The Jobs & Trade Competitiveness Act of

2017
The United States needs a reformed trade agenda that reflects Americans values and ensures that
U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses are getting a fair shake in the global marketplace. Too
often in the past, U.S. trade officials have been more focused on negotiating new agreements
than on making sure our trade partners deliver on the promises made in existing agreements.
Presidents of both parties have failed to deliver on their enforcement promises, undermining the
confidence of the Congress. We cannot simply hope that this time will be different. Congress
needs to retake the reins.

The Jobs & Trade Competitiveness Act of 2017 includes a broad range of common sense policies
that would immediately enhance American workers, farmers, and firms ability to succeed in the
global economy. This bill amps up U.S. trade enforcement by providing new tools to support
U.S. workers and businesses and ensuring that a priority of this Administration is to ensure that
trade is fair across the world. The bill also includes provisions that would encourage domestic
insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing. Specifically, the Jobs & Trade Competitiveness
Act of 2017 would:

Reward Jobs Created Through Insourcing. The Bring Jobs Home Act (H.R. 2963)
would provide a 20 percent tax credit that U.S. businesses can use against their overall
tax liability for costs associated with moving a production line, trade, or business located
outside the country, back to the United States. The legislation also closes loopholes that
reward shipping jobs overseas by disallowing the tax deduction companies can currently
take for the costs associated with outsourcing.

Crack Down on Currency Manipulation by Our Trading Partners. This WTO-

consistent provision would enable the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose
countervailing duties to offset the impact of currency manipulation on a U.S. industry.
This same bill passed the House of Representatives in 2010 by a vote of 348-79, with a
majority of both Republicans and Democrats.

Create Office of Congressional Trade Enforcer. USTR has too often lacked the
political will to take action against countries that do not play by the rules. This provision
would establish a non-partisan Congressional office to investigate barriers to U.S.
exports, develop complaints against foreign countries, and press the executive branch to
take action.

Require More Funding for Trade Enforcement. Congress established the Trade
Enforcement Trust Fund in January 2016 but its funding is discretionary and subject to
appropriations bills each year. This bill would ensure that the Trade Enforcement Trust
Fund is provided with mandatory funding to be used to crack down on unfair trade,
including violations of environmental and labor provisions in trade agreements.

Establish an Independent Commission to Review WTO Decisions. The independent

commission would be comprised of a permanent panel of U.S. legal experts to advise
The Jobs & Trade Competitiveness Act of
2017
Congress on whether the WTO Appellate Body and other dispute settlement panels have
manifestly expanded or diminished the rights and obligations of the United States under
an international trade agreement.

Create a Chief Manufacturing Negotiator. This negotiator will ensure that U.S. trade
policy promotes manufacturing in the United States by determining U.S. negotiating
positions and enforcement strategy.

Create a Chief Trade Prosecutor. The prosecutor will be the new leader within the
Executive Branch for ensuring that our trading partners are living up to their obligations.

Review the Effectiveness of Enforcement in International Fora. Previous

Administrations have touted commitments that countries have made at G-7, G-20, and
other international fora, but it is entirely unclear whether the countries actually followed
through on those commitments. This bill would require the Government Accountability
Office to systematically and regularly review U.S. enforcement efforts in international
fora, such as the G-20, the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, and OECD
Steel Committee.

Ensure that Customs Shares Information with U.S. Producers. This provision would
require Customs to facilitate the exchange of information among interested parties in
antidumping and countervailing duty evasion investigations.

Establish Congressional Advisory Groups on Enforcement. TPA established

Congressional advisory groups on negotiations, but neglected to do so for enforcement.
This provision would establish Congressional advisory groups on enforcement in both the
House and Senate, which would meet regularly.

Review Forced Labor Enforcement. In 2016, Congress closed a loophole that allowed
goods made using forced labor to enter the country, but enforcement of this provision has
lacking. This bill would require the Government Accountability Office to review the
Administrations efforts to enforce this provision.

Provide More Legal Support during WTO Disputes. The United States is the country
most-often sued at the WTO. In addition to its offensive cases, litigating these cases
strains the resources at USTR. This bill provides for domestic counsel to attend WTO
dispute proceedings, something that will be particularly in trade remedies disputes.

Green 301. This provision would require USTR to identify trade enforcement priorities
and enhance consultation with Congress on enforcement actions.