House passes Customs Bill: climate change deniers embarrass U.S. delegation in Paris
WASHINGTON, D.C – As world leaders seek to negotiate a global agreement on climate change in Paris, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a Customs Bill that undermines effective U.S. action in response to global warming. The Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act of 2015 (H.R. 644) would explicitly prevent the United States Trade Representative from seeking to address climate change in trade agreements. Earlier this year environmental organizations sent up a letter opposing the provisions.
Bill Waren, senior trade analyst at Friends of the Earth – U.S., issued the following statement:
The Republican leaders of the U.S. Congress, with the help of President Obama, are expediting passage of a Customs Bill that explicitly excludes consideration of climate change when the United States negotiates international trade agreements. Contrary to his stated goals for the Paris climate agreement, President Obama’s push for trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership would encourage more fossil fuel extraction. President Obama must stop allowing trade to trump effective action on climate change. He should reverse course and veto the climate-denying Customs Bill when it comes to his desk.
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Expert contact: Bill Waren, (202) 222-0746, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (011) 33 6 18 72 99 13, [email protected]