House Ways and Means Democrats Question USTR Compliance With Fast Track Law

The formal notification of a NAFTA deal may not comply with the Trade Promotion Authority law, according to Washington state Democrat Rep. Suzan DelBene, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, and six of her colleagues. "While we appreciate that it takes time to iron out the final details and text, we believe that it is not in the spirit of TPA to send Congress an official notification letter until all three parties have formally agreed to move forward together with an updated trilateral agreement," they wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Sept. 10.

Joining DelBene on the letter were former committee chairman Sandy Levin, D-Mich., and pro-trade Democrats Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin and Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama, along with Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Linda Sánchez, D-Calif.

TPA allows trade agreements to pass with a simple majority -- no filibuster -- and no amendments. However, it includes a series of measures aimed at bringing public views into the process, including advisory committees that have to weigh in 30 days after the formal announcement. The lawmakers asked: "How can the advisory committees put together thoughtful, informed reports if they don’t even know if Canada will be part of the agreement?"