Trade Promotion Authority: Possible Vote on Two-Year Extension

Publication Date: April 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Trade

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Abstract:

Under the Trade Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-210), Congress approved expedited legislative procedures (no amendment, limited debate) for trade agreements that are entered into before July 1, 2005. That deadline will be extended by two years automatically if: (1) the President requests an extension not later than April 1, 2005; and (2) neither House of the Congress adopts an extension disapproval resolution before July 1, 2005. The President submitted the request for an extension on March 30, 2005. An extension disapproval resolution (S.Res. 100) was introduced in the Senate on April 6, 2005. A resolution must be reported out of committee to be considered on the floor. An extension will not affect legislative procedures relating to trade agreements already signed, but could be important for on-going trade negotiations, especially trade negotiations that involve a large number of countries or are economically or politically controversial. This product will be updated periodically.