House Rejects WTO Withdrawal Despite Growing Unease

In another signal of congressional unease with U.S. trade policies and China's growing presence in the world trading system, more than 80 House members today voted in favor of a resolution calling for the United States to withdraw from the World Trade Organization. While the resolution from Reps. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, was soundly defeated 338-86, with one member voting present, support for the resolution was markedly stronger than in 2000. Back then, only 56 members voted in favor of withdrawal. Of the 86 lawmakers who backed the non-binding resolution, 39 were Republicans and 46 were Democrats. 'It's a way to signal frustration with China's willingness or ability to come in compliance with the rules and frustration with our government's inability to make them,' said Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn.

But Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, said the concerns run deeper than China trade alone. 'It's the $600 billion trade deficit and the fact that these trade agreements are hollowing out our country,' she said. House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee ranking member Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., said he believed many who voted in favor of the resolution did so to lodge a protest against what they view as lackluster enforcement of trade rules by the Bush administration, and would not have voted for the resolution if it had a chance of passing. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, also cautioned that not too much significance should be given to the uptick in members calling for U.S. withdrawal from the WTO. 'This is the throwaway vote that appeals to the extremes in both parties. It doesn't mean a thing,' said Brady.