USTR chief praises House action on WTO agreement

USTR chief praises House action on WTO agreement    U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman praised the House of Representatives for opposing a resolution withdrawing congressional approval for the World Trade Organization agreement of which the United States is a member.
   The House rejected the resolution by a 338-86 vote Thursday.
   Portman said the vote sends “a strong message that the United States will continue to lead in the WTO.
   “This vote also gives our free trade agreement with Central America a strong shot in the arm,” he said.
   As part of its 1994 WTO implementing legislation, Congress included a special procedure for it to consider whether to withdraw approval once every five years, starting in 2000. A joint resolution to withdraw congressional approval of the WTO agreement was introduced in the House March 2. Because a joint resolution must pass both chambers, its defeat in the House on Thursday means the resolution has failed.