Most commented sections:

• Paragraph 179 (1 comments)
• Paragraph 182 (1 comments)
• Paragraph 87 (1 comments)

HR 3012 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require a review of existing trade agreements and renegotiation of existing trade agreements based on the review, to set terms for future trade agreements, to express the sense of the Congress that the role of Congress in trade policymaking should be strengthened, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 24, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. MICHAUD (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. BACA, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BOCCIERI, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CARNEY, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CHANDLER, Mr. CHILDERS, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mrs. DAHLKEMPER, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. DOYLE, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. FILNER, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HALL of New York, Mr. HARE, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. JONES, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. KANJORSKI, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. KILROY, Mr. KISSELL, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MASSA, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. NADLER of New York, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PERRIELLO, Mr. PETERS, Mr. PETERSON, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. ROSS, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHAUER, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. SHULER, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. STUPAK, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. TONKO, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. WALZ, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WELCH, Mr. WILSON of Ohio, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WU, and Mr. SPRATT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require a review of existing trade agreements and renegotiation of existing trade agreements based on the review, to set terms for future trade agreements, to express the sense of the Congress that the role of Congress in trade policymaking should be strengthened, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act of 2009’ or the ‘TRADE Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CORE LABOR STANDARDS- The term ‘core labor standards’ means the core labor rights as stated in the Conventions of the International Labour Organization relating to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) effective abolition of child labor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) elimination of discrimination with respect to employment and occupation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS- The term ‘fundamental human rights’ means the rights enumerated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MAJOR U.S. TRADE PARTNERS- The term ‘major U.S. trade partners’ means Belgium, Brazil, the People’s Republic of China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENT- The term ‘multilateral environmental agreement’ means any international agreement or provision thereof to which the United States is a party and which is intended to protect, or has the effect of protecting, the environment or human health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) STATE- The term ‘State’ means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) TRADE AGREEMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in section 4, the term ‘trade agreement’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the North American Free Trade Agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) URUGUAY ROUND AGREEMENTS- Except as provided in section 4, the term ‘trade agreement’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1994) annexed to the WTO Agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the WTO Agreement described in section 2(9) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3501(9));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) any other agreement described in section 101(d) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) any multilateral agreement entered into by the United States under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, including any agreement relating to information technology, telecommunications, or financial services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. REVIEW AND REPORT ON EXISTING TRADE AGREEMENTS.

(a) Review and Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) conduct a review of all trade agreements in force at the time of the review for the purpose of evaluating the economic, environmental, national security, health, safety, and other effects of the trade agreements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) submit to the Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee established under section 6 a report that includes the information described under subsections (b) and (c) and the recommendations required under subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COOPERATION OF AGENCIES- The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Comptroller General for purposes of facilitating preparation of the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) INFLATION-CONTROLLED DOLLARS- Data expressed in terms of United States dollars should be in inflation adjusted terms unless otherwise indicated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Information With Respect to Trade Agreements- The report required by subsection (a) shall, with respect to each trade agreement, to the extent practicable, include the following information covering the period between the date on which the trade agreement entered into force with respect to the United States and the date on which the Comptroller General completes the review:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) An analysis of indicators of the economic impact of each trade agreement, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The employment effects of the trade agreement on job gains and losses in the United States delineated by industry, year, and State, taking note of specific firm, industry, or regional cases of substantial trade agreement-related employment losses or gains, including a list of the top ten industries that experienced employment gains and losses in the United States. In addition to utilizing existing government data, the Comptroller General shall develop and utilize a labor requirements model derived from detailed input-output tables to estimate the number of jobs supported or displaced by shifts in the level and rate of change of United States net exports and investment flows.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The effects of the trade agreement on changes in relative and absolute wage levels, income distribution by decile, and hours worked by sector and State, on a year-to-year basis, in the United States. In addition to utilizing existing government data, the Comptroller General shall develop and utilize factor content analyses, product price regressions, computable general equilibrium models, and other applicable methods to isolate the impact of the trade agreement (and its associated investment flows) on changes in relative and absolute wages and income distribution by education, skill level, and trade-sensitivity of various sectors, controlling for appropriate indicators such as region, race, and gender.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) The dollar value of domestic exports of the United States and imports for consumption into the United States delineated, to the extent such information is available, by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) Standard International Trade Classification (SITC)-5,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)-4,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) North American Industry Classification (NAIC)-6,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) the 10-digit classification number under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) year, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) trade-partner country,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





