the identification and development of additional
data bases and economic measurements that
may be needed to properly quantify the factors
described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C);
(E) the extent to which United States tax
laws, such as income deferral, contribute to the
movement of manufacturing facilities and jobs
to foreign locations;
(F) the relationship that tariff and non-
tariff barriers have to trade deficits and the ex-
tent to which trade deficits have become struc-
tural;
(G) 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
(H) the role of transhipments on bilateral
trade, including foreign imports and exports,
with special attention to transhipments 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
to the goods that are exported to and imported
from various 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 which
are produced by child and 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 impact on United States competi-
tiveness.
(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 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;
(D) the effect of investment flows on
wages in countries with developed economies
and on countries of the former Soviet Union;
and
(E) the effect of barriers to United States
foreign direct investment in developed and de-
veloping nations, particularly nations 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 of manufacturing, agri-
cultural, and production sectors in the United
States which are vital to the economy and secu-
rity of the United States;
(C) the discouragement of the expatriation
of United States plants, jobs, and production to
nations 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 nations;
(E) methods by which the United States
can respond to substantial shifts or manipula-
tion of currency exchange rates which distort
trade relationships;
(F) methods for overcoming and offsetting
trade barriers which 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 nations that
the United States has significant, persistent
sectoral or bilateral trade deficits, including
Japan, China, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and
Taiwan;
(H) methods for the United States to re-
spond to the particular needs and cir-
cumstances of developing and developed nations
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-
ner that insures improved compensation and
quality of life for United States citizens.
SEC. 5. FINAL REPORT; CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.
(a) FINAL 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 final report which 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 necessary to achieve
such reductions.
(2) SEPARATE
VIEWS.—Any member of the
Commission may submit additional findings and rec-
ommendations as part of the final report.
(b) CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.—Not later than 6
months after the final report described in subsection (a)
is submitted, 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.
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
may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this Act.
The Commission shall hold at least 7 public hearings, 1
or more in Washington, D.C. and 4 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 the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation 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.
(d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
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-
cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged
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 the
provisions of this Act.
(b) GAO AUDIT.—Not later than 6 months after ter-
mination of the Commission, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall complete an audit of the financial
books and records of the Commission to determine that
the limitation on expenses has been met, and shall submit
a report on the audit to the President and the Congress.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall cease to exist 30 days after
the date on which the Commission submits the final report
under section 5.
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