Timeline for Consideration of Free Trade Agreements (Ftas) Under the Trade Act of 2002

Timeline for consideration of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) under the Trade Act of 2002 (Trade Promotion Authority)

Before negotiations begin …

The Administration must notify the Congress of its intent to initiate FTA negotiations 90 days in advance.

The Administration must consult with the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Congressional Oversight Group (COG) before and after sending the notification letter. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative must meet with the COG before initiating negotiations if a majority of that group so requests. Additional consultations are required if agriculture, fisheries, or textiles and apparel are involved in the negotiations.

Once negotiations begin …

The Administration must consult with the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the House and Senate Agriculture Committees (if relevant), and the COG during negotiations, before initialing the agreement (i.e., when negotiations are completed), and before signing the agreement.

The Administration must report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on any issues in the agreement related to U.S. trade remedy law 180 calendar days before the agreement is signed.

The President must notify the Congress of his intent to sign the agreement 90 calendar days before doing so, and he must provide details on the agreement to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and request that the USITC prepare an assessment.

The private sector trade policy advisory committees must submit reports on the proposed agreement 30 calendar days after the letter of notification is sent.

Once an agreement is signed …

The President must submit a description of changes to existing laws required to bring the United States into compliance with the agreement no later than 60 calendar days after the agreement is signed.

The USITC must submit a report offering its assessment of the agreement to the President and the Congress no later than 90 calendar days after the agreement signed.

The President has no deadline by which he must submit the final text of the agreement, the draft implementing bill, a statement of administrative action, and supporting information, though he must do so on a day when both the House and Senate are in session.

Once implementing legislation is introduced …

Legislation to implement the FTA is introduced in the House and the Senate on the same day it is submitted by the President.

The relevant House committees must report the implementing bill within 45 session days after its introduction, or it is automatically discharged. The relevant Senate committees must report the implementing bill within 15 session days after the Senate’s receipt of the implementing bill from the House (or 45 session days after its original introduction in the Senate, if later) or it is automatically discharged.

The House and Senate allow 20 hours of floor debate, followed by final votes on the implementing bill.