including listing those goods for which there has been a change in 10 percent or more in bilateral trade flows.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) The share of global production, productive capacity, investment, exports and employment, and other indicators of the competitive position (such as productivity gains and patents registered) of industries in the United States significantly affected by the trade agreement, taking note of major production and employment offshoring trends and changes in sourcing patterns before and after entry into force of the trade agreement with respect to the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) An analysis of the effect on agriculture and food-related outcomes, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A)(i) The trend, on a year-by-year basis, of prices and production volumes in the United States, and exports from and imports into the United States, of agricultural commodities, food products, and ingredients thereof, that are imported in significant volume into the United States from a country that is a party to the trade agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) the term ‘significant volume’ means, with respect to agricultural commodities, food products, or ingredients, 10 percent or more of domestic consumption of such agricultural commodities, food products, or ingredients; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(II) imports of such agricultural commodities, food products, and ingredients shall be measured according to the 4-digit classification of the commodities, products, and ingredients under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) An analysis of the effects, if any, on the cost of agricultural programs in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) The number of farms operating in the United States, detailed by farm typology and sales level, and the number of acres under production by crop, for agricultural commodities that are exported from the United States to a country that is a party to the trade agreement, on a year-by-year basis.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) An analysis of the effects, if any, on market concentration, prices, and fair competition in the markets for agricultural commodities and food products that are subject to significant volumes of trade between the United States and each other country that is a party to the trade agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3)(A) An analysis of the progress in implementing commitments under the trade agreement, and the record of compliance with the terms of the trade agreement, by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) each country that is a party to the trade agreement, in the case of a trade agreement describe in section 2(6)(A); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by each of the major U.S. trade partners, in the case of a trade agreement described in section 2(6)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) A description of any outstanding disputes between the United States and any other country that is a party to the trade agreement, including a description of laws, regulations, or policies of the United States or any State that such other country has challenged, or threatened to challenge, under the trade agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) An analysis of the ability of the United States to ensure that each other country that is a party to the trade agreement complies with United States laws and regulations, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) complying with the customs laws of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) making timely payment of duties owed on goods imported into the United States, including, in such analysis, the amount of duties paid by such other country;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) meeting safety and inspection requirements with respect to food and other products imported into the United States from such other country;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) complying with prohibitions on the transshipment of goods that are ultimately imported into the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) enforcing the trade agreement, including preventing dumping, subsidies, and circumvention.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) An analysis of any privatization of public sector services in the United States or in any other country that is a party to the trade agreement, if the service involved is covered by the investment, financial services, or services provisions of the trade agreement, including any effect such privatization has on the access of consumers to essential services, such as health care, electricity, gas, water, telephone service, or other utilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) An assessment of the impact of the intellectual property provisions of the trade agreement on the retail price of pharmaceuticals in any country that is a party to the trade agreement and the effect, if any, that changes in the price of pharmaceuticals have had on access by consumers to medicines.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) An analysis of the impact of government procurement rules in the trade agreement on the procurement of goods or services by United States Federal or State government agencies, including annual information on the value of goods and services procured, delineated by Federal or State government and agency, by good or service procured, and by the country from which the good or service originated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) An assessment of the impact of significant currency movements, currency misalignment, or currency manipulation on the bilateral trade balance between the United States and each other country that is a party to the trade agreement and each of the major U.S. trade partners.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Information on Countries That Are Parties to Trade Agreements- With respect to each country with which the United States has a trade agreement in effect, the report required under subsection (a) shall include information regarding whether that country--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) has a democratic form of government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) respects core labor rights, as defined by the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations and the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Organization;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) respects fundamental human rights, as determined by the Secretary of State in the annual country reports on human rights of the Department of State;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) is designated as a country of particular concern with respect to religious freedom under section 402(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) is on a list described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 110(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(1)) (commonly known as tier 2 or tier 3 of the Trafficking in Persons List of the Department of State);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) has taken effective measures to combat and prevent public and private corruption, including measures with respect to tax evasion and money laundering, and has ratified the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) complies with the multilateral environmental agreements to which the country is a party;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) has in force adequate labor and environmental laws and regulations, has devoted sufficient resources to implementing those laws and regulations, and has an adequate record of enforcement of those laws and regulations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) adequately protects intellectual property rights;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) provides for governmental transparency, due process of law, and respect for international agreements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) poses potential concerns to the national security of the United States, including an assessment of the transfer of technology, production, and services from one country to another.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Recommendations- The report required under subsection (a) shall include recommendations of the Comptroller General for addressing issues with respect to a trade agreement that are identified under subsections (b) and (c). The recommendations shall include suggestions for renegotiating the trade agreement based on the requirements described in section 4(b) and for negotiations with respect to new trade agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Citations- The Comptroller General shall include in the report required under subsection (a) citations to the sources of data used in preparing the report and a description of the methodologies employed in preparing the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Trend Analysis- The report required under subsection (a) shall include a trend analysis of relative and absolute wage levels on a year-to-year basis in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) each country with which the United States has a trade agreement described in section 2(6)(A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) each major U.S. trade partner;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) each country with which the United States has considered establishing a free trade agreement, including South Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Cambodia.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Public Comment- In preparing the report required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) hold hearings that are open to the public; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) provide an opportunity for members of the public to testify and submit written comments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Public Availability- The information in each report required under subsection (a) shall be made available to the public not later than 14 days after the Comptroller General completes the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN TRADE AGREEMENTS.

