[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 76--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
 UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA SHOULD WORK TOGETHER 
TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE TARIFF AND NONTARIFF BARRIERS TO TRADE IN CLEAN 
              ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES

  Ms. CANTWELL submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Finance:

                               S. Res. 76

       Whereas the United States and the People's Republic of 
     China are among the world's largest economies, are the 
     world's largest producers, consumers, and importers of 
     energy, and are the world's largest sources of energy-related 
     greenhouse gas emissions;
       Whereas future growth in the United States, China, and 
     other countries should follow a model for energy use that 
     does not further jeopardize the planet's climate and that 
     presents numerous opportunities for significant economic 
     growth;
       Whereas a global transformation to the use of clean energy 
     will require the adoption of renewable energy technologies to 
     reduce carbon emissions and to build energy-efficient 
     infrastructures;
       Whereas that global transformation will also require 
     substantial amounts of clean energy and environmental goods 
     and services to be traded among the United States, China, and 
     other countries;
       Whereas tariffs imposed by foreign countries on renewable 
     energy goods such as solar water heaters can be as high as 35 
     percent, tariffs on solar cells can be as high as 23 percent, 
     and tariffs on wind power generating sets and hydraulic 
     turbines can be as high as 25 percent; and
       Whereas it is in the best interests of all countries to 
     reduce or eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to trade in 
     clean energy and environmental goods and services: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States and the People's Republic of China 
     should--
       (A) work together to reduce or eliminate tariff and 
     nontariff barriers to trade in clean energy and environmental 
     goods and services; and
       (B) work through the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and 
     the World Trade Organization to reach a multilateral 
     agreement to reduce or eliminate such barriers; and
       (2) reducing or eliminating tariff and nontariff barriers 
     to trade in clean energy and environmental goods and services 
     will allow the United States, China, and other countries to 
     develop, promote, and deploy clean energy technologies to 
     meet global environmental challenges.

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