Reid hopes to tackle trade bill Thursday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes to clear legislation extending two trade programs on Thursday.

In comments on the floor Tuesday, Reid said the Senate would try to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program on Thursday.

Reid said the Senate would return at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and would hold no roll call votes, but would “hope to clear” the TAA bill. TAA offers benefits to workers hurt by international trade. That legislation is coupled with the ATPA bill, which would extend trade preferences that lowers duties on goods from Andean countries.

The House is expected to vote on a bill that extends these programs until June 30 (ATPA) and July 1 (TAA), and then send that bill to the Senate. The House and Senate are moving quickly because both programs expire this weekend.