(a) In General-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION- Notwithstanding section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2191) or any other provision of law, any bill implementing a trade agreement between the United States and another country that is introduced in the Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act shall not be subject to expedited consideration or special procedures regarding amendment or debate unless the trade agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TRADE AGREEMENT DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the term ‘trade agreement’ means any trade agreement entered into between the United States and one or more countries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requirements- The requirements referred to in subsection (a) regarding a trade agreement between the United States and another country are the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) LABOR STANDARDS- The labor provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be included in the core text of the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require each country that is party to the trade agreement--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) to adopt and maintain as part of its domestic law and regulations (including in any designated zone in that country) the core labor standards; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) to effectively enforce laws related to core labor standards and acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) prohibit a country that is a party to the trade agreement from waiving or otherwise derogating from its laws and regulations relating to the core labor standards and acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) provide that failures to meet the labor standards required by the trade agreement shall be subject to effective dispute resolution and enforcement mechanisms and penalties that are included in the core text of the trade agreement and that are at least as effective as the mechanisms and penalties that apply to the commercial provisions of the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) strengthen the capacity of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to promote and enforce core labor standards;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) provide for the establishment of a commission comprised of individuals with international and comparative labor rights expertise, including representatives of independent labor unions of countries that are parties to the trade agreement, representatives of exporting businesses of countries that are parties to the trade agreement, and independent academic researchers, to receive, investigate, review, and participate in the adjudication of any complaint filed under the labor provisions of the trade agreement, and vest the commission with the authority to establish objective indicators to determine compliance with the obligations set forth in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) require each country that is a party to the trade agreement to cooperate fully with investigations by the commission required under subparagraph (F).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS- The human rights provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be included in the core text of the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require each country that is a party to the trade agreement to recognize the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) prohibit each country that is a party to the trade agreement from waiving or otherwise derogating from its laws and regulations relating to fundamental human rights;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) provide that failures to meet the fundamental human rights required by the trade agreement shall be subject to effective dispute resolution and enforcement mechanisms and penalties that are included in the core text of the trade agreement and that are at least as effective as the mechanisms and penalties that apply to the commercial provisions of the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) strengthen the capacity of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to promote and enforce fundamental human rights;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) provide for the establishment of a commission composed of representatives specializing in international and comparative human rights, including representatives of independent human rights organizations of countries who are parties to the trade agreement and academic researchers, to receive, investigate, review, and participate in the adjudication of any complaint filed under the human rights provisions of the trade agreement, and vest the commission with the authority to establish objective indicators to determine compliance with the obligations set forth in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) require any other country that is a party to the trade agreement to cooperate fully with investigations by the commission required under subparagraph (F).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS- The environmental provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be included in the core text of the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) prohibit each country that is a party to the trade agreement from weakening, eliminating, or failing to enforce domestic environmental or other public health or safety standards to promote trade or attract investment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) require each country that is a party to the trade agreement to implement and enforce fully and effectively, including through domestic law, the country’s obligations under multilateral environmental agreements and provide for the enforcement of such obligations under the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) prohibit the trade of goods derived from illegally harvested or extracted natural resources, at any stage of production, including timber and timber products, fish, wildlife, and associated products, mineral resources, and other environmentally sensitive goods;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) provide that the failure to meet the environmental standards required by the trade agreement be subject to dispute resolution and enforcement mechanisms and penalties that are at least as effective as the mechanisms and penalties that apply to the commercial provisions of the trade agreement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) allow each country that is a party to the trade agreement to adopt and implement environmental, health, and safety standards, recognizing the legitimate right of governments to protect the environment and public health and safety.