Highlights from Trade Subcommittee's Hearings and Oversight-Related Activities Planned for 2009-2010

Miscellaneous Tariff Bill - continuation of work to complete the review of introduced miscellaneous tariff and duty suspension bills and preparation of an omnibus miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB), which began in 2007-2008, in accordance with Committee guidelines and House rules.

(In 2008, the Trade Subcommittee requested public comments on hundreds of miscellaneous tariff and duty suspension bills for an omnibus MTB. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/28/08 and 04/23/08 news, 08022810 and 08042310, for BP summaries on the Committee's requests for comments.)

Customs revenue functions, trade facilitation - an oversight hearing with the CBP Commissioner to discuss priorities for the 111th Congress and concerns related to customs revenue functions and trade facilitation, including enforcement of U.S. customs laws and regulations. Specifically, the hearing will discuss and consider the President's 2009-2010 proposals and other proposals related to CBP's capacity and resources, including personnel resources, to carry out its mandate.

(See today's ITT, 09021920, for BP summary of Treasury Secretary Geithner's statements to the Senate Finance Committee on Treasury's plans to prioritize Customs revenue functions.)

GSP, AGOA, ATPA, CBI, Haiti HOPE - oversight of major U.S. trade preference programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), and Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE I and II). Evaluation of the efficacy of programs and options for long-term renewal and reform.

Panama, Colombia, South Korea FTAs - oversight of signed (but not yet implemented) free trade agreements with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea with a focus on issues that need to be addressed in order for Congressional consideration. These issues include, with respect to the Colombia FTA, issues related to violence against workers and other issues that inhibit the exercise of internationally-recognized labor standards, and with respect to the South Korea FTA, issues related to non-tariff market access barriers in the manufacturing and agricultural areas.

Peru, DR-CAFTA, Oman, Bahrain, Etc. FTAs - oversight of implemented FTAs involving Peru, Dominican Republic-Central America, Oman, Bahrain, Singapore, Chile, Australia, Morocco, Jordan, Canada, Mexico, and Israel.

FTA negotiations with Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, SACU, etc. - oversight of FTA negotiations that have not yet been completed, including those with Thailand, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, the South African Customs Union (SACU), Ecuador, and proposed negotiations with the "P-4" countries of Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore.

Doha Round negotiations - oversight of U.S. goals in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, services and trade remedy laws; reasons for the current impasse in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations; and consideration of proposals to break the impasse and achieve a meaningful outcome in all areas.

Enforcement of trade remedy, safety laws - oversight of U.S. enforcement of WTO rights, as well as rights under FTAs and other agreements. Also planned is an evaluation of (i) proposals to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and improve U.S. tools as leverage to open foreign markets and other areas, and (ii) proposals to strengthen border enforcement related to counterfeit imports and import safety. Commerce Department and International Trade Commission administration of U.S. trade remedy laws and the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR's) role in enforcement is also expected to be examined.

China - oversight of systematic problems in U.S.-China trade relations, including issues related to China's continued violation of intellectual property rights and use of industrial subsidies, and China's alleged manipulation of its currency, as well as other areas.

(See today's ITT, 09021920, for BP summary of Treasury Secretary Geithner's statements to the Senate Finance Committee on the Obama Administration's position on China currency manipulation.)

European Union - oversight of various EU issues such as the bilateral trade deficit, Airbus subsidies, discriminatory regulations in high technology and services, attempts at technology transfer, discriminatory barriers to U.S. farm exports, EU practices in the WTO negotiations, and EU practices concerning regional trade agreements.

WTO Dispute Settlement - oversight of the WTO dispute settlement system, including oversight of WTO decisions involving U.S. trade remedy laws.

Trade and developing countries - oversight of U.S. trade relations with developing countries, the role of developing countries in the WTO and world trading system, the extent to which developing countries have benefitted from the trading system over the last 20 years and, why many of the least developed countries have lost ground over the last 20 years and what can be done in the area of trade and aid to reverse this trend.

Climate Change - evaluation of the impact of mandatory proposals to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, including with respect to addressing carbon leakage, domestic and export competitiveness concerns of carbon-intensive industries, and issues related to consistency with international trade rules.

(See today's ITT, 09021999 1, for BP summary on the House Ways and Means Committee's February 25, 2009 hearing on scientific objectives for climate change legislation.)

ITC - an oversight hearing to receive information from the ITC concerning overall priorities and operations. The hearing will specifically address the President's 2009 and 2010 trade proposals and inquire as to whether the ITC has adequate resources and technical expertise to carry out its mandate.

Globalization Adjustment Assistance - examination of options to improve education, on-the-job-training, trade adjustment, and portable heath care/pensions, including reform and expansion of the Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for workers, firms, and farmers.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/17/09 news, 09021720, for BP summary on H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Economic Stimulus Bill), which contains a reauthorization and expansion of TAA.)

(In addition to the Trade Subcommittee activities outlined above, the full House Ways and Means Committee plans to hold an oversight hearing with the USTR to discuss priorities for the 111th Congress and concerns related to international trade. The hearing will specifically address the President's 2009 and 2010 trade proposals, including whether the USTR has adequate resources to carry out its mandate with respect to enforcing U.S. trade agreements.)

The Committee states that it anticipates that additional oversight hearings and activities will be scheduled as issues arise and as time permits. Also, the Committee's oversight priorities and particular concerns may change as the 111th Congress progresses over the coming two years.

Ways and Means Committee letter available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/osa.pdf.