TRADE Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6180
Sponsor: Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2]
Introduced: 2008-06-04 in the House
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Agriculture in foreign trade
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional investigations
Congressional joint committees
Congressional reorganization
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer protection
Democracy
Dispute settlement
Employee rights
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Expedited congressional procedure
Food safety
Foreign investments
Free trade
Government Operations and Politics
Government procurement
House rules and procedure
Human rights
Imports
Intellectual property
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Legislation
Legislative amendments
Nontariff trade barriers
President and foreign policy
Product safety
Senate rules and procedure
Standards
Trade agreements
Trade negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: 
Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act of 2008, or the TRADE Act of 2008 - Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to: (1) review biennially certain free trade agreements (including Uruguay Round Agreements) between the United States and foreign countries; and (2) report to the Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee regarding such agreements, including analyses of specified subjects and of each agreement, as well as whether the country has a democratic form of government that respects certain core labor rights and fundamental human rights, protects intellectual property rights, and enforces environmental laws.
 
Declares that implementing bills of new trade agreements shall not be subject to expedited consideration or special procedures limiting amendment,unless such agreements include certain standards with respect to: (1) labor; (2) environment and public safety; (3) food and product health and safety; (4) provision of services; (5) investment; (6) procurement; (7) intellectual property; (8) agriculture; (9) trade remedies and safeguards; (10) rules of origin; (11) dispute resolution and enforcement; (12) technical assistance; (13) national security; and (14) taxation.
 
Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan for the renegotiation of existing trade agreements to bring them into compliance with such standards.
 
Establishes a Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) certain requirements urging the attainment of certain trade goals shall apply to all existing and new trade agreements; and (2) a certain process for U.S. trade negotiations should be followed when Congress considers legislation providing special procedures for implementing bills of trade agreements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-07-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-04
text: Introduced in House