IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 440 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the benefits of 

global trade improve the lives of Americans and American communities 

by fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2023 

Mr. ALLRED submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Ways and Means 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the benefits of global trade improve the lives of Americans and American communities by fostering a more 

inclusive, resilient, and prosperous economy. 

Whereas international trade provides numerous benefits to 

American businesses and people by helping to raise living 

standards and provide affordable goods and services, supporting good jobs, and fueling economic growth; 

Whereas, in 2022, the Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated exports and imports of goods and services combined were equivalent to 27 percent of gross domestic 

product; 

Whereas, in 2021, exports alone support 9,053,000 United 

States jobs; 


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•HRES 440 IH 

Whereas small- and medium-sized businesses account for 

around 98 percent of United States exporting companies 

and account for nearly one third of all United States exports; 

Whereas the establishment of strong bilateral and plurilateral 

trade relations with other countries is of national interest; 

Whereas ‘‘friendshoring’’ can create more resilient supply 

chains by helping to ensure that trade flow to and from 

the United States are not disrupted significantly; 

Whereas free trade agreements (FTAs) reduce and remove 

barriers for American goods and services in countries 

that have FTAs with the United States; 

Whereas countries with FTAs with the United States represent 6 percent of the world’s population; 

Whereas the Constitution gives Congress the primary authority to regulate international trade; 

Whereas Congress along with the Departments of Commerce, 

Homeland Security, the Treasury, and State, along with 

the United States Agency for International Development, 

the International Trade Commission, and the Office of 

the United States Trade Representative have a role fostering the trade environment of the United States that 

works for American businesses and workers; 

Whereas the World Trade Organization provides the foundation for the global trade system based on creating and 

enforcing rules which reduce obstacles and help to ensure 

a level playing field; 

Whereas multilateral organizations, like the World Trade Organization, provide a forum for nations to resolve their 


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•HRES 440 IH 

trade disputes peacefully and in an internationally recognized fashion; 

Whereas the Department of Commerce and the Department 

of Homeland Security maintain and enforce our Nation’s 

trade remedy laws, ensuring that American businesses, 

workers, and manufacturers are not being undercut by 

unfair trade practices; 

Whereas the Secretaries of Commerce and the Treasury license and regulate the foreign-trade zones which provide 

special custom’s procedures for companies and supply 

chains, and keep jobs in the United States; 

Whereas the Department of Commerce also aims to promote 

United States exports, including by maintaining United 

States Export Assistance Centers around the country 

which assist small- and medium-sized businesses with the 

process of exporting, including understanding foreign 

markets, and locating foreign buyers; 

Whereas the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial 

Service works with both the government and the private 

sector to promote United States exports and protect 

United States commercial interests abroad; and 

Whereas the Export-Import Bank of the United States is 

backed by the full faith and credit of the United States 

Government and provides United States exporters needed 

loans to facilitate export activities, or by providing liquidity enabling United States business to accept new business, international sales, and compete in the international 

marketplace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 440 IH 

1 (1) supports international trade for its critical 

2 role in the health of the United States economy, 

3 which is of vital national interest; 

4 (2) continues to work with the appropriate 

5 trade agencies to ensure that American businesses, 

6 American workers, and American consumers benefit 

7 from rules-based trade; 

8 (3) continues to work, where appropriate, with 

9 the executive agencies to address unfair foreign 

10 trade practices; 

11 (4) continues to work with the appropriate 

12 agencies to shore up supply chains and move them 

13 into more reliable regions and nations; and 

14 (5) directs, where appropriate, the United 

15 States Trade Representative to negotiate trade 

16 agreements with allied nations that are beneficial to 

17 the United States. 

Æ 


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