Wagner Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Inclusion of Anti-Trafficking Legislation in Future Trade Agreements

Press Release

This week Representative Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), David Valadao (CA-21), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Austin Scott (GA-08), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Randy Weber (TX-14), John Katko (NY-24), Chris Stewart (UT-02), and Blake Moore (UT-01) sent a letter to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The letter calls for the U.S. Trade Representative to include the "Wagner Language" in future trade agreements to help protect victims of human trafficking. The Wagner Language ensures partner nations are allowed to enact domestic laws that empower victims of human trafficking and hold websites accountable for facilitating the sex trade.

The members wrote: "We recognize the ongoing debate regarding Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, both in and outside the context of trade agreements. In addition to the concerns expressed to you by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, we urge you to ensure that, if Section 230 language is included in future trade agreements, these agreements also incorporate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement's (USMCA' s) "Wagner Language" to prevent online human trafficking and online child exploitation."

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