Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade: Key Issues for the 108th Congress

Publication Date: January 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

The 108th Congress will be faced early on with a number of pressing foreign affairs, defense, and trade issues. This report provides background information on the issues most likely to be taken up in the first session, analyzes the congressional role in shaping U.S. policy on these key issues, and lists CRS products that provide more detailed discussion and analysis.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon dramatically altered the U.S. political environment, pushing issues of war and homeland security to the top of the policy agenda. Of particular concern to 108th Congress as it begins its first session will be the progress of the ongoing war on terrorism, a possible war with Iraq, the unfolding crisis with North Korea, and dealing with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missiles. Each of these topics receives particular attention in this report.

This report also describes foreign policy tools that the 108th Congress will consider in dealing with a wide range of challenges affecting U.S. interests around the globe. It discusses major foreign economic and security assistance programs which Congress may consider funding, including the Millennium Challenge Account, global HIV/AIDS programs, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, counter-terrorism activities in Southeast Asia and Africa, and possible reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in Iraq. It examines how U.S. relations with NATO and policies toward countries such as Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, and Pakistan may affect U.S. counter-terrorism and non-proliferation efforts. Other issues covered include potential global flash points such as the Israel-Palestinian conflict, China-Taiwan relations, and the Balkans and U.S. concerns in Latin America, such as drug trafficking.

A number of defense issues are likely to receive considerable attention in the 108 Congress, including managing defense related costs within budgetary constraints, guiding Department of Defense (DOD) "transformation" initiatives, setting priorities on major weapons systems, and assessing whether the military is the proper size to meet the demands of current or anticipated missions. Other defense issues covered include whether to allow "concurrent receipt" of military retired pay and Veterans' Administration disability benefits, the appropriate role of DOD in homeland security, and oversight of reforms in defense management and business operations.

Congressional consideration of U.S. bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Chile and Singapore, and other trade issues are discussed in this report as well. The 108th Congress will likely monitor U.S. negotiations on FTAs with Morocco, Central America, the South Africa Customs Union, Australia, and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Its agenda may include WTO compliance issues, the re-authorization of the Export Administration Act, the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA), and the Doha Development Agenda. This report will not be updated.