Letter from Shelley Berkley (Washington, D.C.) to Sander Levin (Washington, D.C.), August 1, 2007, requesting a hearing on national security, global trade, and World Trade Organization violations (2 pages); Letter from Shelley Berkley to Sander Levin (Washington, D.C.), February 7, 2008, following up on August 1, 2007 letter and Saudi boycott of Israeli goods

SHELLEY BERKLEY 1ST DISTRICT, NEVADA W A Y S A N D M E A N S SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT COMMITTEES: 4 0 5 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 2 0 5 1 5 ( 2 0 2 ) 2 2 5 - 5 9 6 5 FAX: ( 2 0 2 ) 2 2 5 - 3 1 1 9 Congress of the United States Washington, DC 20515-2801 V E T E R A N S ' A F F A I R S SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY AND MEMORIAL AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRADE shelley.berkley@mail.house.gov 2 3 4 0 PASEO DEL PRADO SUITE D 1 0 6 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 8 9 1 0 2 ( 7 0 2 ) 2 2 0 - 9 8 2 3 FAX: ( 7 0 2 ) 2 2 0 - 9 8 4 1 CAUCUSES: CO-CHAIR, GAMING CAUCUS CO-CHAIR, STOP DUI CAUCUS CO-CHAIR, TAIWAN CAUCUS www.berkley.house.gov August 1, 2007 The Honorable Sander Levin Chairman House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade 1236 Longworth House Office Building Washi A ~ ^ " security and global trade. In 2005, the United States supported Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), contingent upon Saudi Arabia's extending most-favored-nation status to all nations, including Israel. At that time, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal personally assured Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that his nation would end its participation in the Arab League boycott of Israel. Only following these commitments did the U.S. agree to support Saudi Arabia's WTO accession. As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) stated: "Saudi Arabia is legally obligated to provide most-favored-nation treatment to all WTO Members, including Israel. Any government sanctioned activity on the Boycott would be a violation of Saudi Arabia's obligations and subject to dispute settlement. This legal obligation cannot be changed." Yet, nearly two years later, the Saudi government continues to engage in activities that support the boycott of Israel such as the recent Arab League Boycott summit. In so doing, Saudi Arabia violates not only its WTO commitments, but - equally important - pledges made to the U.S. Government. At the very time Saudi Arabia has indicated its desire to play a positive role in the Israeli-Palestinian situation, participation at the Damascus Boycott meeting - the sole intention of which was to further stigmatize Israel and prevent normalization - is wholly incompatible with that desire. Given Saudi Arabia's intransigent and duplicitous behavior on this matter, I believe it is incumbent upon the Subcommittee on Trade to hold hearings and investigate this issue further. Furthermore, I believe that the Saudi government, fearing the exposure Dear Mr. Chairman PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER that a hearing would bring, would be likely to modify its behavior in order to avoid a hearing. In light of the arms deal that the Bush administration has recently proposed with Saudi Arabia, this issue could not be more timely. Please contact me or Jeremy Kadden of my staff at 5-5965 to let me know how I can be of further assistance in this important matter. Sincer 1 SHELLEY BERKLE Member of Congress SHELLEY BERKLEY 1ST DISTRICT, NEVADA 4 0 5 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, D C 2 0 5 1 5 ( 2 0 2 ) 2 2 5 - 5 9 6 5 FAX: ( 2 0 2 ) 2 2 5 - 3 1 1 9 5helley.berkley@mail.house.gov 2 3 4 0 PASEO DEL PRAOO SUITE D 1 0 6 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 8 9 1 0 2 ( 7 0 2 ) 2 2 0 - 9 8 2 3 FAX: ( 7 0 2 ) 2 2 0 - 9 8 4 1 www.berkley.house.gov Congress of t\)t Urnteti States of Eepre?entattoe? Maaburgton, ]BC 20515-2801 February 7, 2008 The Honorable Sander Levin Chairman House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade 1236 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 2051: / Dear Mr. Chairman: COMMITTEES: W A Y S A N D M E A N S SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRADE V E T E R A N S ' A F F A I R S SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY ANO MEMORIAL AFFAIRS CAUCUSES: CO-CHAIR, GAMING CAUCUS CO-CHAIR. STOP DUI CAUCUS CO-CHAIR, TAIWAN CAUCUS I write to follow up on the attached letter, which I sent to you last August, requesting that our subcommittee hold a hearing on the continued Saudi boycott of Israeli goods, which stands in blatant contravention of World (Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The Saudis promised the United States^ey would cease the boycott when they became members of the WTO, which is required of all WTO members. Their flouting of promises they made to our government and to the WTO calls into question their credibility and undermines the entire WTO structure. I believe a hearing would highlight their misconduct and help to bring about a change in their behavior. Please contact me or have your staff contact Jeremy Kadden of my staff at 5-5965 to let me know how I can be of further assistance in this important matter. Since '-"SHELLEY BERKLEY Member of Congress PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER