The Congressional Research Service (CRS) released three trade- and FDI-related reports in early February:
- Exon-Florio Foreign Investment Provision: Overview of H.R. 556 (Feb 1) James K. Jackson describes how modern U.S. procedures for security vetting foreign direct investments have evolved. Follows with a description of the different elements of H.R. 556, a proposal to reform that process currently making its way in Congress.
- Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)/Fast-Track Renewal: Labor Issues (Feb 2) Mary Jane Bolle looks at the way labor issues have been addressed in U.S. trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation, and in negotiated free trade agreements (FTAs). TPA renewal may be an important issue in 2007, and the best approach to labor-related negotiating objectives will be an important issue in any renewal debate. Bolle describes different approaches, and lays out the arguments for and against proposals for a more demanding approach than in the 2002 TPA legislation.
- Tariff Modifications: Miscellaneous Duty Suspension Bills (Feb 5) Vivian C. Jones: "Companies often propose that Members of Congress introduce bills seeking to suspend or reduce tariffs on certain imports. The vast majority of these commodities are chemicals, raw materials, or other components used in the manufacturing process. The rationale for these requests, in general, is that they help producers reduce costs, thus making their products more competitive. In turn, these cost reductions can be passed on to the consumer. In recent congressional practice, House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees, the committees of jurisdiction over tariffs, have combined duty suspension bills and other technical trade provisions into larger pieces of legislation known as miscellaneous trade and technical corrections bills (MTBs)...." Jones explains how the system has worked, and describes efforts to make procedural changes this year.
I learned about these at Docuticker.
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