Timing for GSP, MTB Renewal Remain Unclear, Top Ways and Means Republican Says
There have been no productive discussions in the last month between Republican and Democratic trade staffers to find a compromise on renewing the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill and Generalized System of Preferences benefits program, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said in response to a question from International Trade Today during a telephone press conference. "Regrettably, I see further delays in that because the speaker [of the House] and all her committees are focused on jamming through these tax hikes and welfare expansion," Brady said, referring to Democrats' legislative priorities. Brady said that while the Senate's Trade Act of 2021 is the framework for a bipartisan solution to GSP and MTB renewal, "we need time on task to do that," and he doesn't know if there will be conversations working toward that.
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"I think a more realistic time table [for renewal] is by the end of the year, but even that requires work now on GSP and MTB that hasn’t been occurring." He said he doesn't know if that work will be delayed until after the $3.5 trillion budget legislation "has been dealt with."
Brady was also asked about the pro-trade comments Vice President Kamala Harris made while in Singapore. He said he liked her language, but added, "I‘m worried the vice president’s words are empty in substance because we’ve seen no interest in the administration continuing trade talks with the U.K., in Europe, a comprehensive trade agreement with Japan ... ." He said the administration also seems to have little interest in renewing fast-track authority.