Bill Urges Merger of U.S. Trade Agencies
Concerned that the United States is unprepared to compete in the growing international trade arena, Rep. Toby Roth (R-Wis.) introduced legislation today that would combine seven agencies into one Cabinet-level trade department.
Roth, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the current U.S. trade effort is “disorganized and unprepared” to compete for the estimated 15% growth in the $3-trillion world trade arena. Under the proposal, the seven agencies that now make most of the trade decisions would be “streamlined” into the Commerce Department, which would be renamed the Department of Commerce and Trade.
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