The Federal Maritime Commission is working to mitigate damage caused by the recent months of West Coast port congestion, and it's critical that labor unions engage in negotiations as early as possible to avert a similar contract dispute in the future, said FMC Commissioner Mario Cordero in a Senate Commerce Committee nomination hearing on May 6. The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union struck a tentative deal in February to continue port operations at full capacity (see 1502230002). Cordero also called for infrastructure improvements and funding boosts for agencies that handle the import and export of cargo.
Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., affirmed in May 5 remarks that Trade Promotion Authority is the next big legislative item on the Senate floor agenda following debate over oversight legislation for the Iran nuclear enrichment deal. The Senate will take a break from the Iran bill on May 5 to debate a conference report on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. “Once the budget is approved, we’ll continue our work on the bipartisan Iran bill,” said McConnell on the Senate floor. “Then, it’s my hope to turn to another bipartisan measure: the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act.”
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., came out swinging against Trade Promotion Authority on May 4, making him the first Republican Senator to publicly denounce the legislation. Sessions questioned the value of the expedited legislative procedures in the bill after arguing U.S. trade policy continues to substantially harm the U.S. economy. “If we want an international trade deal that advances the interests of our own people, then perhaps we don’t need a ‘fast-track’ but a regular track: where the President sends us any proposal he deems worthy and we review it on its own merits,” said Sessions in a press release (here).
House Republican leadership appointed Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Texas, to the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Marchant’s office and subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, confirmed on April 30 in an emailed statement. Ten Republicans and six Democrats now sit on the committee. Marchant recently introduced a bill that would scale back CBP authority to impose duties on bulk cargo residue (see 1504150013).
Fourteen House Democrats, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., railed against Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership in a joint April 30 statement. The lawmakers hit back against changes to 2015 TPA legislation, which supporters say boosts congressional oversight and requires more transparency in trade negotiations (see 1504170024). The statement also tore into the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for restrictions against releases of TPP proposals to the public, despite lawmaker access. “Unfortunately, we are prohibited from publicly discussing the many specific serious problems with the TPP’s terms because of national security classification conditions,” said the statement. “In sum, the text of the TPP makes clear that the concerns congressional Democrats have raised have fallen upon deaf ears. What is most unfortunate is that we have now reached this stage of deep disagreement over the TPP text after trying to work with USTR since 2009. Yet, we are now being asked to delegate fast-track authority to allow the President to sign and enter into this agreement.” The statement also criticizes poor currency, labor, environmental mandates in TPA, as well as dangerous investment stipulations in TPP talks. The number of House votes in support for TPA is largely unclear for both Democrats and Republicans, although Republicans opposition could top off at only a few dozen votes (see 1504270008).
Lawmakers introduced the following trade-related bills since International Trade Today's last legislative update:
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee decisively approved in recent days controversial legislation to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act. The committee voted 15-5 to send the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, S-697 (here), to the Senate floor. Sponsors say the legislation, introduced by a bipartisan group of committee lawmakers in March, aims to put in place a “predictable and transparent” federal regulatory system for chemicals in the U.S. market (see 1503110024). Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., held the hearing despite aggressive opposition from ranking member Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. In a statement following the April 28 approval of the bill, Boxer said committee Republicans obstructed all amendments that would have improved the bill (here). Boxer has long rejected the bill (see 1503200028), as have food safety groups (see 1504010035). The House is also moving forward with competing proposals to overhaul TSCA (see 1504140018). The EPW Committee didn't immediately respond for comment.
The Senate Commerce Committee will consider on May 6 the nomination of Mario Cordero for another term as head of the Federal Maritime Commission, the committee said on April 29 (here). President Barack Obama last nominated Cordero for the post in January 2015 (see 1501140008). Cordero’s initial term as FMC Commissioner expired in mid-2014 (see 11041809). The American Apparel and Footwear Association recently called for Cordero's approval in a letter to committee leaders (here). AAFA President Juanita Duggan said Cordero has helped to ensure the shipping community is aware of developments on congestion surcharges. Following committee approval, the full Senate would then have to endorse Cordero. His next term would expire in 2019.
The Trade Promotion Authority legislation poised for floor consideration in both chambers of Congress fails to outline enforceable congressional mandates for U.S. trade negotiations, and many Trans-Pacific Partnership countries view the legislation as an opportunity to resist U.S. TPP demands, said House Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin, D-Mich., on April 29.