Sen. Wyden opens Senate Finance Committee hearing on five International Trade Commission nominees

Sen. Wyden, a senator from Oregon, opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing on nominations to the U.S. International Trade Commission, saying the panel will consider five nominees to fill seats on the commission and stressing the agency’s role in enforcing U.S. trade laws.

"The International Trade Commission plays a central role in enforcing the trade laws," Wyden said, adding that the commission's work helps Oregon farmers and small businesses. He cited onions and sugar beets as examples of agricultural products that need protection from dumped imports and said ITC enforcement is important for wood products and for preventing large foreign firms from undercutting U.S. solar manufacturers.

Wyden said much recent U.S. trade and tariff policy "has been going on outside of the Congress," and argued that Congress should play a larger role in setting trade and tariff policy. He called a fully staffed, bipartisan ITC "essential to the country's economy," noting the commission is currently "operating with half of its seats filled" and that the nominations before the committee would help restore its membership.

He said ITC reports and analyses help Congress craft fact-based laws and pointed to the commission’s investigative work and its role interpreting trade statutes. Wyden concluded his opening remarks by saying he looks forward to hearing from the nominees presented to the committee.