Trade Promotion Authority to be Extended Until July 1, 2007 (Unless House or Senate Disapproves Extension)
On March 30, 2005, President Bush submitted to Congress a request for the extension of trade promotion authority (TPA) procedures for an additional two years, until July 1, 2007.
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TPA to be extended for two years unless House or Senate disapproves. According to the Trade Act of 2002 (Act), TPA procedures apply to the implementing legislation for qualifying trade agreements that are entered into before July 1, 2005. The Act also provides for a two-year extension of TPA procedures (i.e., for implementing legislation submitted with respect to qualifying trade agreements entered into after June 30, 2005 and before July 1, 2007) if: (a) the President requests such an extension; and (b) neither House of Congress adopts an extension disapproval resolution before July 1, 2005.
(The Trade Act of 2002 further states that if the President requests an extension of TPA authority, he is required to submit to Congress a report on TPA. According to the USTR, the President submitted such a report to Congress on March 30, 2005.)
U.S.-Bahrain FTA and CAFTA-DR are covered by current TPA procedures. The State Department's Washington File notes that although the implementing legislation for the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the U.S.-Central America FTA, including the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) has not yet been submitted to Congress, both of these FTAs are already subject to TPA procedures because they were signed (entered into) before July 1, 2005.
(TPA provides a framework for Executive-Congressional cooperation in trade negotiations, including a streamlined mechanism for Congressional consideration of trade agreements.)
President's letter to Congress requesting extension of TPA authority (dated 03/30/05) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050330-5.html.
USTR's report to Congress on TPA (dated 03/30/05) available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_TPA_Report/Section_Index.html.