Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-995
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]
Introduced: 2015-04-16 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: 2015-04-16
text: 

Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015

 
 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 (WTO) 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.
 
Establishes within the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) the position of Chief Transparency Officer.
 
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 WTO or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries or the European Union which result from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the USTR should facilitate participation of small businesses in the trade negotiation process.

action_date: 2015-05-11
text: 

Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015

 
 (Sec. 2) Declares 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:
 
 
more open, equitable, and reciprocal market access;
 
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;
 
stronger international trade and investment disciplines and procedures, including dispute settlement;
 
enhanced U.S. competitiveness;
 
protection of the environment;
 
respect for worker and children rights consistent with International Labor Organization core labor standards; and
 
equal access of small businesses to international markets.
 
 
Declares the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to:
 
 
goods and services;
 
agriculture;
 
foreign investment;
 
intellectual property;
 
digital goods and services, as well as cross-border data flows;
 
regulatory practices;
 
state-owned and state-controlled enterprises;
 
localization barriers to trade;
 
labor and the environment;
 
currency;
 
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and multilateral trade agreements;
 
trade institution transparency;
 
anti-corruption;
 
dispute settlement and enforcement;
 
trade remedy laws;
 
border taxes;
 
textile negotiations;
 
commercial partnerships, especially with Israel; and
 
good governance, transparency, operation of legal regimes, and the rule of law of U.S. trading partners.
 
 
Directs the President, in order to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global economy, to engage in specified capacity building activities with respect to foreign countries that seek to enter into trade agreements with the United States.
 
(Sec. 3) 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 before 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.
 
(Sec. 4) Subjects trade agreements to congressional oversight and approval, consultations, and access to information requirements.
 
Requires the convening each Congress of the House and the Senate Advisory Groups on Negotiations to consult with and advise the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the formulation of specific objectives, negotiating strategies and positions, the development of the applicable trade agreement, and compliance and enforcement of the negotiated commitments under the trade agreement.
 
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the USTR the position of Chief Transparency Officer to consult with Congress on transparency policy, coordinate transparency in trade negotiations, engage and assist the public, and advise the USTR on transparency policy.
 
(Sec. 5) Specifies presidential notifications, consultations, reports, and other actions and their deadlines that must take place for any trade agreement to enter into force.
 
Specifies requirements for negotiations regarding agriculture, the fishing industry, and textiles.
 
(Sec. 6) Prescribes procedures for resolutions of disapproval in the House and the Senate before the President enters into any trade agreement.
 
Declares that trade authorities procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement:
 
 
 if both chambers of Congress agree by a certain deadline to a procedural disapproval resolution for lack of notice or consultations, and
 
with a country which does not fully comply and is not making significant efforts to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking (&quot;tier 3&quot; country). 
 
(Sec. 7) Prescribes requirements for the treatment of trade agreements entered into under the auspices of the WTO or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries or the European Union which result from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act.
 
(Sec. 8) Declares that any provision of a trade agreement that is inconsistent with any U.S. laws shall be null and void.
 
(Sec. 9) Expresses the sense of Congress that the USTR should facilitate participation of small businesses in the trade negotiation process.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: By Senator Hatch from Committee on Finance filed written report. Report No. 114-42. Additional and Minority views filed.
action_date: 2015-05-12
text: By Senator Hatch from Committee on Finance filed written report. Report No. 114-42. Additional and Minority views filed.
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 73.
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Hatch with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-05-11
text: Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Hatch with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2015-04-22
text: Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2015-04-16
text: Introduced in Senate