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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015

The President has been clear that our trade agreements must allow our workers and businesses to compete fairly with the rest of the world, and where that is not happening, we have and will continue to take action.  We are pleased the Senate passed the bipartisan Customs conference report because it will provide additional tools to help crack down on unfair competition by trading partners and foreign companies that put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage.  As with any bipartisan compromise legislation, there are provisions in this bill that we do not support, including a provision that contravenes longstanding U.S. policy towards Israel and the occupied territories, including with regard to Israeli settlement activity.

However, the legislation would strengthen trade enforcement at our ports and borders and improve our ability to stop evasion of our trade laws; improve transparency, accountability, and coordination in enforcement efforts; and give us unprecedented new tools to address unfair currency practices. Its passage is an important milestone in our overall trade agenda.  The President intends to sign H.R.644 into law to help strengthen enforcement of the rules and level the playing field for American workers and businesses.