Newhouse Statement in Support of Landmark U.S.-China Trade Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after President Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed Phase One of a landmark trade agreement between the United States and China:
"Today is a monumental day for the United States," said Rep. Newhouse. "For too long, China has taken advantage of the United States, but Phase One of a comprehensive trade deal with China solidifies that our country is willing to go above and beyond to support American industries, promote our high-quality products, and level the playing field. President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer, and their negotiation team have worked tirelessly to get us to this point, and I applaud their hard work on behalf of the American people. This agreement will have an extraordinary impact on Central Washington's farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers who are ready and willing to increase production and sales to our largest international trading partner. I look forward to continued negotiations of Phase Two of the agreement as we continue to promote smart, fair, and beneficial trade policies with China and other countries around the world."
Click here to read the Phase One trade agreement.
The Phase One agreement with China includes a number of wins for Washington's 4th Congressional District. Highlights are listed below:
China will purchase and import an average of at least $40 billion of U.S. food, agricultural, and seafood products annually for a total of at least $80 billion over the next two years.
China has agreed to finalize phytosanitary protocols on the following agricultural U.S. products: Apples, cherries, hops, blueberries, potatoes, barley, alfalfa hay, cut flowers, onions, apricots, grapes, and timothy hay
China is committing that over the next two years it will import no less than $200 billion of U.S. goods and services on top of the amounts that it imported in 2017 in four broad categories:
China's imports of U.S. manufactured goods, such as industrial machinery, electrical equipment, pharmaceutical products, aircraft, vehicles, optical and medical instruments, iron and steel, solar-grade polysilicon, hardwood lumber, and chemical products, among other goods, will total at least $120.0 billion in 2020 and at least $131.9 billion in 2021.
China's imports of energy products from the United States, such as liquefied natural gas, crude oil, and metallurgical coal, will total at least $30.1 billion in 2020 and at least $45.5 billion in 2021.
China's imports of U.S. services, such as financial services, insurance services, cloud services, and travel services, will total at least $99.9 billion in 2020 and at least $112.2 billion in 2021.
The Intellectual Property chapter addresses numerous longstanding concerns in the areas of trade secrets, patents and pharmaceutical-related intellectual property, geographical indications, trademarks, and enforcement against pirated and counterfeit goods. The United States and China have agreed to address additional IP issues, including with respect to data protection for pharmaceuticals, unauthorized camcording of motion pictures, and copyright protection for sporting event broadcasts, in future negotiations.
Background:
Rep. Dan Newhouse has been actively advocating for Central Washington as trade negotiations have been ongoing.
On September 24, 2015, Rep. Newhouse led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman requesting that he raise the issue of China's important ban on GMO alfalfa with Chinese trade authorities in order to help protect the hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of U.S. jobs provided by national alfalfa production.
On October 28, 2015, Rep. Newhouse and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led a letter to Ambassador Cui Tiankai of China urging a prompt, mutually-agreeable settlement of the trade dispute to restore meaningful market access for U.S. polysilicon manufacturers exporting their products to Chinese customers.
On October 28, 2016, Rep. Newhouse led a letter to President Obama urging the administration to maintain agricultural biotechnology as a top priority as the U.S. Trade Representative engaged with China in a series of trade meetings.
On June 11, 2018, Rep. Newhouse joined a bipartisan group of Members of Congress from Washington State in sending a letter urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to address retaliation by our trading partners in response to the Administration's placement of tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum.
On March 14, 2019, Rep. Newhouse joined Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer calling on him to defend the U.S. polysilicon manufacturing industry from Chinese tariffs to save hundreds of high-paying Washington jobs.
On June 3, 2019, the House of Representatives passed a provision pushed by Rep. Newhouse and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to increase access to aid for cherry growers hurt by the unjustified retaliatory tariffs by China. The measure passed 354-58.