Smith Statement on Ways and Means Approval of AGOA, Haiti, and IP Protection Legislation

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade, released the following statement after the House Ways and Means Committee reported three pieces of trade legislation on a bipartisan basis.

"President Trump has rightly recognized the importance of trade as a tool for partnership, diplomacy, and economic development. Promoting stability through economic opportunity in Haiti and Sub-Saharan Africa provides opportunities for American consumers, creates new supply chains, and encourages those nations to look to the United States as a model for political and economic freedom, rather than to communist China. Likewise, empowering Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with additional tools to address counterfeit products and protect American intellectual property is vital to advancing legal trade, now and into the future.

"I appreciate the partnership of Chairman Jason Smith and bipartisan supporters across the committee in moving constructive trade legislation forward, and I look forward to continuing our work to see these bills through the legislative process."

BACKGROUND:

The Ways and Means Committee advanced three pieces of trade legislation in today's mark-up

• H.R. 6500, The AGOA Extension Act, introduced by full committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), would provide a clean three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Smith is an original cosponsor of H.R. 6500, which was approved by committee 37-3
• H.R. 6504, the Haiti Economic Lift Program, introduced by Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), would provide a clean three-year extension of the HOPE and HELP for Haiti programs. Smith is an original cosponsor of H.R. 6504, which was approved by the committee 41-0
• H.R. 4930, A bill to expand sharing of information with respect to suspected violations of intellectual property rights in trade, introduced by Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), would clarify existing law to ensure CBP can utilize packing materials and work with appropriate stakeholders to better counteract the attempted importation of goods violating U.S. copyright laws. Smith is a cosponsor of H.R. 4930, which was approved by the committee 40-0.