24 October 1997
National Journal's Congress Daily/A.M.

House Panel Hears Views On Unilateral Trade Sanctions

Members of Congress and Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat Thursday offered the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee a narrow field of views on the effectiveness of unilateral economic sanctions.

Subcommittee Chairman Philip Crane, R-Ill., a primary sponsor of a bill to limit the imposition of such sanctions, opened the hearing by warning that the increased use of economic sanctions is resulting in lost job opportunities without altering the behavior of the targeted countries.

And Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., a leading free trade proponent, told the panel that the unilateral trade sanctions not only lack a strong record of effectiveness but also "poison our bilateral relationships" with other countries.

But Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., quoting President Woodrow Wilson, asserted that sanctions are "an economic, peaceful, silent and deadly tool."

Ros-Lehtinen cited U.S. policy toward her native Cuba as an example of how sanctions help isolate and pressure a country to change its ways.

She told the committee that it was a myth the United States was losing business opportunities to foreign investors - because the Cuban people resent Europeans who are cashing in on a tourism business that is leaving the average Cuban with nothing.

"The United States is gaining by staying out of Cuba," she said.

The hearing followed a press conference where a bill to tighten the procedures by which unilateral trade sanctions could be imposed was unveiled.

That bill, sponsored by Crane, House International Relations ranking member Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., and Senate Agriculture Chairman Lugar is designed to be a measured approach that would enhance reporting requirements before the president could apply sanctions.

For his part, Hamilton said there are times when unilateral trade sanctions are appropriate and should be kept in the "arsenal of weapons."

Hamilton argued the bill would simply make certain that sanctions are properly designed and used sparingly.

That same view was offered by Eizenstat - but he maintained that sanctions, especially multilateral ones, have been a very effective tool.

He also argued that the presidentıs flexibility to tailor them for each confrontation should be preserved.

Ways and Means ranking member Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., took the occasion to lament the apparent hypocrisy of the United States pursuing trade with Chins at a time of public outrage over the Cuban governmentıs restrictions on the freedom of Florida Marlins pitching star Livan Hernandezı brother.

The Cuban government has refused to allow Hernandezı brother to play baseball because of fears he might defect or encourage others to do so.

Home |  About Us |  Resources |  Press Releases |  Federal Activity & Legislation
State & Local Activity |  NFTC Lawsuit |  Contact Us |  Site Index

.