U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Calls For 'Relentless Drive'

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The president of the United States Chamber of Commerce today called for "a relentless drive" to open foreign markets for U.S. products and services, before a full Senate Finance Committee hearing on trade.

Thomas J. Donohue told senators, "The question being asked in this hearing today is, where should the United States go on trade policy after the Seattle Ministerial?

"Our answer is simple: The focus for the U.S. after Seattle should be exactly where it was before Seattle – a relentless drive to open markets and opportunities all around the world for American farmers, companies and workers."

Donohue also called for quick passage of legislation giving China permanent Normal Trading Relations.

"Passing PNTR ought to be job one for this Congress," Donohue stated. "Let me be clear. This vote is not about stopping China from getting into the World Trade Organization. This vote is about whether we take advantage of an unparalleled opportunity for our companies and our workers. Or, we sit on the sidelines and watch numerous foreign competitors eat our lunch."

Expanding trade raises living standards in developing nations, Donohue pointed out. This leads to cleaner environments, better working conditions and more open societies. "It's time to build bridges not walls between nations," he said.

In addition to convincing other countries to lower their barriers to our goods and services, Donohue said, "We must dismantle the barriers that the American government has constructed against our own industries – namely, unilateral sanctions."

America currently imposes unilateral sanctions on 74 countries across the world, covering 70 percent of the world's population, Donohue noted. America has imposed these self-defeating sanctions more than 120 times in the last 80 years, with more than half in just the last six years.

"Unilateral sanctions don't work. Using trade as a weapon will not only reduce our influence but actually hurt the working people, farmers and businesses of our own country," Donohue concluded.

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