NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Representative Gary Palmer have initiated an investigation into the Biden Administration's efforts to remove investor protections from free trade agreements. According to recent reports, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is working to withdraw these protections from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) without consulting Congress or stakeholders.

Chairman Comer and Rep. Palmer have requested a briefing with USTR to understand why these changes are being pursued. "The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Committee) is conducting oversight of the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) actions to remove investor protections from free trade agreements," they stated.

While some Congressional Democrats and United Nations activists argue that such protections threaten environmental and human rights, Comer and Palmer believe their removal would weaken U.S. companies in disputes with foreign nations. "We are aware that there are Democrats in Congress who sympathize with the assessment of the United Nations’ rapporteur on human rights and the environment," they continued.

The Oversight Committee aims to ensure that American businesses remain protected, asserting that USTR's mission should be to advance U.S. interests.