[CTC] Froman Seeks ITC TPP Analysis As Soon As Possible In Request Letter

[Arthur Stamoulis]

 Froman Seeks ITC TPP Analysis As Soon As Possible In Request Letter
Posted: November 12, 2015, Inside US Trade

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman last week urged the International Trade Commission to complete as soon as possible its assessment of the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the U.S. economy mandated under the 2015 fast-track law, which requires the ITC to deliver its report no later than 105 days after the deal is signed.

In a Nov. 5 letter to the commission requesting the study, Froman said he would "greatly appreciate it if the Commission could issue its report as soon as possible." He also said he had instructed his staff to be available to answer questions and provide additional information to the ITC as needed.

If the ITC takes the full time, it would deliver its analysis in mid-May. This is because signing can take place no earlier than Feb. 3, 2016, which is 90 days after President Obama notified Congress on Nov. 5 of his intent to sign the TPP. The fast-track law mandates this 90-day layover period for Congress to review an agreement before the president signs it.

Froman had previously urged the ITC to begin its economic assessment even before TPP was concluded (Inside U.S. Trade, Feb. 13).
However, the ITC has not committed to finishing its analysis in fewer than the 105 days it has under the law, which has led to some private-sector sources to speculate that it may well take the full allotted time (Inside U.S. Trade, Nov. 6). The ITC's analysis of a trade agreement's impact on the U.S. economy traditionally accompanies the implementing bill when it is sent to Congress.

Meanwhile, the president's Nov. 5 notification to Congress of his intent to sign the TPP also kicked off a 30-day clock for U.S. trade advisory committees to provide their reports on the TPP agreement. This means the deadline for the committees to deliver the reports is Dec. 5.

Several trade advisory committees already held in-person meetings prior to the text release that are a formal step under U.S. law for their reports to be official. Members can submit comments electronically to the committee chair, who is responsible for producing a draft report.

If the in-person meeting has already taken place, the committees do not have to meet again to approve the report, and can instead do so over the phone. If all committee members do not agree with the report, they can refrain from signing it and may produce a dissenting report.
 
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