Reps. Anderson, Whitmer, Williams, Minore, Byrum, Sheltrown, Smith, Hopgood, Bieda, Jamnick, Kolb, Gleason, Spade, Farrah, Sak, Dennis, Plakas, Murphy, Vagnozzi, Accavitti, Wojno, Brown, Adamini, Hood, Phillips, McConico, Gieleghem, Reeves, Cheeks, O'Neil, Stallworth, Waters, Condino, Clack, Zelenko, Rivet, Woodward, Gillard, Meisner, Tobocman, Hunter and Hardman offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 260.

            A resolution to memorialize the Office of the United States Trade Representative not to negotiate access to critical segments of the American automotive market on a piecemeal basis through a bilateral trade agreement with Thailand, but as part of comprehensive, multi-lateral negotiations with all major automobile-producing nations.

            Whereas, In February 2004, the United States and Thailand announced their intention to begin negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  Thailand is the United States’19^th largest trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding $21 billion last year.  Thailand is also the second-largest pickup truck manufacturer in the world, serving as the major hub of Asian pickup truck production, with nearly one million units per year; and

Whereas, The United States imposes a 25 percent tariff on imported pickup trucks from Thailand.  The elimination or reduction of the tariff would threaten thousands of Michigan manufacturing workers employed in the Big Three pickup truck assembly plants and smaller automotive parts manufacturing plants.  The elimination or reduction of the tariff would also allow Japanese, South Korean, and Indian automobile manufacturers to use Thailand as a back door into the United States market, significantly eroding American leverage to negotiate reductions to tariff and non-tariff barriers in these countries that unfairly restrict access of United States exports; and

Whereas, Congress should enact the bipartisan Kildee-Quinn-Levin Resolution (House Concurrent Resolution No. 366) or the bipartisan Levin-Voinovich Resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 90).  These resolutions urge negotiators of a bilateral trade agreement with Thailand not to discuss tariff and non-tariff issues affecting access to the United States automobile market.  Instead, these matters should only be dealt with as part of comprehensive negotiations among all major automobile-producing nations.  Under the Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002, the Bush administration is required to consult with Congress 90 days before commencing formal negotiations.  FTA negotiations are expected to begin by June 2004 and conclude in 2005; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Office of the United States Trade Representative not to negotiate access to critical segments of the American automotive market on a piecemeal basis through a bilateral trade agreement with Thailand, but as part of  comprehensive, multi-lateral negotiations with all major automobile-producing nations; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.