Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track):Labor Issues (Including H.R. 3005 and H.R. 3019) (Congressional Research Service)

Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track):Labor Issues (Including H.R. 3005 and H.R. 3019)

Congressional Research Service Report for Congress

...Since trade promotion authority (TPA), formerly called “fast-track negotiating
authority” expired in 1994, Congress has been unable to agree on language for its
reauthorization. Under TPA, Congress agrees to consider trade agreements which the
President has negotiated, on a fast-track basis – without amendment and with limited
debate. TPA facilitates the adoption of trade agreements in that it arguably reassures
negotiating partners that their carefully crafted concessions will not be changed when
Congress votes on the implementing legislation for the agreement.
Akey issue in current efforts to reauthorize TPA is the extent to which Congress
will allow labor and environment provisions in new trade agreements considered
under fast-track procedures. This report traces the congressional TPA-labor debate
since 1994 when the previous fast-track authority expired, and compares H.R. 3005
(Thomas), the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001, reported by the
House Waysand MeansCommittee on October 16, 2001 (H.Rept. 107-249) and H.R.
3019 (Rangel/Levin), the Comprehensive Trade Negotiating Authority Act of 2001.
H.R. 3005 was passed by the House on December 6, along party lines, by a vote of
215-214, and by the Senate Finance Committee by a vote of 18-3 on December 12.
This report will be updated as events warrant...

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