Senate Committee Seeks More Agency Trade Reporting
The International Trade Administration would report to the Senate Appropriations Committee on improving antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigations within 90 days after the fiscal year Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill is signed into law. The committee issued the directive, along with a number of trade-related reporting directives, as part of the report that accompanied the legislation’s release on June 6. The committee report also directs the Commerce Department to report to the committee on how the National Export Initiative NEXT will “affect the existing level of market-access and industry-based export assistance.”
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The report criticized the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) unresponsiveness to the committee's oversight activities. "The Committee is concerned by USTR’s lack of responsiveness and attention to Committee inquiries and requests," it said. To make sure the committee can properly perform its oversight role, the report would require monthly reporting from USTR on all travel outside the United States. Also, "beginning in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, USTR shall provide the Committee quarterly reports outlining ongoing trade negotiations as well as enforcement activities and objectives achieved for existing trade agreements,” said the committee report. In contrast, the committee praised the International Trade Commission’s timely responses to requests and submissions of reports. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the bill on June 5 (see 14060518). The committee report details specific funding levels for all trade-related agencies, but the actual funds approved through the appropriations process will be determined in conference. The House passed on May 30 counterpart legislation (see 14060202).