databases and economic measurements that 
may be needed to properly quantify the factors 
described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C); 
(E) the relationship that tariff and non-
tariff barriers have to trade deficits and the ex-
tent to which trade deficits have become struc-
tural; 
(F) the extent to which there is reciprocal 
market access in each country with which the 
United States has a persistent and substantial 
bilateral trade deficit; and 
(G) the role of transhipments on bilateral 
trade, including foreign imports and exports, 
with special attention to transhipments through 
countries receiving trade preferences under the 
North American Free Trade Agreement. 
(3) The relationship of United States trade 
deficits to both comparative and competitive trade 
advantages within the global economy, including— 
(A) a systematic analysis of the United 
States trade patterns with different trading 
partners, to what extent the trade patterns are 
based on comparative and competitive trade ad-
vantages, and how the trade advantages relate 
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to the goods that are exported to and imported 
from different trading partners; 
(B) the extent to which the increased mo-
bility of capital and technology has changed 
both comparative and competitive trade advan-
tages; 
(C) identification and quantification of 
goods imported into the United States that are 
produced with child or forced labor, or under 
social and environmental conditions that do not 
comply with United States law; 
(D) the impact that labor standards (in-
cluding the ability of labor to organize, bargain 
collectively, and exercise human rights) have on 
world trade; 
(E) the impact that currency exchange 
rates and the manipulation of exchange rates 
have on world trade and trade deficits; 
(F) the effect that offset and technology 
transfer agreements have on the long-term com-
petitiveness of the United States manufacturing 
sectors; and 
(G) the extent to which international 
agreements affect United States competitive-
ness. 
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(4) The flow of investments both into and out 
of the United States, including— 
(A) the impact such investments have on 
the United States trade deficit and living stand-
ards of United States production workers; 
(B) the impact such investments have on 
United States labor, community, environmental, 
health, and safety standards; 
(C) the extent to which United States tax 
laws, such as income deferral, contribute to the 
movement of manufacturing facilities and jobs 
to foreign locations; 
(D) the identification and quantification of 
domestic plant closures and the movement of 
such plants to foreign locations for production 
of goods for the United States market; 
(E) the impact of implied or threatened 
plant closings and movement of jobs to foreign 
locations on United States wage rates and 
working conditions; 
(F) the effect of investment flows on wages 
in countries with developed economies and on 
countries of the former Soviet Union; and 
(G) the effect of barriers to United States 
foreign direct investment in developed and de-
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veloping countries, particularly countries with 
which the United States has a trade deficit. 
(5) Evaluation of current policies and sugges-
tions for alternative strategies for the United States 
to systematically reduce the trade deficit and im-
prove the economic well-being of United States citi-
zens, including suggestions for— 
(A) the development of bilateral and multi-
lateral trade relationships based on market ac-
cess reciprocity; 
(B) the retention and expansion of the 
manufacturing, agricultural, and technology 
sectors in the United States; 
(C) the discouragement of the expatriation 
of United States plants, jobs, and production to 
countries that have achieved competitive advan-
tages by permitting lower wages or lower 
health, safety, and environmental standards, or 
by imposing requirements with respect to in-
vestment, performance, or other obligations; 
(D) methods by which the United States 
can effectively compete in a global economy 
while improving the labor, social, and environ-
mental standards of its trading partners, par-
ticularly developing countries; 
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(E) methods by which the United States 
can respond to substantial shifts or manipula-
tion of currency exchange rates that distort 
trade relationships; 
(F) methods for overcoming and offsetting 
trade barriers that are either not subject to or 
otherwise inadequately addressed by the World 
Trade Organization or other multilateral ar-
rangements; 
(G) specific strategies for achieving im-
proved trade balances with those countries with 
which the United States has significant, per-
sistent sectoral or bilateral trade deficits, in-
cluding Canada, the People’s Republic of China, 
Mexico, and Japan; 
(H) methods for the United States to re-
spond to the particular needs and cir-
cumstances of developing and developed coun-
tries in a manner that is mutually beneficial; 
and 
(I) changes that may be required to cur-
rent trade agreements and organizations to 
allow the United States to pursue and nurture 
economic growth for its manufacturing, agri-
culture, and other production sectors in a man-
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ner that ensures improved compensation and 
quality of life for United States citizens. 
SEC. 5. REPORT; CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. 
(a) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 16 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall submit to the President and the 
Congress a report that contains— 
(A) the findings and conclusions of the 
Commission described in section 4; 
(B) a detailed plan for reducing both the 
overall trade deficit and specific bilateral trade 
deficits; and 
(C) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative actions that may be nec-
essary to achieve such reductions. 
(2) SEPARATE
VIEWS.—Any member of the 
Commission may submit additional findings and rec-
ommendations as part of the report. 
(b) CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.—Not later than 6 
months after the report described in subsection (a) is sub-
mitted, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the 
Senate shall hold hearings on the report. 
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SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out this Act. The Commission 
shall hold at least seven public hearings, one or more in 
Washington, DC, and four in different regions of the 
United States. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such de-
partment or agency shall furnish such information to the 
Commission. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government. 
SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 
the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the 
Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal 
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in-
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cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged 
in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All 
members of the Commission who are officers or employees 
of the United States shall serve without compensation in 
addition to that received for their services as officers or 
employees of the United States. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com-
mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employ-
ees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
5, United States Code, while away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of duties of 
the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to the civil service 
laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an exec-
utive director and such other additional personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form its duties. The employment of an executive di-
rector shall be subject to confirmation by the Com-
mission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard to 
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the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating 
to classification of positions and General Schedule 
pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu-
tive director and other personnel may not exceed the 
rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title. 
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall 
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege. 
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 
may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; GAO AUDIT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated $2,000,000 to the Commission to carry out this 
Act. 
(b) GAO AUDIT.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date on which the Commission terminates, the Comptroller 
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General of the United States shall complete an audit of 
the financial books and records of the Commission and 
shall submit a report on the audit to the President and 
the Congress. 
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the 
date on which the Commission submits its report under 
section 5(a). 
SEC. 10. MORATORIUM ON FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS. 
The President shall not submit to the Congress any 
free trade agreement, or any legislation implementing a 
free trade agreement, until— 
(1) the report of the Commission has been de-
livered to the Congress and the President under sec-
tion 5(a); and 
(2) the committees of Congress referred to in 
section 5(b) have completed the hearings required 
under such section. 
Æ 
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