futures. Foreign governments are 
shielding their industries from the fallout of the Asian financial 
crisis--it is time we stood up for our own. We must fight for American 
jobs. I urge the House leadership to bring the Maintain United States 
Trade [MUST] Law Resolution to the floor as soon as possible.

                          ____________________