Congress Still Debating Fast Track Trade Authority for Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations
Congressional leaders are working to find a way to pass legislation that would give President Obama fast-track authority to negotiate a trade deal that will potentially govern 40 percent of U.S. imports and exports. The Trade Act of 2015 [also referred to as “Trade Promotion Authority” (TPA) or “fast-track trade authority”], would allow the President to negotiate the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal with limited congressional interference.
Republican leadership in both chambers is using complicated legislative maneuvers to advance the legislation – a top priority for the Obama administration. The Senate has already passed a version of the bill. But, earlier this month, Democrats in the House, under significant pressure from labor unions who strongly oppose the measure, voted against part of the legislative package they would normally support – Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits for workers hurt by trade deals. The TAA and TPA measures needed to pass together – and match the Senate-passed bill – in order to advance to the President for enactment. This forced House Republican leadership to hold another vote June 18 on a stand-alone TPA measure, which passed 218 -208 with the help of 28 Democrats. [See our earlier post regarding this action.]
The Senate is now scheduled to vote on the stand-alone TPA legislation as early as June 23. If the Senate passes that bill it will go to the President’s desk. The Senate would then take up another bill that combines the TAA benefits with a non-controversial bill to expand an existing Africa trade law. Upon passage, this new TAA measure would be sent to the House for consideration.
With a TPA measure in hand, the President could then pressure House Democrats into supporting the TAA bill or else let the TPA become law without the addition of worker benefits. This strategy relies heavily on Senate Democrats agreeing to pass the TPA without TAA worker benefits. It is unclear whether Senate Democrats are willing to take that risky vote, but House and Senate Republican leaders have publicly committed to getting the legislation passed as soon as possible.
More on the Trans-Pacific Partnership
A promulgação da legislação comercial acelerada irá dinamizar as negociações sobre a Parceria Transpacífica (TPP), um acordo de comércio livre destinado a promover o comércio e o investimento internacionais através da redução de tarifas, harmonização de regulamentos e eliminação de barreiras não tarifárias (NTBs) ao comércio. A TPP abrangerá inicialmente 12 países: Austrália, Brunei, Canadá, Chile, Japão, Malásia, México, Nova Zelândia, Peru, Singapura, Estados Unidos e Vietname. Coletivamente, esses países representam 40% da economia global. O tratado também estabelece mecanismos para que outros países possam aderir no futuro.
O TPP criará novas regras que regem o comércio transfronteiriço, incluindo concorrência, direitos aduaneiros, acesso ao mercado, regras de origem e disputas comerciais. Disposições especiais de arbitragem permitirão a apresentação de ações judiciais contra governos estrangeiros. O TPP regerá as exportações, importações e investimentos estrangeiros que envolvem vários setores importantes da economia dos EUA, incluindo manufatura, propriedade intelectual, têxteis e vestuário, telecomunicações, agricultura e outros. Também abrangerá questões trabalhistas, de emprego e ambientais.
Para mais informações sobre a Parceria Transpacífica, consulte a nossa ficha informativa.