Reference Guide on Expiration Dates of Major U.S. Trade Programs and Statutes, Etc.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report entitled, "U.S. Trade Statutes: Expiration Dates and Mandated Periodic Reports to Congress" to assist Congress in exercising its oversight responsibilities regarding foreign trade.
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CRS states that the report is designed as a quick reference guide. It contains two tables, one listing the expiration dates for major trade programs and trade statutes, with the second table listing the dates for mandated periodic reports to Congress.
Expiration Dates for Major Trade Programs and Trade Statutes
Table 1 of the report lists expiration dates for the roughly 24 trade statutes or programs that include termination dates. These dates range from 2007 to 2015. For example, the next trade agreement due to expire is the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), on February 29, 2008, and the next trade remedy law due to expire is the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers, on December 31, 2007.
The table also lists reciprocal trade agreements which have no expiration dates such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SFTA), etc. In addition, Table 1 lists laws that have already expired which Congress may at some point reconsider, such as the trade promotion authority component of the Trade Act of 2002, which expired June 30, 2007.
Finally, Table 1 of the report lists laws which do not appear in the Blue Book1page references since they were passed after the 2005 Blue Book went to press. Examples include the U.S.-China Memorandum of Understanding on Clothing and Textiles which entered into force on January 1, 2006 and is due to expire on December 31, 2008.
Mandated Periodic Reports to Congress
Table 2 of the report includes laws that require, in all, approximately 41 separate reports to Congress. The mandated publication frequency for these reports is listed along with the frequency in actual practice, if applicable.
For example, the report to Congress by the President on the "Applicability of GSP and Progress of Beneficiary Countries" is mandated to be reported "as necessary," but in practice is done annually.
Further examples from Table 2 include the report by the U.S. Trade Representative to Congress on "Countries Denying Protection or Market Access" which is due annually, and the President's "Report Relating to Iran" which is due every six months.
1The House Ways and Means Committee's Overview and Compilation of U.S. Trade Statutes, Parts I and II (2005), which pulls together key information for Congress relating to the trade statutes.
CRS Report (Order Code RL34196, dated 10/02/07) available at http://www.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34196_20071002.pdf