WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee named U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Trade. "Our nation's trade policy needs to be shaped for the benefits of American workers as well as industry. I am excited for the opportunity to serve our Caucus and help lead the fight for American competitiveness in the global economy," said Rep. Pascrell.

"My hometown of Paterson was founded by Alexander Hamilton as our nation's first planned industrial city. I witnessed first-hand how flawed trade policies have created winners and losers and contributed to the loss of family-wage jobs. Strengthening our manufacturing sector, strong enforcement of our trade laws, and bringing jobs home to the United States will continue to be top priorities for me."

"During the campaign, the President-elect expressed a desire to 'negotiate fair trade deals that create American jobs, increase American wages, and reduce America's trade deficit.' Stopping the Congress from advancing the flawed TPP was an important start. I will work to hold the Administration accountable and ensure they fulfill promises on using trade to support domestic job creation and broad economic growth," said Rep. Pascrell.

BACKGROUND

The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Trade shall include bills and matters referred to the Committee on Ways and Means that relate to customs and customs administration including tariff and import fee structure, classification, valuation of and special rules applying to imports, and special tariff provisions and procedures which relate to customs operation affecting exports and imports; import trade matters, including import impact, industry relief from injurious imports, adjustment assistance and programs to encourage competitive responses to imports, unfair import practices including antidumping and countervailing duty provisions, and import policy which relates to dependence on foreign sources of supply; commodity agreements and reciprocal trade agreements involving multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and implementation of agreements involving tariff and non-tariff trade barriers to and distortions of international trade; international rules, organizations and institutional aspects of international trade agreements; budget authorizations for the customs revenue functions of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Trade Representative; and special trade-related problems involving market access, competitive conditions of specific industries, export policy and promotion, access to materials in short supply, bilateral trade relations including trade with developing countries, operations of multinational corporations, and trade with non-market economies.