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; 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 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 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 That the House of Representatives— (1) supports international trade for its critical role in the health of the United States economy, which is of vital national interest; (2) continues to work with the appropriate trade agencies to ensure that American businesses, American workers, and American consumers benefit from rules-based trade; (3) continues to work, where appropriate, with the executive agencies to address unfair foreign trade practices; (4) continues to work with the appropriate agencies to shore up supply chains and move them into more reliable regions and nations; and (5) directs, where appropriate, the United States Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements with allied nations that are beneficial to the United States.

Summary: This resolution supports international trade for its critical role in the health of the U.S. economy. It also directs, where appropriate, the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate trade agreements with allied nations that are beneficial to the United States.