Lawmakers Call for US to Block Iran From Joining WTO
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert, R-Wash., and Reps. Peter Roskam, R-Ill.; Juan Vargas, D-Calif.; and Grace Meng, D-N.Y., in a letter urged U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to oppose Iran’s bid to join the World Trade…
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Organization (here). They said it would empower the country’s “tyrannical” regime, and hinder the U.S.’s ability to counter Iran’s terrorism support, human rights violations and ballistic missile program. “Following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the EU, the UK, and Switzerland have formally announced support for Iranian membership to the WTO; Oman, India, and other member nations have expressed a similar sentiment,” the lawmakers said. “The U.S. has historically pushed back against Iranian accession to this global body.” Iran’s accession to the WTO could constrain the U.S. from imposing economic sanctions, and the U.S. shouldn’t have to defend its Iran sanctions actions there, the lawmakers said. The letter requests information on current U.S. policy toward Iranian accession to the WTO, any associated activities the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative might be taking, Iran’s desired accession timeline and whether the U.S. intends to block Iranian accession.