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) FOOD AND PRODUCT HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS- If the trade agreement contains health and safety standards for food and other products, the trade agreement shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) establish that food, feed, food ingredients, and other related food products may be imported into the United States from a country that is a party to the trade agreement only if such products meet or exceed United States standards with respect to food safety, pesticides, inspections, packaging, and labeling;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) establish that nonfood products may be imported into the United States from a country that is a party to the trade agreement only if such products meet or exceed United States standards with respect to health and safety, inspections, packaging, and labeling;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) allow each country that is a party to the trade agreement to impose standards designed to protect public health and safety unless it can be clearly demonstrated that such standards do not protect the public health or safety;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D)(i) authorize the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to assess the regulatory system of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to determine whether the system provides the same or better protection of health and safety for food and other products as provided under the regulatory system of the United States and authorize other appropriate United States Federal agencies to assess the regulatory system of each country that is party to the trade agreement to determine whether the system provides the same or better quality controls on manufactured goods as provided under the regulatory system of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) if the Commissioner or the Commission determines that the regulatory system of such a country does not provide the same or better protection of health and safety for food and other products as provided under the regulatory system of the United States, or another appropriate agency determines that the regulatory system of such a country does not provide the same or better quality controls on manufactured goods as provided under the regulatory system of the United States, provide that the United States may prohibit the importation into the United States of food and other products from that country; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) provide a process by which producers from countries whose regulatory systems are determined pursuant to clause (ii) by the Commissioner, the Commission, or another appropriate agency not to provide the same or better protection or quality controls as that provided under the regulatory system of the United States may have specific facilities inspected and certified so as to allow products from approved facilities to be imported into the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) if harmonization of food or product health or safety standards is necessary to facilitate trade, provide that such harmonization be based on standards that are no less stringent than standards in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) SERVICES PROVISIONS- If the trade agreement contains provisions related to the provision of services, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) preserve the right of United States Federal, State, and local governments to maintain essential public services and to regulate, for the benefit of the public, services provided to consumers in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B)(i) require each country that is a party to the trade agreement to establish a positive list of each service sector that will be subject to the obligations of the country under the trade agreement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) apply the trade agreement only to the service sectors that are on the list described in clause (i);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) establish a general exception to market access obligations that allows each country that is a party to the trade agreement to maintain or establish a ban on services that the country considers harmful to public health or safety, the environment, or public morals, if the ban is applied to domestic and foreign services and service providers alike;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) require service providers of each country that is a party to the trade agreement that provide services through commercial presence in the United States to consumers in the United States to comply with environmental, land use, safety, privacy, transparency, professional qualification, and consumer access laws and regulations in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) require that services provided to consumers in the United States, such as medical and financial services, that are subject to privacy laws and regulations in the United States may only be provided by service providers in other countries that provide privacy protections and protections for confidential information that are equal to or exceed the protections provided by privacy laws and regulations in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) not require the privatization of public services in any country that is a party to the trade agreement or the deregulation of a service, including services related to national security, social security, health, public safety, education, water, sanitation, other utilities, ports, or transportation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) not subject local governments to the service sector obligations under the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) not include provisions with respect to immigration or the movement of natural persons; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) not limit any nondiscriminatory national, regional, or local government program that establishes reimbursement rates under public health insurance programs, or otherwise controls the costs of pharmaceuticals or medical devices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) INVESTMENT PROVISIONS- If the trade agreement contains provisions related to investment, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) preserve the ability of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to regulate foreign investment in a manner consistent with the needs and priorities of the country;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) allow each country that is a party to the trade agreement to place prudential restrictions on speculative capital to reduce global financial instability and trade volatility;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) not be subject to an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism under the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) ensure that foreign investors operating in the United States are not afforded greater rights than those afforded to domestic investors by the Constitution and laws of the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) provide for government-to-government dispute resolution relating to expropriation only for those disputes relating to a government action that destroys all value of the real property of a foreign investor permanently, but not government actions that do not merely diminish the value of property;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) define the term ‘investment’ to mean not more than a commitment of capital or acquisition of real property and to exclude assumption of risk or expectation of gain or profit;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) define the term ‘investor’ to mean only a person who makes a commitment or acquisition described in subparagraph (F); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) define the standard of minimum treatment to provide no greater legal rights than United States citizens possess under the due process clause of section 1 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) PROCUREMENT STANDARDS- If the trade agreement contains government procurement provisions, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) require each country that is a party to the trade agreement to establish a positive list of industry sectors, goods, or services that will be subject to the obligations of the country under the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) with respect to the United States, apply only to State governments that specifically agree to the trade agreement and only to the industry sectors, goods, or services specifically identified by the State government and not apply to local governments; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) include only technical specifications for goods or services, supplier qualifications, or other conditions for receiving government contracts that do not undermine--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) prevailing wage policies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) recycled content policies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) sustainable