Promoting Transparency in Trade Act

To amend the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 to require the publication of certain texts for trade agreements negotiated under that Act, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Transparency in Trade Act 2. Publication of texts with respect to negotiating rounds (a) Negotiations Section 105(a)(1) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 ( 19 U.S.C. 4204(a)(1) (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (E) with respect to each negotiating round for the agreement, publish on a publicly available Internet website— (i) the proposed United States text, prior to the start of such negotiating round; and (ii) the considered text, at the conclusion of such negotiating round. . (b) Procedural disapproval resolution Section 106(b) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 ( 19 U.S.C. 4205(b) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the heading, by striking or consultations , consultations, or publication of texts (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i)— (I) by striking to notify or consult on negotiations , in accordance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, to notify or consult on, or publish texts with respect to, negotiations (II) by striking notify or consult. notify, consult, or publish texts. (ii) in clause (ii)— (I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking has failed or refused to notify or consult in accordance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 has failed, in accordance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, to notify or consult on, or publish texts with respect to, (II) in subclause (III), by striking or (III) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (IV) by adding at the end the following: (V) the President has failed, under section 105(a)(1)(E), to publish texts with respect to each negotiating round of the parties to the agreement. ; and (2) in paragraphs (3)(C) and (4)(C), by striking to notify or consult on negotiations , in accordance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, to notify or consult on, or publish texts with respect to, negotiations (c) Definitions Section 111 of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 ( 19 U.S.C. 4210 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (23) as paragraphs (8) through (24), respectively; (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph: (7) Considered text The term considered text (A) means, with respect to a negotiating round, each proposal considered during such negotiating round related to the text of the agreement, tariff or service sector schedules, or any other element of the agreement (referred to as the actual consolidated negotiating text document (B) includes, with respect to each such proposal, an identification of each party to the negotiations that offered or supported the proposal, if the proposal was agreed to by one or more of the parties to such negotiating round. ; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (20) through (24), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) (4) by inserting after paragraph (19), as so redesignated by paragraph (1) (20) Negotiating round The term negotiating round (21) Proposed United States text The term proposed United States text . 3. USTR Transparency Officer Section 141(b)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by adding at the end the following: The Trade Representative shall ensure that the individual who is appointed the Chief Transparency Officer does not, because of any other position the individual holds or otherwise, have, or appear to have, any conflict of interest in ensuring the transparency of the activities of the Office of the Trade Representative, including trade negotiations.

Summary: Promoting Transparency in Trade Act This bill amends the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 to require the President to publish on a publicly available website the proposed U.S. text for a trade agreement regarding trade barriers before the start of a negotiating round and the considered text for such an agreement at the conclusion of each negotiating round. Congress may disapprove of trade authorities procedures (fast track) if the President has not published required negotiation texts for a proposed trade agreement. The bill amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to ensure that the Chief Transparency Officer of the Office of the USTR does not have, or appear to have, any conflict of interest in ensuring the transparency of the activities of the Office, including trade negotiations.