[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT ENFORCEMENT ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced the Trade and 
Environment Enforcement Act, also known as the Green 301 Act. Green 301 
expands the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 to 
encompass environmental effects. It provides tools to help prevent 
practices by other countries that cause negative environmental impacts 
to human, animal, or plant life or health, or to prevent the 
conservation of exhaustible natural resources domestically or 
internationally.
  The United States has helped to create the largest trade network the 
world has ever seen. As we leverage our commercial influence in the 
global economy, we can also ensure the countries we are doing business 
with are adhering to basic environmental standards.
  Green 301 would allow the U.S. government to impose penalties, 
including the increase of tariffs, on countries that: fail to 
effectively enforce the environmental laws of a foreign country; waived 
or otherwise derogated from the environmental laws of a foreign country 
or weakened the protections afforded by such laws; fail to provide for 
judicial or administrative proceedings giving access to remedies for 
violations of the environmental laws of a foreign country; fail to 
provide appropriate and effective sanctions or remedies for violations 
of the environmental laws of a foreign country; or fail to effectively 
enforce environmental commitments in agreements to which a foreign 
country and the United States are a Party.
  The promise of an open, mutually beneficial trade relationship with 
the U.S. is both a carrot and a stick. Green 301 lets our trade 
partners know that, not only does the United States expect our partners 
to adhere to environmental agreements, but now there could be serious 
economic penalties for countries that don't hold up their end of the 
bargain.
  My support for international trade agreements has always been 
predicated on the notion that agreements establish a fair, rules-based 
trading regime. The economy of my state is heavily trade-dependent. 
Oregon's iconic brands would not exist without strong international 
trading relationships. Oregon's largest private employer, Intel, is a 
product of the international market for high-tech products.
  Oregon and other states are greatly disadvantaged when our trading 
partners derogate from their environmental laws, which provide them 
with an unfair advantage and undercuts U.S. companies, which operate 
under our own strong environmental protections. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to ensure that trade remains free and open, 
but, in incorporating environmental and labor protections, also meets 
basic expectations of fairness.

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