Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act Renewal to Proceed
The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act has been placed on the voting calendar, and is likely to get a vote on Sept. 23, as it is the first in a second-day list of “suspension bills” under consideration. The first slate of suspension bills will have votes on Sept. 22, if anyone calls for a recorded vote on Sept. 21. Suspension bills can also progress without recorded votes. For suspension bills, floor debate is limited, amendments are prohibited, and a two-thirds vote is required for passage. Only non-controversial bills are submitted this way.
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For the CBTPA to be renewed before it expires Sept. 30, the Senate would also have to consider the bill in an expedited fashion, known as unanimous consent in that chamber. There, too, debate would be limited (or possibly there would be no debate). Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said last month he was confident it would get through the Senate on time (see 2008270043).
The renewal will last for 10 years. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, about $1 billion in goods were imported into the U.S. duty-free from partner countries, with textiles and apparel from Haiti making up 56% of the total in 2018. Haiti trade preferences are also covered by the HOPE Act of 2006, which continues until 2025, but not all the apparel exports are covered by HOPE -- some are covered by the CBTPA. Eight countries are covered by CBTPA, and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are the largest after Haiti.