International Trade Daily | September 10, 2001 | By Rossella Brevetti
A meeting among House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) and several pro-trade Democrats on developing a compromise trade promotion authority proposal was "very constructive," a Democratic aide told BNA Sept. 7, adding that additional sessions are likely soon.
The meeting took place Sept. 6 and was the first such effort since Congress adjourned. The lawmakers--Thomas and Reps. Cal Dooley (D-Calif.), William J. Jefferson (D-La.), and John S. Tanner (D-Tenn.)--addressed the substance of the proposal as well as how a bipartisan coalition might be put together in support of a measure to renew TPA, the aide said.
TPA, which used to be called fast track, is a controversial procedural device shielding legislation implementing trade agreements from congressional amendment. Renewal of the expired authority has been blocked for years by disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over the role of labor and environmental standards in trade negotiations.
GOP House leaders had hoped to have a vote on TPA before the August recess. However, insufficient support for the pending measure (H.R. 2149), particularly among Democrats, and the lack of an alternative proposal caused them to drop the plan. Introduced by Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Phil Crane (R-Ill.), the bill was blasted by Democrats as giving short shrift to labor and environmental concerns.
Republicans have argued that enforceable labor and environmental standards in trade deals could be used for protectionist purposes. They also generally believe that attaching such provisions to trade deals could scare developing countries away from the negotiating table.
Hastert Eyes October
The Democratic aide noted that House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) recently stated that a House vote on TPA looks likely in October, as opposed to September. "Our view is that progress on the substance and progress on the whip effort should drive the timing of the vote," the aide said. "We think you should not try to rush a product that is less than satisfactory on labor and environmental issues," he commented, adding that details of the proposal would not be unveiled until it was something that pro trade Democrats could support in good faith.
Asked about the Hastert comment on timing, a GOP leadership aide commented: "we still hope to get it done in late September but, if not, in early October."
Another GOP House aide said that Thomas was very interested in building a majority for the measure and then moving on it quickly. "Once you have a majority, you have to move," the aide told BNA.
Rep. Levin Wrapping Up Proposal
Meanwhile, a Democratic aide told BNA Sept. 7 that Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), ranking member of the trade subcommittee, is 90 percent finished with the TPA proposal he is developing. The remaining 10 percent deals largely with the role of Congress in trade negotiations, which the aide characterized as a "very touchy" issue. "There are so many different ideas out there," he commented. The aide said that Levin's proposal would be ready by the time the GOP comes up with a "serious proposal." The aide expressed his view that the TPA compromise bill would not be ready for a markup "any time soon." In the view of House Democrats, "the Republicans don't really have a proposal," the aide said, calling the Crane bill a "non-starter." He reiterated the interest of Democrats to get enforceable labor and environmental provisions in any TPA measure.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick, in a Sept. 7 press statement, praised the GOP leadership for underscoring the importance of trade in their economic recovery proposal. "Expanding our access to foreign markets can help ignite economic recovery and expansion by providing American farmers, workers and businesses new opportunities to sell their products overseas," Zoellick said. TPA is an important part of President Bush's plan for opening markets and boosting U.S. prosperity, Zoellick said, adding that he looked forward to working with Congress to get TPA enacted this year.
Copyright c 2001 by The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Washington D.C.International Trade Daily:
