To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to modify and extend the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-8884
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
Introduced: 2020-12-07
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Congressional oversight

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Government studies and investigations

Human rights

Rule of law and government transparency

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Women's employment
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-12-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill extends the Generalized System of Preferences through June 30, 2021, it adds human rights, environmental, and other criteria for designation as a beneficiary developing country, and it requires a review of laws relating to internationally recognized worker rights.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8884 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 7, 2020 Mr. Blumenauer (for himself, Ms. Sewell of Alabama , and Ms. Moore ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to modify and extend the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes.

1. Modification and extension of Generalized System of Preferences (a) Designation of beneficiary developing countries Section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2462 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following: (I) Such country engages in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights in that country (including any designated zone in that country). (J) Such country has failed to effectively enforce its environmental laws, regulations, or other measures, or to fulfill its international environmental obligations, including as such obligations relate to public health. ; and (B) in the text following subparagraph (J) (as so inserted), by striking and (H) (to the extent described in section 507(6)(D)) and inserting (H) (to the extent described in section 507(6)(D)), (I), and (J) ; (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (8) the extent to which such country effectively enforces its environmental laws, regulations, and other measures, and fulfills its international environmental obligations, including as such obligations relate to public health; and (9) the extent to which such country has established, or is making continual progress toward establishing— (A) the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process, a fair trial, and equal protection under the law; (B) economic policies to reduce poverty, increase the availability of health care and educational opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote the development of private enterprise, and encourage the formation of capital markets through micro-credit or other programs; and (C) a system to combat corruption and bribery, such as signing and implementing the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (g) Assessment and report on compliance with eligibility requirements (1) In general The President shall— (A) on an annual basis— (i) conduct assessments on compliance of an appropriate number of countries designated as beneficiary developing countries for purposes of this title in meeting or continuing to meet their eligibility requirements under this title; and (ii) make determinations whether to self-initiate full country practice reviews of those countries’ continued eligibility under this title; and (B) submit to Congress a report consisting of the results of such assessments and determinations. (2) Frequency The President shall conduct an assessment described in clause (i) of paragraph (1)(A) and make a determination described in clause (ii) of such paragraph with respect to each country designated as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of this title not less frequently than once every 3 years. . (b) Supplemental review and reporting (1) Policy of the United States It is the policy of the United States to support gender equality and worker rights by promoting legal reforms that address legal, structural, and social barriers that constrain the full and free economic participation of all workers in the global economy. (2) Review of laws (A) In general Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 504 the following: 504A. Review of laws relating to internationally recognized worker rights and equal rights and protection under the law (a) In general Not later than May 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the United States Trade Representative and the Deputy Undersecretary of Labor for International Affairs, in consultation with the policy advisory committee on labor established under section 135(c)(1), shall jointly— (1) review the laws of each beneficiary developing country relating to internationally recognized worker rights and the affording of equal rights and protection under the law, regardless of gender, in each of the categories described in subsection (b); (2) assess the legal rights and protections afforded in such countries; and (3) submit to Congress a report on the laws of and legal rights and protections afforded in such countries. (b) Categories described The categories described in this subsection are the following: (1) Internationally recognized worker rights. (2) Mobility. (3) Employment conditions, benefits and pay, including equal pay for equal work and removal of employment restrictions. (4) Entrepreneurship. (5) Assets, including property and inheritance rights. (6) Equal access to education. (7) Access to institutions. (8) Protections from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. (9) Marriage, divorce, and child custody. (c) Methodology and sources The report required by subsection (a)(3) shall include— (1) an explanation of the methodology and sources used for the conduct of reviews under subsection (a)(1) and the conduct of assessments under subsection (a)(2); and (2) where relevant, citations to data, information, studies, and assessments that were used to prepare the report and were gathered, compiled, or developed by the United States Government, foreign governments, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, or educational institutions. (d) Measurement of women’s economic empowerment To support the measurement of women’s economic empowerment, the Trade Representative shall encourage and support the reporting by beneficiary developing countries of sex-disaggregated economic and business data, including the gathering of information consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goals relating to gender equality and decent work. . (B) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Trade Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 504 the following: Sec. 504A. Review of laws relating to internationally recognized worker rights and equal rights and protection under the law. . (c) Extension of Generalized System of Preferences Section 505 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2465 ) is amended by striking December 31, 2020 and inserting June 30, 2021 . 2. United States International Trade Commission study Not later than May 1, 2021, the United States International Trade Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains a study on rules of origin and the utilization rates under the Generalized System of Preferences program under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), including an assessment of— (1) the utilization rates of least-developed beneficiary developing countries under the program; and (2) the effectiveness of the program’s rules of origin in promoting trade benefits to least-developed beneficiary developing countries under the program and preventing the transshipment of products from countries that are not beneficiary developing countries under the program.