Another concern of both our farmers and factory workers, and many Members of this Committee, is the enforcement of American trade laws and remedies. You have asked me to comment on this subject as it relates to upcoming trade discussions. A number of countries are suggesting that the antidumping agreement should be reopened, including in particular a country with a huge and continuing global trade surplus that has ranked among the major dumping countries of the world. Over the years, our administration of the unfair trade laws has proven to be effective in addressing unfair trade practices against a wide array of goods. We have worked hard to ensure that American workers and producers have strong remedies available to combat unfair foreign competition.
Agriculture is the second largest user of antidumping and countervailing duty remedies.
In recent years we have had more than 30 antidumping or countervailing duty orders or suspension agreements in place on a wide variety of agricultural products. I should note in particular that we have devoted considerable resources to monitoring and enforcing the suspension agreement on tomatoes from Mexico to ensure that U.S. tomato growers will not have to face unfair import competition. As we explain to our trading partners why antidumping must remain off of the table during the negotiations in the New Round, we are focusing on the fact that it is too early to negotiate new provisions because WTO Members have not yet had much experience with the Antidumping and Subsidies Agreements, particularly in the areas where the Uruguay Round negotiations made significant changes. Even in the United States, while we are conducting our sunset reviews in a fully WTO-consistent fashion, we are still in the early stages of completing such reviews, which are required to be conducted every five years to determine whether antidumping or countervailing duty orders should remain in force and are a major new feature of the Antidumping and Subsidies Agreements. In light of the WTO's limited resources and already full agenda, the WTO should place its attention on improving and facilitating the implementation of existing antidumping and subsidies rules, rather than renegotiating or reopening the Uruguay Round agreements.