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handle is hein.crs/govxxy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Updated February 7, 2019 Overview What is TPA? The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), previously known as Fast-Track Authority, is the time- limited authority that Congress uses to set trade negotiating objectives, to establish notification and consultation requirements, and to consider implementing legislation for certain reciprocal trade agreements under expedited procedures, provided that they meet certain statutory requirements (see Fig. 1). What is the current status of TPA? The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA) (P.L. 114-26) was signed by then-President Obama on June 29, 2015, after a contentious legislative debate. TPA is authorized through July 1, 2021. NAFTA. Legislation to implement a potential renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) may be eligible for consideration under TPA. On May 18, 2017, pursuant to TPA, the President sent Congress a 90-day notification of his intent to begin talks with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate and modernize NAFTA, allowing negotiations to begin in August 2017. After a year of negotiations, USTR Lighthizer announced a preliminary agreement with Mexico on August 27, 2018. On August 31, President Trump gave Congress the required notice 90-day notice that he would sign a revised deal with Mexico. After further negotiations, Canada joined the pact and it was concluded on September 30, 2018. The three nations signed the agreement on November 30, 2019. The Administration satisfied the requirement to provide Congress with a list of changes to U.S. law required to implement the agreement on January 29, 2019. However, the government shutdown delayed work on the International Trade Commission report on the economic effects of the agreement, which is now expected to be delivered to Congress by April 20, 2019. The proposed USMCA may be the first agreement considered under the 2015 TPA. Under TPA procedures, the Trump Administration notified Congress on October 16, 2018 that it also plans to enter negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom for potential trade agreements. Why TPA? The President has the authority to negotiate international agreements, including free trade agreements (FTAs), but the Constitution gives the U.S. Congress sole authority over the regulation of foreign commerce. For 145 years, Congress exercised this authority by directly setting tariff rates. This policy changed with the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 (RTAA). Congress delegated authority to the President to enter into reciprocal trade agreements that reduced tariffs within pre-approved levels, which did not require further congressional action. In the 1960s, nontariff barriers became topics of trade negotiations. Congress found it necessary to alter the delegated RTAA tariff authority to require implementing legislation to authorize changes in U.S. law necessary to meet these new obligations. Thus, pre-approval was no longer an option. Given an implementing bill could face a potential amendment that could alter a long-negotiated agreement, Congress adopted fast-track authority in the Trade Act of 1974 to provide expedited legislative consideration. Fast-track Authority was renamed Trade Promotion Authority in the Trade Act of 2002. TPA: Key Facts * First enacted in 1974 * Renewed 4 times * Used to consider 13 FTAs and two multilateral GATT/WTO rounds * TPA2015: In force until july 1, 2021. Congress has sought to achieve four major goals in TPA: (1) define trade policy priorities by specifying negotiating objectives; (2) ensure that the executive branch advances these objectives by requiring notification and consultation with Congress; (3) define the terms, conditions, and procedures under which the President may enter into trade agreements and to determine which implementing bills may be approved under expedited authority; and (4) reaffirm the constitutional authority of Congress over trade policy by placing limitations on the use of TPA. Key Elements of TPAs Trade Agreements Authority-First enacted by the Trade Act of 1974, TPA provides authority to the President to enter into reciprocal trade agreements on reducing tariff and nontariff barriers. However, Congress must introduce implementing legislation for the agreement to come into effect. This legislation approves the agreement, authorizes changes to existing law and/or changes strictly necessary or appropriate for its implementation. If enacted, the trade agreement then can enter into force by presidential proclamation. Expedited Procedures-The implementing bill is subject to: (1) mandatory introduction; (2) automatic discharge from the committees of jurisdiction; (3) time-limited floor debate; and (4) an up or down, simple majority vote. Negotiating Objectives-Defined by Congress in TPA, the executive branch is expected to advance U.S. trade negotiating objectives if it expects to have the implementing bill considered under expedited rules. Notification and Consultation-TPA authority and the expedited procedures are extended to the President, subject https://crsreports.cong

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