Statement of Administration Policy: S.J. Res. 81 - A Joint Resolution Terminating the National Emergency Declared to Impose Duties on Articles Imported from Brazil

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(Senate)
(Sen. Kaine, D-VA, and nine cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes S.J. Res. 81. This resolution would undermine the Administration's ability to protect Americans from recent actions taken by the Government of Brazil that threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

The Government of Brazil has instituted policies, practices, and actions that threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Members of the Government of Brazil have taken actions that interfere with the economy of the United States, infringe the free expression rights of United States persons, violate human rights, and undermine the interest the United States has in protecting its citizens and companies. For example, certain members of the Government of Brazil have taken unprecedented actions to compel United States online platforms to change moderation policies, enforcement practices, or algorithms in ways that censors the accounts of U.S. persons. Some Brazilian officials have ordered U.S. social media platforms to provide the user data of U.S. persons, facilitating the targeting of political critics in the United States. These actions undermine the policy of the United States to promote free speech and fair elections both at home and abroad. To swiftly and decisively address this threat, President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the recent policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Brazil.

This Administration will not stand by and allow our sovereignty to be eroded, our laws to be disregarded, or our citizens to be endangered by the practices of foreign governments. Access to the U.S. market is not a right. President Trump is leveraging the power of the U.S. market to force Brazil to take significant steps to address this national emergency.

For these reasons, if S.J. Res. 81 were presented to the President in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he veto it.