The Bush Administration wants to take care of Congressional ratification of the trade agreements with Columbia and Panama before it turns to the agreement with Panama.
Today it sent the agreement with Columbia to Congress: Bush forces trade fight (Ian Swanson, The Hill, April 7, 2007). The problem is that normally these agreements aren't sent up until Congress signals its readiness to receive them. In this case, the Administration was concerned that time was running out.
Congress now has vote yes or no on the agreement - without amendments - within 90 days. That's legislative days, not calendar days. The House has 60 days - 45 days in the Ways and Means Committee and 15 on the floor; the Senate has 30 days, 15 in the Senate Finance Committee and 15 on the floor. USTR Schwab estimates that the time limit will run out on September 26. (Press Briefing by Tony Fratto and United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab, April 7).
Timothy Homan at Congressional Quarterly points out that prospects for this agreement aren't good (Colombia Trade Pact May Be Dead on Arrival , April 7). The article suggests that an agreement on Trade Adjustment Assistance may help.
Here's a statement from House Speaker Pelosi, and the Chair of the crucial House Ways and Means Committee, Charles Rangel: Pelosi and Rangel Statement on Administration Sending Colombia Free Trade Agreement to Congress . They emphasize their resentment at the unusual approach on this legislation by opening with these paragraphs:
President Bush's statement today regarding his unprecedented decision to send a free trade agreement to Congress without following established protocols of Congressional consultation is counter-productive, jeopardizing prospects for its passage. Under present circumstances, we cannot support the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
A successful trade agenda depends on a joint partnership between the Congress and the Administration, where consultation is the norm, not the exception. Constitutionally, Congress is responsible for regulating international commerce. The President's disregard toward a co-equal branch of government serves only to work against the long-term interests of the United States and Colombia....
This could be a high-risk strategy with implications beyond the trade agreement with Columbia: Will the Columbia FTA debate destroy the idea of "fast track"? (Korea-U.S. FTA, January 20, 2008).
Cross-posted from Korea-U.S. FTA.
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