<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 40pt; font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT,Bold', serif;" class="">Washington Trade Daily</span></b><br class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;" class="">Volume 24, Number 96 Thursday, May 14, 2015<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;" class="">Trade Reports International Group<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'ArialMT,BoldItalic', sans-serif;" class="">Another TPA Vote Today<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Temporarily stalled Trade Promotion Authority legislation will get a second chance today on the<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Senate floor after Democrats agreed to dismantle a procedural roadblock they had placed in the way of<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">President Obama’s quest for the negotiating power he needs to complete two major trade negotiations<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">(WTD, 5/13/15).<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The announcement of a deal to resurrect TPA came a day after pro-trade Senate Democrats voted<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">against beginning debate on bill that President Obama says he desperately needs to close out negotiations<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">on the TransPacific Partnership and the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Democrats agreed yesterday to allow TPA to come to the floor as part of a deal that guarantees a<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">vote – also today – on a separate customs measure (HR 644) that beefs up US trade enforcement laws<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">and cracks down on currency manipulation by trade partners. Holding a separate vote on the customs<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">bill ensures that the currency manipulation provision – which is staunchly opposed by the White House –<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">does not become a “poison pill” that kills TPA, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The Senate also will vote on legislation renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act and<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Generalized System of Preferences programs (HR 1295). Reauthorization of the Trade Adjustment<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Assistance program will be added to the TPA bill.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Senate Finance ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (Ore) told reporters that 14 pro-trade Democrats<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">are now ready to move forward on TPA. Ten of those Democrats were summoned to a hastily-called<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">White House meeting with President Obama Tuesday after the failed vote.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Rejection sent the White House and pro-TPA Republicans and Democrats scrambling to come up<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">with a way to resurrect the bill and giving Democrats the opportunity to vote on the other bills. It was<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">the customs bill – with its tough new enforcement provisions – that was behind pro-trade Democrats’<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">decision to buck the White House and block TPA, Sen. Wyden said. The group had made up their minds<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">not to allow TPA to move forward without assurances from the Republican leadership that there would<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">be a vote on the customs bill.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The Deal<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">In the deal struck yesterday afternoon, Sen. Wyden and his colleagues got that guarantee. The<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Senate will vote today on the customs and trade preferences bills. Both will require a minimum 60 votes<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">for passage. The Senate will then take another cloture vote on the motion to proceed to the<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">House-passed revenue measure (HR 1314) that the Senate is using as its vehicle for TPA. Supporters are<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">expecting no difficulty this time getting the minimum 60 votes now that pro-trade Democrats are on<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">board.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The cloture vote on the motion to proceed is scheduled for 2 pm. Once the 60-vote threshold is<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">met, the normal 30-hour post-cloture debate period will be shortened to eight hours – allowing<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">consideration of the actual bill to begin around 10 pm. Debate, however, is likely to last through next<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">week. Leader McConnell – in announcing the agreement on the Senate floor yesterday – reiterated his<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">commitment to an “open” amendment process. Many amendments are expected.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Opponents of TPA are expected to throw up legislative roadblocks at every available opportunity,<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">according to a Republican leadership aide.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">“While this agreement solves a temporary procedural issue, now is when the real work begins,”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) commented yesterday.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The Senate is scheduled to recess at the end of next week for the Memorial Day break. Sen.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Wyden told reporters it is “absolutely essential” to get TPA passed before then.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The House will wait for Senate passage before taking up the bill, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio)<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">page 2 Washington Trade Daily<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">told reporters yesterday. The Speaker said he believes there is bipartisan support in both chambers for<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">giving President Obama TPA. House Republicans are continuing to “grow our vote” for TPA, Majority<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Whip Steve Scalise (La) said. “The President needs to work to continue to grow his vote,” he added.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">But a House Democrat warned yesterday that the trouble President Obama has experienced in<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">rounding up Democratic votes in the Senate will be much worse in the House. Democratic opposition to<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">TPA is growing, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn) told reporters. She was joined by three Democrats –<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Reps. Joe Courtney (Conn), David Scott (Ga) and Filemon Vela (Texas) – who officially announced<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">their opposition to TPA.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><b class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'ArialMT,BoldItalic', sans-serif;" class="">Customs, AGOA, GSP<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The Senate will vote today on customs legislation (HR 644) and on a measure renewing trade<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">preferences programs – the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the US Generalized System of<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Preferences and two Haiti trade programs. (see related report in this issue).<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The customs measures includes a provision – strongly opposed by the White House – subjecting<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">currency manipulation to US trade remedy laws.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The unexpected decision to vote on the two bills today – with very little time for debate – came as<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">part of an agreement unblocking Trade Promotion Authority legislation. Under that agreement, both<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">bills will be subject to a minimum 60-vote threshold for passage.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">That is not expected to be a problem for the trade preferences bill (S 1009), which renews the<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">popular African Growth and Opportunity Act program for subSaharan African countries for another 10<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">years – through September 30, 2025. It also retroactively renews the expired Generalized System of<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Preferences program through 2017 and two preferences programs for Haiti through 2025.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Currency<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Democrats insisted on a vote on the customs measure (S 1015). That bill was made more<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">controversial when the Finance Committee added a provision that would make currency manipulation a<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">countervailable subsidy under US trade remedy laws. The White House opposes that provision, claiming<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">that it could spark tit-for-tit retaliation. But the proposal has strong bipartisan support.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">The customs bill also includes of measures aimed at beefing up US trade enforcement that some<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">members say are needed to convince a public skeptical about trade agreements generally. “It’s not<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">credible to say you’re pushing for a new trade agreement if people don’t think you’re going to enforce the<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">laws that are already on the books,” Finance Committee ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (Ore) told<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">reporters.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">Ohio Republican – and former US Trade Representative – Rob Portman said those who want to<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">increase trade also have to make sure trade is fair. The bill includes provisions that will make it easier for<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: CalistoMT, serif;" class="">US companies to get relief from unfair trade practices, he pointed out.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div></body></html>