Wall Street Journal- 07 Oct. 2016- A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is pressing the White House to oppose Iran’s bid to join the World Trade Organization, citing concern that admission could constrain the U.S.’s ability to impose future sanctions on Iran.
The pressure from lawmakers illustrates the crosscurrents the Obama administration faces as it seeks to integrate Tehran into the global economy after Iran reached a nuclear accord last year.
In a letter sent Thursday, GOP Reps. Peter Roskam of Illinois and Dave Reichert of Washington and Democratic Reps. Juan Vargas of California and Grace Meng of New York urged U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to resist Iran’s efforts to join the WTO.
A senior administration official said the White House wasn’t working to help Iran gain entrance into the world trade body.