During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, Rep. John Larson (D-MA) questioned US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you very much Mr. Chairman and Ambassador Greer. Welcome to the committee. Thank you for all your service.
00:11I just have a direct question because I'm a little puzzled.
00:16Being a great James Bond fan, I was kind of wondering what this whole deal is to Russia with love.
00:25And why, you know, as has been pointed out, that on April the 2nd, the President excluded Russia, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea from the new global tariff.
00:43The Treasury sector said Russia wasn't on the list because they already imposed sanctions to prevent most U.S.-Russia trade.
00:55Making higher tariffs unnecessary.
01:00The question is kind of twofold. Is that the case with Russia, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea?
01:07While trade in goods has decreased, trade with Russia is still significant. Last time I checked, it's like 3.5 billion.
01:19Well above the volumes of trade for many smaller countries that my colleagues have already been through that are impacted by this.
01:30So first, was this an oversight? Or is the President trying to reinvigorate trade with Russia?
01:40So there's no effort to reinvigorate trade with Russia. Congress did the right thing a couple of years ago and revoked permanent normal trade relations with Russia.
01:47So put it in the bad category. And so Belarus, Russia, North Korea, they already have their own high tariffs already in a category that Congress has established.
01:54So it doesn't matter. They're not part of this system.
01:56It does matter. They already have these high tariffs. They don't have permanent normal trade relations.
02:00We have normal trade relations with these others. And I think if there's trade with Russia—
02:04So why are the penalties that much more—why are the tariffs that much more higher on other country and allies than they are in Russia?
02:11Because we're already doing enough with Russia?
02:13No, it's because in the sanctions law, there's always an exclusion for agricultural products.
02:17And I think that's the only type of trade we really have with Russia.
02:20But all of those folks, they're sanctioned. They're subject to embargoes of one type or another.
02:23Congress revoked permanent normal trade relations. And that's certainly the right answer for those folks.
02:27We should not have normal trade relations with those countries.
02:30Well, let me ask you this then. Would you commit here that if we see trade increasing from last year that USTR will take action to increase tariffs on Russia?
02:42I'm happy to monitor that and advise the President accordingly. I agree with you.
02:45I'm sorry, what?
02:46I'm happy to monitor that and advise the President accordingly.
02:48What does that mean, you're going to monitor that?
02:50Well, you asked if we would see if those would change, if we would see if the trade level would change. I'm agreeing with you.
02:56I'm happy to see if the trade level with Russia changes.
02:58And if it does increase, you will add additional tariffs?
03:02Well, it's the President's choice, but I'll advise him and I'll say this is affecting the trade deficit.
03:07We should consider this for sure.
03:08And so does that mean you would advise him to raise the tariffs with Russia?
03:13Well, I don't typically give out my advice to the President out in public, but I agree with you.
03:18Well, I'm sure the American people would love to know, as with members of Congress.
03:22I mean, you've got to kind of admit it is just if you casually follow the news.
03:28You're not a member of this committee.
03:30And the relationship with Russia is kind of bizarre in terms of what it is between President Trump and President Putin.
03:40And why this relationship exists.
03:45So you can imagine.
03:47I don't know.
03:48Have you ever been to Augie and Reyes?
03:50No, I haven't.
03:51You should.
03:52It's a great spot in East Hartford.
03:54It's right next to Pratt Whitney aircraft, et cetera.
03:58And they're deeply concerned about this.
04:01And they always say, hey, what's going on with Russia?
04:04And what's going on with the President and Putin?
04:08So I'm going to be able to tell them, don't worry.
04:11I spoke with Ambassador Greer.
04:13And currently Russia's apparently paying enough.
04:18Their sanctions already are sufficient.
04:22But if we see greater activity in great trade amounts, we're going to make sure that tariffs are levied on them.
04:31Is that a fair thing to say?
04:33Well, on the last part, I can't make the President's decision for him, right?
04:37I mean, Russia is a bad actor.
04:38But you would recommend that you would increase tariffs on them.
04:41Well, I'm not going to disclose my recommendations to the President.
04:43So we're not going to recommend.
04:44We're not going to say.
04:45See, at Augie and Reyes, they would say, hey, come on.
04:49You're BSing us now.
04:51We know what's going on here.
04:53But with that, thank you, Ambassador.
04:56And appreciate your time.
04:58I yield back.