WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group of members from the Senate Finance Committee expressed concerns and frustrations with Ambassador Katherine Tai, the current U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
To begin with, members asked Tai whether the Biden administration had any plans to ask for trade promotion authority (TPA) also referred to as “fast track trade authority” which allows U.S. negotiators, at the direction of Congress, to negotiate trade agreements with other countries that once submitted to the House and Senate requires a simple up or down vote.
Every administration, both Democratic and Republican, has had TPA until now. Tai skirted the question by insisting it is a legislative action not an executive branch decision, despite the fact that in the past, Congress has always received a request from the President for the authority.
Another area of concern was that the USTR was actively advancing a trade agenda without the direction of Congress. Tai fought back explaining that she indeed continually updated the authorizing committees in both chambers of her work. Senators John Thune (SD-R), Ron Wyden (OR-D), Bob Menendez (NJ-D), and Pat Toomey (PA-R) all called Tai out for notifying but not “consulting” with the Committee.
Finally, those Senators were joined by others in telling the USTR to begin negotiating new deals, including tariff reduction deals in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), or rejoin the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Sen. Mike Crapo (ID-R) charged that nations in the Indo-Pacific are “crying out for free trade negotiations so that they can strengthen their relations with (the U.S.) economically rather than being tied to China.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)