United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard praised in a Jan 26 statement a recent proposal floated by House Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin, D-Mich., on guidelines for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (here). Levin outlined his preferences for a TPP agreement, which includes strong rules on labor and currency as well as improved market access, on Jan. 22 (see 1501230030). Levin has repeatedly said over recent months Congress should focus on TPP, rather than rushing to secure Trade Promotion Authority (see 1412050028). Gerard backed up that TPP priority in his statement. "Right now, U.S. negotiators are rushing to conclude a deal. Arbitrary deadlines will only diminish American opportunity by giving our trading partners the upper hand," said Gerard. "They can sit on their hands knowing that U.S. negotiators are watching the clock, looking to conclude an agreement with less than adequate results for American workers and their families."

Finance Committee Democrats renewed their skepticism over Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman during a hearing on Jan. 27. Some Democrats lashed out at Froman and Republican trade supporters for moving forward with a trade agenda that is poised, they said, to repeat the free trade agreement mistakes of the past, notably job losses incurred through the North American Free Trade Agreement and the South Korea FTA.

The Iraqi Grain Board is discriminating against U.S. rice by choosing higher priced imports from other countries, and the State Department should intervene on behalf of U.S. industry, said a group of Senators and House members in a Jan. 22 letter (here), led by Mississippi lawmakers Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Rep. Bernie Thompson, D-Miss. Iraq is purchasing rice “similar” to U.S. quality from Brazil and Uruguay at far higher prices, said the lawmakers. The grain board didn’t choose any U.S. rice in November and “Iraqi authorities have provided no explanation for this type of decision,” said the letter. The board was scheduled to again ask for bids on Jan. 25, the lawmakers said. “We would greatly appreciate your assistance in ensuring that U.S. rice receives fair consideration.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he planned to take up the House-passed Department of Homeland Security spending measure during Jan. 25 remarks on 60 Minutes, alongside Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio (here). The legislation blocks implementation of President Barack Obama's November executive action on immigration. Boehner led the effort to pass the bill on Jan. 14, even though the White House threatened a veto days before (see 1501130008). DHS funding includes appropriations for CBP, and spending for the department will expire on Feb. 28. "We will try to pass the House bill when it comes over to us," said McConnell. "And I think it will be vigorously supported by the vast majority of my members."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., renewed his opposition to Trade Promotion Authority in comments to reporters on Jan. 22. He also rejected the Obama administration's pursuit of free trade agreements, saying supporters have failed to demonstrate how the agreements boost the American middle class. After Republicans scored a big victory in the mid-term elections, Reid now heads a conference of 44 total Democrats, as well as two in-caucus independents.

Despite more than four years of Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, negotiators are still not meeting eye-to-eye on many critical issues in a potential pact, said House Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin, D-Mich., in an outline of his prescription for a final TPP agreement (here). Levin is a frequent critic of U.S. trade policy and is considered an important hold-out on Trade Promotion Authority (see 1412050028).

Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, named Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the committee’s trade subcommittee, both lawmakers said in separate statements. Hatch named all subcommittee chairs and members on Jan. 22 (here).

Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:

Dozens of U.S. producers and industry associations pushed Congress to pass “corrective action” to address country-of-origin labeling rules that the World Trade Organization determined violate global trade law, in a Jan. 20 letter to House and Senate members (here). The appeals process is still underway in the case, after the U.S. challenged an panel ruling in late November (see 1411280029). The WTO has repeatedly sided with Canada and Mexico in the dispute, saying U.S. COOL rules discriminate against foreign producers (see 1412120005).

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the U.S. trade agenda on Jan. 27, the committee said (here). U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman will testify. The House Ways and Means Committee will also hold a trade hearing later that day (see 1501200069).