TPA Fight Loses Key House Democrat
Prominent House Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland pledged to oppose Trade Promotion Authority on April 14, saying the current legislative framework doesn’t do enough to boost congressional input in trade negotiations, according to a letter obtained by The Nation (here). The legislation will likely fail to ensure stronger Trans-Pacific Partnership rules on currency, the environment and labor, said Van Hollen in the letter to House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sandy Levin, D-Mich.
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For months, Levin has stayed out of talks between Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., and Finance ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Trade experts widely view TPA as critical in locking down implementation legislation TPP and other trade deals. No TPA bill has yet to surface this Congress, but Hatch said in recent days he expects a bill this week, followed by a hearing (see 1504130064).
Van Hollen praised Levin’s commitment to revise TPA to give Congress more of a voice in trade talks. He also applauded Levin’s efforts to improve TPP proposals, and pointed to concerns over unenforceable labor rules and the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Levin has repeatedly over recent months declined to discuss TPA, instead saying TPP should be the focus (see 1503190001).