Trade Policy Staff Committee Hearing on the KFTA, March 14, 2006

The U.S. and Korea announced their intention to enter into FTA negotiations on February 2 (United States, South Korea Announce Intention to Negotiate Free Trade Agreement, USTR announcement, Feb 2).  On February 9, the US Trade Policy Advisory Committee, an interagency committee, announced its intention to hold hearings on March 14, to get public comment for use by the USTR during the negotiations.

Under section 2104 of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (TPA Act) (19 U.S.C. 3804), for agreements that will be approved and implemented through TPA procedures, the President must provide the Congress with at least 90 days' written notice of his intent to enter into negotiations and identify the specific objectives for the negotiations. Before and after the submission of this notice, the President is to consult with appropriate Congressional committees and the Congressional Oversight Group (COG) regarding the negotiations. Under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, the President must (i) afford interested persons an opportunity to present their views regarding any matter relevant to any proposed agreement, (ii) designate an agency or inter-agency committee to hold a public hearing regarding any proposed agreement, and (iii) seek the advice of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding the probable economic effects on U.S. industries and consumers of the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on imports pursuant to any proposed agreement.

On February 2, 2006, after consulting with relevant Congressional committees and the COG, the USTR notified the Congress that the President intends to initiate free trade agreement negotiations with Korea and identified specific objectives for the negotiations. In addition, the USTR has requested that the ITC provide its advice on the probable economic effects of the free trade agreement. This notice solicits views from the public on these negotiations and provides information on a hearing that will be conducted pursuant to the requirements of the Trade Act of 1974.

The full text of the Federal Register notice of the hearing, and links to testimony at this hearing, can be found below the fold.  The links lead to documents on the Korea Economic Institute U.S.-Korea FTA Resource Center web page.

This post was created on July 21, 2007, but dated March 14, 2006, to place it chronologically.