Congress on tight schedule for renewing key trade programs

Congress has put itself on a very tight schedule for extending two key trade programs this week, one that leaves it almost no margin for error before the programs expire on Sunday.

At issue is the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA), which lowers duties on imports from Andean countries, and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which helps U.S. workers hurt by overseas competition.

House Republicans late last week said that on Tuesday they would pass legislation, under a suspension of House rules, to extend these programs until June 30 (for ATPA) and July 1 (for TAA). But the House vote is expected to happen after 6:30 p.m., likely making it too late for the Senate to act because Democratic senators are expected to be leaving for a retreat in Charlottesville, Va., from Feb. 8-10.

The Senate is expected to return for part of the day Thursday, which would give it time to take up the trade preferences bill before the programs expire.

Some Republicans continue to oppose efforts to extend TAA, traditionally championed by Democrats, until the Obama administration agrees to move ahead with free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama, and these arguments could surface in the Senate late this week. However, it seems unlikely that Senate Republicans would significantly complicate passage of the bill. Instead, they might use it as a chance to extract some commitment from the administration on Colombia and Panama.

House Republicans will have their chance to do so on Wednesday, when U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk testifies on the administration's trade policy agenda.