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As the full U.S. House of Representatives prepares to consider legislation to grant President Obama Fast Track authority for trade agreements, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Donna Edwards (MD-4) are proposing an amendment to require congressional approval for China or any other country to join future trade agreements. Last week, President Obama indicated that China is “putting out feelers” about joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“It is important that Congress look at the details of any agreement that would allow China, the world’s second largest economy and a known currency manipulator, to enter a trade agreement,” said Dingell. “China has a long history of issues of concern to the U.S. – from currency cheating to human rights abuses, environmental offenses and intellectual property theft. Their actions are already hurting America’s economy and, more importantly, the working men and women we represent. Congress has a responsibility to ensure trade agreements protect our economy and our workers.”

“Representative Dingell and I have serious concerns about an agreement that would welcome countries with a history of currency manipulation, intellectual property theft, and failure to abide by existing global trade norms without prior congressional approval and oversight,”Edwards said. “Without clear-cut language, prohibiting the entry of nations that do not abide by norms respecting human rights and worker rights this Administration or the next could expand TPP to include China and other countries – all without Congressional input. Maryland working families deserve Congressional oversight when our nation is debating an agreement as expansive as the proposed TPP – where the countries account for 40 percent of the world’s GDP.”

U.S. negotiators have indicated that the final TPP agreement could include a docking provision that could allow countries to enter the agreement in future years. The amendment proposed by Dingell and Edwards would require a vote in Congress if any other nation decides to join the TPP.