harvest policies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) renewable energy policies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) human rights; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) project labor agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS- If the trade agreement contains provisions related to the protection of intellectual property rights, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) promote adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) include only terms relating to patents that do not, overtly or in application, limit the flexibilities and rights established in the Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, adopted by the World Trade Organization at the Fourth Ministerial Conference at Doha, Qatar, on November 14, 2001, including the flexibilities and rights relating to the promotion of access to medicines and the issuance of compulsory licenses on grounds determined by member states;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) require that any provisions relating to the patenting of traditional knowledge be consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity, concluded at Rio de Janeiro June 5, 1992; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) ensure that the access of the public to essential medicines and to technologies critical to preventing climate change is not obstructed by any provision of the trade agreement relating to the protection of intellectual property rights.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) AGRICULTURAL STANDARDS- If the trade agreement contains provisions related to agriculture, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) ensure adequate and stable market returns for farmers in each country that is a party to the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ensure adequate and affordable supplies of safe food for consumers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) protect the right of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to encourage conservation through the use of best practices with respect to the management and production of crops;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) ensure fair treatment of agricultural workers in each country that is a party to the trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) protect the right of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to prevent dumping of agricultural commodities at below the cost of production through border regulations or other mechanisms and policies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) protect the right of each country that is a party to the trade agreement to establish policies with respect to food and agriculture that require farmers to receive fair remuneration for management and labor that occurs on farms and that allow for inventory management and strategic food and renewable energy reserves, while ensuring that such policies do not aid or abet, or otherwise contribute to or allow, the dumping of agricultural commodities onto world markets at below the cost of production;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) preserve any existing United States law relating to antitrust and anticompetitive business practices from being preempted or rendered ineffective by the trade agreement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) not conflict with agricultural policy established in the laws of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) TRADE REMEDIES AND SAFEGUARDS- If the trade agreement contains trade remedy provisions, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) preserve fully the ability of the United States to enforce its trade laws, including antidumping and countervailing duty laws and safeguard laws, the right to calculate 100 percent of the dumping in all antidumping proceedings, and the right to disburse domestically antidumping and countervailing duties as the United States so determines;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) not decrease the effectiveness of domestic and international prohibitions on unfair trade, especially prohibitions on dumping and subsidies, and domestic and international safeguard provisions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) establish mechanisms to address and remedy market distortions that lead to dumping and subsidization, including overcapacity, cartelization, and market-access barriers, by imposing strong sanctions against subsidies, including applying the countervailing duty law when exporters receive tax rebates for indirect taxes upon export;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) allow the United States to maintain adequate safeguards for a minimum of two years to ensure that surges of imported goods do not result in economic burdens on workers, firms, or farmers in the United States, including providing that such safeguards go into effect based on certain criteria;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) establish mechanisms among the parties to the trade agreement to examine the trade consequences of significant currency movements and to scrutinize whether a party’s currency is misaligned to promote a competitive advantage in international trade; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) if the currency of a country that is party to the trade agreement is deliberately misaligned, establish safeguard remedies that apply for a minimum period of two years to offset substantial and sustained currency movements and also allow, alternatively, for the application of countervailing duties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS- If the trade agreement contains provisions related to dispute resolution, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) incorporate due process rules and procedures, including ensuring that dispute resolution proceedings are open to the public, that public access to information regarding enforcement, disputes, and ongoing negotiations related to disputes is provided in a timely manner, and that conflict of interest rules apply fully to adjudicators;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require that any dispute settlement panel, including an appellate panel, addressing issues involving intellectual property rights or environmental, health, labor, human rights, or other public interest issues include panelists with expertise in such issues;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) require an expedited process for all dispute settlement panels and processes relating to violations of an agreement’s labor, human rights, and environmental obligations, recognizing that environmental and labor rights and the health, safety, and freedom of people and possibly irreversible damage to the physical environment are fundamentally different than property rights and thus require establishment of more expeditious timelines, together with the necessary resources for oversight and enforcement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) require that panels reviewing antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings of a party to the trade agreement apply a standard of review that gives deference to the administrating authority of the party whose measure is under review.