Today, President Obama traveled to Toluca, Mexico for this year’s North American Leaders’ Summit, along with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In his remarks, the President explained that “the North American Leaders Summit gives us an opportunity to build on the enormous progress that we’ve already made in making sure that North America is the most competitive region in the world” and to move “forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership that offers the opportunity to open up new markets in the fastest, most populous region of the world, the Asia Pacific region.” (Read the President’s full remarks.)
And especially given it’s the 20th anniversary of NAFTA, the President’s Deputy National Security Advisor also stressed that “there are issues that were not addressed in NAFTA, like the labor and environmental standards that the President has spoken about in the past and that, frankly, are a part of the TPP agreement” during the Press Gaggle en route.
Trade bills, NAFTA and TPP
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- HR 156
Withdrawal From NAFTA
To provide for the withdrawal of the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
- HR 191
NAFTA Accountability Act
To assess the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to require further negotiation of certain provisions of the NAFTA, and to provide for the withdrawal from the NAFTA unless certain conditions are met.
- TPP
Trans-Pacific Partnership
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a vehicle for Asia-Pacific-wide economic integration, which will strengthen US ties to the robust economies of this region, according to the US Trade Representative. As a group, the TPP countries are the largest goods and services export market of the United States. US goods exports to the broader Asia-Pacific totaled $942 billion in 2012, representing 61 percent of total exports.
- HR 3830
Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act
(Also S 1900 in the Senate.) According to bill sponsors, it “establishes 21st century Congressional negotiating objectives and rules for the Administration to follow when engaged in trade talks, including strict requirements for Congressional consultations and access to information. Provided the Administration follows the rules, special procedures apply when moving a negotiated deal that satisfies the objectives through the Senate and House of Representatives.”
- HR 3467
Reciprocal Market Access Act
To enhance reciprocal market access for United States domestic producers in the negotiating process of bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements.
According to bill sponsor, it “would provide the United States with a comprehensive approach towards eliminating the market barriers that often prevent American manufacturers from competing in foreign markets. Currently, poorly written trade bills result in foreign nations maintaining barriers that prevent the sale of American goods abroad, while the American marketplace eliminates all barriers to foreign goods and products.”
- S 1801
Level the Playing Field in Global Trade Act
To amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to include in the calculation of normal value the cost of paying adequate wages and maintaining sustainable production methods.
According to bill sponsors, it “would ensure that sub-standard wages, workplace safety practices, and environmental protections are properly accounted for as unfair subsidies by foreign countries when calculating American duties intended to offset cheating. It also rewards companies that meet high standards on a global basis in wages, workplace safety and environmental compliance with streamlined trade and protection from enforcement actions.”
- HR 3346
Buy American Improvement Act
To amend chapter 83 of title 41, United States Code, to increase the requirement for American-made content, to strengthen the waiver provisions.
- HR 1276
Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act
To amend title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 to clarify that countervailing duties may be imposed to address subsidies relating to a fundamentally undervalued currency of any foreign country.
According to bill sponsors, it “seeks to level the playing field for American workers and businesses by providing the administration the necessary tools to address the issue of undervaluation of currency by our trading partners.”
- S 660
Innovation Through Trade Act
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish the position of Chief Innovation and Intellectual Property Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative to ensure the protection of United States innovation and intellectual property interests.
- HR 3733
Green 301 Act
To amend the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the United States Trade Representative to take discretionary action if a foreign country is engaging in unreasonable acts, policies, or practices relating to the environment.
- HR 3558
Textile Enforcement and Security Act
(Also S 1412 in the Senate.) To provide the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of the Treasury with authority to more aggressively enforce customs and trade laws relating to textile and apparel articles.
- HR 419
Taiwan Policy Act
To strengthen and clarify the commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan, as codified in the Taiwan Relations Act.
- S 432
Asia-South Pacific Trade Preferences Act
To extend certain trade preferences to certain least-developed countries in Asia and the South Pacific.
- HR 166
PROTECT Act
To prevent the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty orders.
- S 662
Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act
To reauthorize trade facilitation and trade enforcement functions and activities.
Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn’t imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we’re simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.
