Hatch bill creates a trade-law enforcer

WASHINGTON — A new federal trade official would enforce existing trade laws and treaty obligations to help keep American businesses competitive and the markets moving, under a bill introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, on Thursday.

Hatch said the bill aims to show that Congress is "tired" of the lack of enforcement of trade violations and would give more accountability to the government for enforcing laws already on the books. The bill puts an additional $5 million toward enforcement.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., co-sponsored the bill.

The bill, called the Trade Competitiveness Act of 2006, would create a chief enforcement officer in the office of the U.S. trade representative. The officer would be confirmed by the Senate and would be responsible for investigating and prosecuting trade enforcement cases. If passed, the bill would create a Trade Enforcement Working Group, also to support the trade office's enforcement role.

The bill also includes a provision to "ensure consideration of federal and state sovereignty issues in trade policy." The bill would make sure state sovereignty is considered during the negotiations, implementation and enforcement of any trade agreements.

"We absolutely cannot give up the right to government within our own borders," Hatch said. "Our nation and states have laws for a reason, and they represent the ideals and values we hold dear in our society."

Mark Shurtleff, Utah's attorney general, and 27 other attorneys general sent a letter to Congress requesting better conversations between the U.S. trade representative and states on issues that affect states' rights.

Last year, the World Trade Organization ruled that the United States cannot block other countries from offering Internet gambling to U.S. citizens, even if they live in states where all forms of gambling are prohibited, such as Utah.

"My constituents contact me on a constant basis to underscore their frustration with the gradual loss of U.S. sovereignty we are experiencing in international arenas," Hatch said.

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