United States-Israel Trade Enhancement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-619
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2015-03-02
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arab-Israeli relations

Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Gaza Strip

International organizations and cooperation

Israel

Middle East

Palestinians

Trade agreements and negotiations

Trade restrictions

U.S. and foreign investments

West Bank
Latest action: action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-03-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>United States-Israel Trade Enhancement Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill states that among the principal U.S. trade negotiating objectives for trade agreements with foreign countries regarding commercial partnerships are to: </p> <ul> <li>discourage actions that directly or indirectly prejudice or discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel;</li> <li>discourage politically motivated actions by foreign countries, non-member United Nations states, and international organizations (including affiliated agencies), that are intended to penalize or limit commercial relations with Israel, persons doing business with Israel or in territories controlled by Israel, or successor entities to such persons;</li> <li>seek the elimination of politically motivated nontariff barriers on goods, services, or other commerce from Israel, as well as any boycott fostered or imposed by a foreign country against Israel; or </li> <li>discourage compliance with the boycott of Israel by the Arab League.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 619 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 2, 2015 Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Portman ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To include among the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States regarding commercial partnerships trade negotiating objectives with respect to discouraging activity that discourages, penalizes, or otherwise limits commercial relations with Israel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States-Israel Trade Enhancement Act of 2015 . 2. Consideration of trade with Israel among principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States for trade agreements regarding commercial partnerships (a) Commercial partnerships Among the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States for trade agreements regarding commercial partnerships are the following: (1) To discourage actions that directly or indirectly prejudice or otherwise discourage commercial activity solely between the United States and Israel. (2) To discourage politically motivated actions by foreign countries, non-member states of the United Nations, international organizations, and affiliated agencies of international organizations, that are intended to penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with— (A) Israel; (B) persons doing business in Israel or in territories controlled by Israel; or (C) successor entities to persons described in subparagraph (B). (3) To seek the elimination of politically motivated nontariff barriers on goods, services, or other commerce from Israel. (4) To seek the elimination of any boycott fostered or imposed by a foreign country against Israel. (5) To discourage compliance with the boycott of Israel by the Arab League. (b) Effective date This section applies with respect to any negotiation for a trade agreement commenced before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Person defined In this section: (1) In general The term person means an individual or entity, including a governmental entity operating as a business enterprise. (2) Application to governmental entities The term person does not include a government or governmental entity that is not operating as a business enterprise.