Senate Leaders Reach Agreement on Process for Moving FTAs, TAA
On August 3, 2011, Senate Majority Leader Reid (D) and Minority Leader McConnell (R) announced that after lengthy discussions, they have agreed on the Senate process for moving forward with the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. According to Senate Majority Leader Reid, the agreement provides for the consideration of the bipartisan compromise on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, followed by consideration of the implementing bills for the pending FTAs, when the Senate returns from its August recess.
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(There had been disagreement between Congressional Democrats and Republicans on whether the Korea FTA (KORUS) implementing bill should contain a provision renewing TAA or whether TAA renewal should be considered separately. Disagreement also existed on whether Congress should have to pass TAA before the President would submit the FTA implementing bills to Congress.)
Speaker Wants FTA Passage, Separate Consideration of TAA in House
In a statement, House Speaker Boehner noted that the Senate agreement had cleared an important hurdle and that he looks forward to the House passing the FTAs, in tandem with separate consideration of TAA legislation, as soon as possible.
Ways and Means Chair Says House Ready to Act on FTAs and TAA
According to a statement issued by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Camp (R), the House is prepared to act on the pending FTAs and on TAA. Camp urges the Senate and White House to be ready to proceed in September.
USTR Welcomes Senate Agreement on FTAs, TAA
U.S. Trade Representative Kirk issued a statement welcoming the agreement by the Senate leaders and said that the Administration looks forward to working with Congressional leaders when they return to secure approval of the pending FTAs.
(On July 7, 2011, the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees held “mock” mark-ups and approved without amendment draft implementing bills for the Korea, Colombia, and Panama free trade agreements, which include an increase in the merchandise processing fee for formal entries and retroactive renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA)/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). The Senate Finance-approved draft KORUS bill contained a renewal of TAA, but the House Ways and Means-approved draft KORUS bill did not.
Both Committees considered the FTA draft implementing bills during "mock" mark-ups because Congress cannot offer amendments to the final implementing bills submitted by the Administration under Trade Promotion Agreement procedures. Following Administration review of any amendments that the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees approve on the draft implementing bills, the next step would be for the final versions of the implementing bills to be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote (i.e., no amendments).
See ITT's Online Archives or 07/18/11 and 07/19/11 news, 11071813 and 11071905, for BP summaries of the draft FTA implementing bills.
See ITT's Online Archives or 07/13/11 and 07/22/11 news, 11071320 and 11072226, for BP summaries of the draft FTA bills' provisions on the MPF increase, GSP and ATPDEA renewal, etc.)
Reid and McConnell statement available here
Camp statement available here
USTR Kirk’s statement available here
Boehner’s statement available here