Press Releases
Wyden Statement on Policy Changes to Open Relations with Cuba
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today, praising President Obama's announcement of new steps to open up relations with the Cuban people: "I applaud the President for today's announcement and for taking these historic steps to normalize relations with Cuba. I have long believed that trade and engagement are liberalizing forces and I look forward to working with my colleagues and with our diplomats to bring about the progress in Cuba that we all want to see. I … Continue Reading
December 08, 2014
Wyden: Ensure Fair Trade for Oregon Workers and Businesses
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., testified today before the International Trade Commission to ensure fair trade practices and a level playing field for Oregon workers and businesses, including SolarWorld. The commission is examining the impact of unfair trade practices by Chinese and Taiwanese businesses as a result of a trade case filed by SolarWorld. The Oregon-based business successfully demonstrated that China was providing illegal subsidies to its solar producers, and filed … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Wyden, Thune Introduce Bill to Promote Strong Rules to Protect the Digital Economy and Global, Open Internet
WASHINGTON-Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, today introduced legislation to protect the Internet from restrictive measures that obstruct the free flow of data in the global economy. The Digital Trade Act of 2013 would establish negotiating … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Wyden Statement on Japan’s Decision to Resume Purchases of Oregon Wheat
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement today on the decision by the Japanese government to resume purchases of U.S. western-white wheat. The decision ends a two-month ban on the grain purchases following the apparent discovery of unapproved gene-altered crop on an Oregon farm. "With the wheat crop ready for harvest, the news that Japan will join South Korea and Taiwan in resuming purchasing of Oregon wheat comes at the perfect time for wheat … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Wyden Statement on the Confirmation of Michael Froman to be United States Trade Rep.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the Senate vote to confirm Michael Froman as the United States Trade Representative. Wyden is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. "The United States needs a Trade Representative that understands the broad challenges that face American producers and who knows how those challenges can be addressed. The country needs a Trade … Continue Reading
May 31, 2013
Wyden Asks Ag. Secretary Vilsack to Ensure Discovery of Genetically Engineered Wheat Does Not Affect Trade
Washington, D.C. - Following the news that a small and unharvested amount of genetically engineered (GE) wheat was discovered by an Oregon farmer, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack praising their investigation into the issue and urging them to work with the US Trade Representative and the Departments of State and Commerce to prevent this discovery from negatively affecting Oregon's international wheat exports. Wyden is the chairman of the … Continue Reading
November 07, 2012
Wyden statement on U.S. International Trade Commission solar trade ruling
Washington, D.C. - U. S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement following the U.S. International Trade Commission ruling today confirming that Chinese solar panel imports harm U.S. manufacturers. "It is unfortunate that China still refuses to play by the global trade rules it signed up to over a decade ago. Today's decision by the International Trade Commission enables the government to protect American solar manufacturers from the harm caused by China's illegal trade … Continue Reading
November 02, 2012
Wyden: U.S. should reconsider rubber-stamping LNG exports as part of a 21st-Century energy policy
Washington, D.C. - In response to questions about the impact of trade negotiations on U.S. natural gas exports, U. S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement: "The provision of the Natural Gas Act that grants automatic approval of natural gas exports to countries that share free trade agreements with the U.S. was adopted before newly-accessible shale gas became a strategic asset for the U.S. This policy needs reconsideration," Wyden said. "It could harm the nation's ability … Continue Reading
October 10, 2012
Wyden statement on Commerce Department’s Chinese solar panel enforcement decision
Washington, D.C. - U. S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a statement following the U.S. Commerce Department's decision on counteracting illegal trade practices by Chinese solar panel manufacturers: "I am glad the administration intends to act against cheating by Chinese solar producers, but fear today's ruling leaves a loophole that will enable these companies to sidestep the impacts. That gap exempts panels from tariffs when only a small portion of panels is made outside of China," Senator … Continue Reading
September 27, 2012
Senate and House members call on Commerce Department to stop Chinese solar companies from dodging U.S. trade laws
Washington, D.C. - Eight members of U.S. Congress, led by Sen. Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.) asked the Commerce Department to close a loophole in its preliminary decision to crack down on illegal trade practices by Chinese solar panel manufacturers, in a letter sent Thursday. House Ways and Means Committee Ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), and Rep. Diana … Continue Reading
September 24, 2012
