The Humane Society of the United States, and its global arm Humane Society International, applaud 15 U.S. Representatives, led by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., for issuing a letter to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk requesting that the United States continue to take a firm stand on environmental issues connected to the ongoing negotiations towards a Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
In line with President Obama’s objective of completing a 21st century trade agreement with strong environmental standards, the USTR’s proposals have included innovative provisions concerning the illegal wildlife trade and illegal logging, shark preservation, fisheries subsidies and marine conservation.
The letter to Ambassador Kirk praises the USTR’s efforts so far on conservation issues, and urges a continued high level of ambition going forward. The letter also requests USTR to ensure that key environmental provisions of the May 2007 Bipartisan Trade Deal pertaining to dispute settlement and effective enforcement of environmental laws and multilateral environmental agreements are reflected in the environment chapter of the trade agreement.
“We are pleased that key federal lawmakers are committed to including critical issues like illegal wildlife trade in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement,” said Marta Prado, HSI’s executive director for international trade and development. “We also applaud their strong leadership in working towards ensuring the provisions of the Bipartisan Trade Deal are incorporated in the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement.”
The HSUS and HSI express special thanks to the co-signers of the letter, which included, in addition to Rep. Blumenauer: House Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., Reps. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., Fortney Stark, D-Calif., Jim McDermott, D-Wash., John Lewis, D-Ga., Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Mike Thompson, D-Calif., John B. Larson, D-Conn., Ron Kind, D-Wisc., Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., Linda Sanchez, D-Calif, Allyson Schwartz, D-PA, and Mike Honda, D-CA.
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