WASHINGTON – In her capacity as chairwoman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine has been named a member of the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade and will serve as an official adviser to the American delegation in trade negotiations.

Snowe was officially notified of the appointment by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, whose panel, of which Snowe is a member, has oversight of U.S. trade issues.

“Small- and medium-size businesses serve as the backbone of the U.S. economy and accounted for [more than] $190 billion in exports in 2000, so I will be keenly interested in how upcoming negotiations will affect small business growth both positively and negatively,” Snowe said. “The trade decisions made during negotiations can have a serious impact on small businesses, so I intend to keep a close eye on trade negotiations, and with my colleagues perform the checks and balance role we need to ensure small business interests are protected.”

During the 108th Congress, the United States will be involved in an unprecedented number of trade negotiations, including intensive discussions with Chile and Singapore, which have already commenced, Snowe said.

Significant U.S. exports to Chile are mining equipment and machinery, aircraft, computers and telecommunications equipment, totaling $2.3 billion in 2002. Significant U.S. exports to Singapore are aircraft, computers, integrated circuits telecommunications equipment and petroleum, totaling $14.7 billion in 2002.