Miller Joins Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Hearing on Advancing America's Interests at the WTO 13th Ministerial Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee for a hearing on Advancing America’s Interests at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 13th Ministerial Meeting. The WTO conference will be held in Abu Dhabi on February 26, where member economies will be able to participate in several active negotiations. 
 
During the hearing, Congresswoman Miller focused her questioning on the impact trade disputes could have on long term consumer prices and the lack of Intellectual Property protections for American entrepreneurs and small business owners under the Biden Administration.

Click HERE for video.
 

Congresswoman Miller on the importance of the Ministerial Conference for international trade relations:
 
Thank you all for being here today and sharing your expertise on this critical topic. This year, we have witnessed the consequences of disjunctive, contradictory international trade policies in the Middle East, the Red Sea, and [with] our adversaries who want to see the demise of the U.S. economy. This is why this Ministerial Conference is critical to coordinate with our allies and set ourselves and the world up for continued success. 
 
Congresswoman Miller questioned Kelly Ann Shaw, Partner for Hogan Lovells, on the impact trade disputes have on long term consumer prices:

“Ms. Shaw, you have worked extensively with the WTO as well as the USMCA’s (United States Mexico Canada Agreement) dispute resolution mechanisms. From your experience and knowledge regarding trade disputes, what impact do these disputes have on long term consumer prices, and what mechanisms should the World Trade Organization implement to ensure effective and timely resolutions?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
 
“Dispute settlement, whether it's at the World Trade Organization or under one of our FTAs, (Free Trade Agreement) like the USMCA agreement, is fundamentally our stick. It's the tool that we have to hold our trading partners accountable for the discriminatory practices that they may adopt that disadvantage U.S. workers, businesses, and farmers. Sometimes policies that are employed by certain nations result in increased consumer prices, and that's one of the reasons that we may bring a dispute at the WTO or under one of these other forum. But the flip side that I'll offer is fundamentally we're trying to enforce the rules. And the tool that we have to enforce the rules is tariffs. If we win a case of the WTO, or win a case under USMCA or any of our other FTAs, the reward that we get is the ability to impose retaliation until that country eventually complies. There are sometimes impacts on consumer prices because tariffs are the tool that we use for that purpose. But fundamentally in thinking about the effectiveness of dispute settlement, it should be: are we getting a result, are we putting pressure on the other party, and how quickly are we able to give relief to our producers. Those are the types of things that you think about in terms of bringing a dispute,” said Ms. Shaw.

Congresswoman Miller questioned Eddie J. Sullivan, co-founder and president of SAB Biotherapeutics, on the impact of expanding the TRIPs waivers to diagnostics and therapeutics with no certainty their Intellectual Property (IP) would be protected:

Can you explain how this action might impact the ability of U.S. based companies to invest in further development of lifesaving cures, without the certainty that your IP is protected? And how this action might impact the ability of U.S. based biopharmaceutical companies to collaborate with domestic and international partners in the development of life saving products and cures,” asked Congresswoman Miller.
 
“I think this is such a critical issue when it comes to how innovation is done and why the U.S. leads the world in innovation and in biotechnology and other industries. It's because we have always stood for strong intellectual property protections. I've often wondered, why is it that innovation is so powerful here in the U.S. and it is because we have always stood for strong intellectual property rights for people to be incentivized to own what they have invented. That also translates into being able to find funding associated with those and so, it is a delicate ecosystem that we have created in this country that has allowed us to be the world leader in innovation in these kinds of industries - in high tech industries and in biotechnology, in medicines and developing these things. We saw it displayed during COVID, where companies all over the U.S. stood up and said we want to help find solutions. It’s important to understand that this is what keeps us as the innovative leader of the world and we should not weaken that by agreeing to TRIPs waivers,” said Mr. Sullivan.

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