Washington Report

President Obama this week signed the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015,  granting him and his successor trade promotion authority for six years.

The bill, which Congress passed last week before leaving for the July 4 recess, will give U.S. negotiators the ability to work with trade officials in other countries with the knowledge that Congress will only vote up or down on an agreement without the ability to offer amendments.  The negotiators are expected to use the authority to try to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

“TPA will ensure foreign access for U.S. chicken, generate more farm income, jobs in rural districts, and improve the U.S. trade balance.  Signing it into law sends a strong signal to the other countries’ negotiators that the U.S. Congress is serious and committed to achieving a new world standard for international trade agreements,” said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown.

U.S. poultry producers have long been one of the strongest advocates of free and fair trade and have supported the efforts of both Democrat and Republican administrations to negotiate important trade agreements.

Obama also signed H.R. 1295, the “Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015,” which extends and amends the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, other trade preference programs and trade adjustment assistance.