Wyden, Merkley bills block taxpayer money from aiding foreign companies that violate trade rules
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced two bills to prevent taxpayer money from aiding foreign companies that benefit from illegal trade practices, including many Chinese-manufactured solar panels. "China is enabling solar panels and wind energy property to be sold in the U.S. at below market value due to the illegal subsidies provided by China's government," Wyden said. "Taxpayer money should not be used to buy property that the Department of Commerce … Continue Reading
August 10, 2012
Trade with Asia-Pacific Nations, Energy Exports Topics of Wyden Meeting on Monday, August 13
WHO: Senator Ron Wyden, Chairman, Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade; Tom Chamberlain, President, Oregon AFL-CIO; Karla Chambers, Vice President, Stahlbush Farms; Greg Slater, Director of Global Trade, Intel; Matthew Schruers, Vice President Computer & Communications Industry Assn. ( members include Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook) Mark Powers, Vice President, NW Horticultural Council; Arthur Stamoulis, Director, Oregon Fair Trade Campaign; Brett … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Wyden Statement on Commerce Dept. Ruling That Chinese Solar Companies Violated Trade Rules, Will Face Tariffs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee on Trade, issued the following statement after the U.S. Commerce Department ruled today that Chinese-made Solar panel producers were violating trade rules and that the U.S. would impose tariff remedies on imported panels: "I know there will be a temptation to portray today's ruling as a win for U.S. Solar Manufacturers and a loss for Chinese producers, but the impact of Commerce's … Continue Reading
March 20, 2012
Wyden Statement on Commerce’s Preliminary Decision to Address Subsidized Solar Panel Imports from China
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement responding to the Commerce Department's preliminary decision that Chinese-made solar are imported in violation of international trade rules. The investigation was sought by American manufacturers of solar panels that contend that unfair trade practices by China are harming American producers. "Today's decision by the Commerce Department is a signal that China's unfair trade practices in the solar energy … Continue Reading
February 28, 2012
Wyden Report: U.S. Losing Out to China on Goods that Protect the Environment
Washington, D.C. - As President Obama signs an executive order creating an Interagency Trade Enforcement Unit, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden - chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness - issued a report illustrating why trade enforcement matters. Wyden Staff Report: Losing the Environmental Goods Economy to China The report, entitled "Losing the Environmental Goods Economy to China" is the latest in a series of reports … Continue Reading
January 24, 2012
Wyden Response to the President’s State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address: "President Obama laid out his plan to help hard working Americans get back on their feet and rebuild an economy devastated by the financial collapse of 2008. One of the most encouraging things I heard from the President tonight was his interest in ending the perverse incentives that the broken tax code gives to American businesses to ship jobs … Continue Reading
January 20, 2012
Wyden and Moran Respond to the Postponing of Protect IP Vote in the Senate
Washington, D.C. - Following the announcement from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that the vote on the Protect IP Act scheduled for Tuesday will be postponed, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jerry Moran (R- Kan.) released the following statements. Wyden and Moran are the lead Senate co-sponsors of The OPEN Act, an alternative to Protect IP. Senator Wyden's Statement: "Senator Reid's decision to pull PIPA from the floor is the right one. Legislation impacting the future of the … Continue Reading
January 12, 2012
Wyden Statement on Potential Modifications to Protect IP Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement in response to Chairman Leahy's announcement that the DNS provision of the Protect IP Act may be modified: "It is welcome news that proponents of PIPA are finally accepting that it contains major flaws. Unfortunately, this announcement to study the DNS provision does not eliminate the clearly identified threat to net security contained within this bill. Beyond the DNS provisions, the bill still establishes a … Continue Reading
December 08, 2011
Wyden-Issa Release Draft Digital Trade Legislation
Washington, D.C. Unveiling a proposal that both fights the unauthorized sale of digital goods and protects Internet security, commerce and speech, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) today released a draft text of legislation that would use trade laws to address the flow of infringing digital goods into the United States. The draft legislation is based on the broad legislative framework that U.S. Senators Cantwell, Moran, Warner and Wyden and U.S. … Continue Reading
December 02, 2011
Wyden Statement on Trade Commission Vote that Chinese Practices are Hurting the American Solar Industry
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement today after members of a U.S. trade commission voted unanimously in favor of SolarWorld's case that Chinese trade practices have harmed American solar manufacturing: "The vote today by the commissioners of the International Trade Commission formalizes what workers in the American solar industry already know: they are harmed by unfair trade practices employed by China. This is an important step forward toward … Continue Reading
