Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-1900
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]
Introduced: 2014-01-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit
Agricultural trade
Child safety and welfare
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Digital media
Economic development
Economic performance and conditions
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Environmental health
Environmental regulatory procedures
Food assistance and relief
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Free trade and trade barriers
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Human rights
Intellectual property
International law and treaties
International monetary system and foreign exchange
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor standards
Legislative rules and procedure
Marine pollution
Members of Congress
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Rule of law and government transparency
Rural conditions and development
Service industries
Small business
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Tariffs
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
Unemployment
Wetlands
Worker safety and health
Youth employment and child labor

Summary:
action_date: 2014-01-09
text: 
Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014 - States the overall trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to any agreement with a foreign country to reduce or eliminate existing tariffs or nontariff barriers of that country or the United States that are unduly burdening and restricting U.S. trade. Includes among such objectives obtaining: (1) more open, equitable, and reciprocal market access; and (2) the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and distortions that are directly related to trade and investment and that decrease market opportunities for U.S. exports or otherwise distort U.S. trade.
 
States the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to: (1) goods and services; (2) agriculture; (3) foreign investment; (5) intellectual property; (6) digital goods and services, as well as cross-border data flows; (7) regulatory practices; (8) state-owned and state-controlled enterprises; (9) localization barriers to trade; (10) labor and the environment; (11) currency; (12) the World Trade Organization and multilateral trade agreements; (13) trade institution transparency; (14) anti-corruption; (15) dispute settlement and enforcement; (16) trade remedy laws; (17) border taxes; and (18) textile negotiations.
 
Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries for the reduction or elimination of tariff or nontariff barriers before July 1, 2018, or July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended to implementing bills (congressional approval) with respect to such agreements.
 
Authorizes the President to proclaim necessary or appropriate modifications or continuation of any existing duty, continuation of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or additional duties to carry out any such agreement. 
 
Subjects trade agreements to congressional oversight and approval, consultations, and access to information requirements.
 
Specifies presidential notifications and other actions and their deadlines that must take place for any trade agreement to enter into force.
 
Prescribes requirements for the treatment of trade agreements entered into under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries or the European Union (EU) which result from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) should facilitate participation of small businesses in the trade negotiation process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-01-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2014-01-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S224-225, S226)
action_date: 2014-01-09
text: Introduced in Senate