mr. speaker , i would like to clarify my opposition to h. j. res. 27 , a resolution to withdraw u.s. approval of the uruguay round agreement act establishing the world trade organization ( wto ) . 
although i oppose the resolution , i am glad we are having this debate today . 
the 1994 law that helped create the wto included an important provision that allows congress to reassess u.s. participation in the organization every five years . 
the constantly shifting global trade landscape makes regular congressional review of u.s. participation in the wto especially critical . 
like many of my constituents , i am concerned about investment and jobs moving to other countries that have weaker labor and environmental standards . 
i am also concerned about the growing u.s. trade deficit , wto pressure to downgrade our consumer protections , and challenges to our federal laws posed by the wto 's closed dispute resolution tribunals . 
but retaining u.s. participation in the wto does n't mean we ca n't or should n't work to improve global trading system . 
the objective should be to mend it , not end it . 
the wto is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations . 
over 90 percent of all world trade is conducted within the wto . 
withdrawal from the wto would isolate the u.s. from the international economy . 
it would also eliminate the best recourse american businesses and workers have when faced with unfair trade barriers : dispute resolution . 
if we were to withdraw from the wto , other countries could impose unfair tariffs or other barriers to american goods , or `` dump '' goods , and we could only retaliate in return and risk getting into a potentially dangerous trade war . 
if we want to grow and expand our economic opportunities , we must engage with the rest of the world . 
i believe that abandoning a rules-based trade system would be detrimental to american families , workers , business , and national security . 
we need to do all we can to ensure americans benefit from the global economy . 
but shutting our doors on the wto is n't the answer . 
