House Democrats Urge More Commerce Enforcement Action Against Russia
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (here), 31 House Democrats urged the Commerce Department to quickly intensify its trade enforcement focus regarding Russia. “While trade enforcement issues continue to be raised by this administration, to-date there has not…
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been sufficient attention to the U.S.-Russia bilateral trade relationship,” the lawmakers wrote. The letter cited Russian protectionist policies as contributing to an 85 percent decrease in U.S. agricultural exports to the country between 2012 and 2016, down from $1.6 billion in 2012. Russia also props up failing industries through “massive subsidies,” employing “state-driven import substitution tactics” and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to undercut U.S. exports, the lawmakers said. For instance, Russia recently blocked SOEs with 50 percent or more government ownership from buying U.S. automobiles, heavy machinery and metal products, they wrote. “We look forward to working with you to ensure that the U.S.-Russian bilateral trade relationship is fair, equitable and in the best interest of America’s workers,” the lawmakers said. “Russia’s predatory and protectionist trade practices must not go unchallenged.” Commerce didn’t comment.