Some of the nation’s top ag groups are sounding the alarm about the Trade Promotion Authority, which will soon expire.
The TPA is a fast-track process for Congress to approve trade deals. It expires July 1st, but the administration is required to give Congress a 90-day notice if it intends to use the authority. That deadline has passed.
A Farm Bureau trade adviser says that Congress could extend the deadline, but does not think it will happen anytime soon.
According to Dave Salmonsen, “At a certain point, though, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any trade agreements right now ready to be submitted, I think the administration and Congress at some point will have to get together and work on a new Trade Promotion Authority, but, as we heard last week with Ambassador Tai spoke to both Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committee hearing, it doesn’t sound like they’re quite ready yet to engage with that issue.”
Many farm groups want to move forward with trade and hope to see the U.S. Trade Rep. do something about this. Tai previously told Congress that a top-to-bottom trade review and getting past the pandemic must come first.
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