MTB Inclusion in Trade Package Remains Uncertain, Says Ways and Means Chairman
Renewal of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill may not make it into a trade package in the coming weeks because of continued disagreement over the tariff suspension program, said House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in a March 26 briefing with reporters. While there's been some effort to reform the MTB process in order to remove earmark criticism, it's unclear if there's much of an appetite to move forward (see 1502190061). Ryan has publicly pushed for passage of MTB renewal on several occasions (see 1502160005).
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Ryan said he is continuing to try to reach an agreement with Senate leaders on Trade Promotion Authority. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., are still at odds over changes to the TPA bill introduced in the last Congress (see 1503250072). Trade observers have predicted the Senate Finance committee will move first on TPA (see 1503040015), but Ryan said it’s “irrelevant” which chamber spearheads the legislative process, so long as he, Hatch and Wyden are able to strike a deal.
Ryan expects TPA introduction in the spring, he said. He also said he aims to move forward with renewal bills for the Generalized System of Preferences and the African Growth and Opportunity Act, as well as Customs Reauthorization. “We’re making real good progress on those,” he said. “And my goal is to mark up as many trade bills as I can this spring.” The congressional markup process takes place at the committee level and follows the “regular order” process for legislation.
The Obama administration has communicated well with Congress on its trade priorities and negotiations, Ryan said, while adding that the White House’s “big lift” will be getting support from House Democrats on TPA. Many members of that caucus continue to aggressively fight against TPA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (see 1503190001). Congress should also allow for the expiration of the Export-Import Bank, he said.