[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H7887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CATERPILLAR'S BARRIERS TO TRADE
(Mr. CRANE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, the necessity of passing H.R. 3005, a bill to
renew trade promotion authority, is epitomized by the experience of
Caterpillar, headquartered in my home State of Illinois. Caterpillar's
motor graders made for export to Chile face nearly $15,000 in tariffs.
Caterpillar motor graders manufactured in Brazil for export to Chile
face a tariff of only $3,700. And when Caterpillar's competitors
produced the same product in Canada, it can be exported to Chile free
of tariffs because of the Canada-Chile free trade agreement.
Caterpillar employees in Illinois are forced to watch as workers in
other countries provide products to our neighbors.
Mr. Speaker, while other countries are making preferential trade
deals, we are sitting on the sidelines lacking the authority to
negotiate. Make no mistake, our foreign competitors have this
authority, and they use it to their advantage. Of the more than 130
free trade agreements in force today, the U.S. is party to only three.
Trade works for America. Let us pass H.R. 3005 and keep America's
economy growing.
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