The United States Needs a Reformed WTO Now
Letter to President Trump signed by 26 business and agriculture:
“We urge your administration to embrace the plan to renovate the WTO appeals process outlined below. The proposal seeks to reform the Appellate Body in a manner consistent with concerns raised by USTR. . . .
“USTR has resisted negotiating reforms to the WTO appeals process until other countries acknowledge that the Appellate Body has strayed beyond its mandate. The Walker Principles were developed with the purpose of restoring proper functioning to the Appellate Body. By adopting them along with the related enforcement measures and term limits for the secretariat, WTO members would be agreeing with the United States that the Appellate Body has overreached.”
“We urge your administration to strike while the iron is hot by stating prior to December 10 that the goal of the United States is not to kill the Appellate Body, but rather to reform it. The statement should clarify that adoption of the reform plan would end U.S. opposition to the appointment of new Appellate Body members.”
Signed December 6, 2019 by: Americans for Prosperity, American Craft Spirits Association, American Soybean Association, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Citizens Against Government Waste, Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Consumer Choice Center, The Fashion Accessories Shippers Association, The Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Trade Association, FreedomWorks, Gemini Shippers Association, Institute for Policy Innovation, International Dairy Foods Association, The LIBRE Initiative, National Corn Growers Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Retail Federation, National Taxpayers Union, North American Association of Food 2 Equipment Manufacturers, Retail Industry Leaders Association, R Street Institute, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, U.S. Grains Council https://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WTO-AB-coalition-letter-to-president2019-12-06.pdf
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Letter to President Donald J. Trump signed by 10 business and trade association groups:
“We strongly urge you to state publicly that the goal of the United States is not to kill the Appellate Body, but rather to reform it. We further urge you to develop a reform proposal as quickly as possible and present it to WTO members, while indicating that adoption of such measures would lead to restarting the Appellate Body appointment process. This approach would maximize leverage for reform. That leverage is likely to decrease significantly if the Appellate Body stops functioning; some countries already have agreed to use arbitration procedures in lieu of formal appeals. The Appellate Body will go dormant in December unless new members are approved promptly. By acting expeditiously, the United States could lead a process of constructive change. Doing so would help to strengthen worldwide business confidence. This would serve the best interests of the many American companies and workers that earn all or part of their livelihoods from international trade.
Signed October 23, 2019 by: Americans for Prosperity, The LIBRE Initiative, American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC Action, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users, Competitive Enterprise Institute, National Taxpayers Union, Precision Metal forming Association, R Street Institute