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- If the trade agreement contains technical assistance provisions, such provisions shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be designed to raise standards in developing countries by providing assistance that ensures respect for diversity of development paths;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) be designed to empower civil society and democratic governments to create sustainable, vibrant economies and respect basic rights; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) provide that technical assistance shall not substitute for or supplant economic assistance and not promote exportation of goods produced with the exploitation of labor or unsustainable environmental practices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) EXCEPTIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND OTHER REASONS- Each agreement shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) include an essential security exception that permits a country that is a party to the trade agreement to apply measures that the country considers necessary for the maintenance or restoration of international peace or security, or the protection of its own essential security interests, including with respect to infrastructure, services, manufacturing, and other sectors;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) explicitly state that if a country invokes the essential security exception in a dispute settlement proceeding relating to any matter other than compliance with the agreement’s worker rights, environment, human rights, health, or safety provisions, the dispute settlement body hearing the matter shall find that the exception applies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) include a provision that gives priority to the implementation of bilateral or multilateral agreements relating to public health, human and labor rights, the environment, or other public interest goals in the event of any inconsistency between the trade agreement and such bilateral or multilateral agreement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) include in its list of general exceptions the following language: ‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, a provision of law that is nondiscriminatory on its face and relates to domestic health, consumer safety, the environment, labor rights, worker health and safety, economic equity, consumer access, the provision of goods or services, or investment, shall not be subject to challenge under the dispute resolution mechanism established under this agreement, unless the primary purpose of the law is to discriminate with respect to market access.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) FEDERALISM- The trade agreement may only require a State government in the United States to comply with procurement, investment, or services provisions contained in the trade agreement if the State government has been consulted in full and has given explicit consent to be bound by such provisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) TAXATION- Each agreement shall provide for border tax equity for United States producers and United States exporters in the assessment and rebate of indirect taxes (such as consumption and sales taxes), including by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) prohibiting the imposition of such taxes on United States exports when imported in excess of the level of such taxes applied at the border by the United States to imports from parties to the trade agreement, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) prohibiting the rebate of taxes on exports in amounts in excess of any such taxes rebated by the United States on United States exports in excess of any such taxes rebated by the United States,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





or by adopting measures under both subparagraphs (A) and (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. RENEGOTIATION OF EXISTING TRADE AGREEMENTS.

(a) Plan- The President shall, at the times specified under subsection (b), submit to the Congress a plan for renegotiating each trade agreement that is in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act to bring the trade agreement into compliance with the requirements of section 4(b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Timing- The plan under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than 90 days before the earlier of the day on which the President--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) initiates negotiations with a foreign country with respect to the trade agreement being renegotiated; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) submits a bill to Congress to implement the revised trade agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL TRADE AGREEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment- There is established a Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Functions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Committee--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) shall receive the reports of the Comptroller General of the United States submitted to the Committee under section 3(a)(1)(B);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) shall review the plan for renegotiation of trade agreements submitted by the President under section 5; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) may, not later than 60 days after receiving the plan described in subparagraph (B), taking into account the reports of the Comptroller General referred to in subparagraph (A), add items for renegotiation to the plan, reject recommendations in the plan, or otherwise amend the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ACTION BY VOTE- Action by the Committee under paragraph (1)(C) requires a vote of 2/3 of the Members of the Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Appointment and Membership- The Committee shall be composed of the chair and ranking members of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) The Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The Committee on Finance of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON IMPROVING THE PROCESS FOR UNITED STATES TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.

It is the sense of the Congress that if Congress considers legislation to provide for special procedures for the consideration of bills to implement trade agreements, that legislation should include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) readiness criteria for the President to use in determining whether a country--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) is able to meet its obligations under a trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) meets the requirements described in section 3(c); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) is an appropriate country with which to enter into a trade agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a process by which the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives review the determination of the President described in paragraph (1) to verify that the country meets the criteria;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) requirements for consultation with Congress during trade negotiations that require more frequent consultations than required by the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), including a process for consultation with any committee of Congress with jurisdiction over any area covered by the negotiations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) binding negotiating objectives and requirements outlining what must and must not be included in a trade agreement, including the requirements described in section 4(b);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) a process for review and certification by the Congress to ensure that the negotiating objectives described in paragraph (4) have been met during the negotiations;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) a process--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by which a State may give informed consent to be bound by nontariff provisions in a trade agreement that relate to investment, the service sector, and procurement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) that prevents a State from being bound by the provisions described in subparagraph (A) if the State has not consented; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) a requirement that a trade agreement be approved by a majority vote in both Houses of Congress before the President may sign the trade agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink