Crapo Says No Indication of Movement on AGOA or GSP

The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said that while Democrats' insistence that Trade Adjustment Assistance be paired with a renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program has stalled it so far, he's not convinced that the impasse means GSP has no chance in 2024.

"As of right now, they are saying that, some of them are," Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said in a hallway interview at the Capitol. "But ... the Congress is not over yet, so I'm continuing to push. I think we should have done it last year, and the year before and the year before."

Crapo had said he wanted to pass an African Growth and Opportunity Act renewal in July (see 2406050053), and said he hasn't heard any pushback on that idea, but the fact that several Democrats also tied AGOA to TAA during that hearing "is not a good sign."

He said Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., hasn't ruled out renewing AGOA without a TAA companion, but said, "I haven't had any indication that there's movement yet."