Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation.
Grayson signed H.R.3012
Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment Act or the TRADE Act:
review biennially certain free trade agreements (including Uruguay Round Agreements) between the US and foreign countries to evaluate their economic, environmental, national security, health, safety, and other effects; and
report on them to the Congressional Trade Agreement Review Committee (established by this Act), including analyses of specified aspects of each agreement and certain information about agreement parties, such as whether the country has a democratic form of government, respects certain core labor rights and fundamental human rights, protects intellectual property rights, and enforces environmental laws.
Declares that implementing bills of new trade agreements shall not be subject to expedited consideration or special procedures limiting amendment, unless such agreements include certain standards with respect to:
labor;
human rights;
environment and public safety;
food and product health and safety;
provision of services;
investment;
procurement;
intellectual property;
agriculture;
trade remedies and safeguards;
dispute resolution and enforcement;
technical assistance;
national security; and
taxation.
Requires the President to submit to Congress a plan for the renegotiation of existing trade agreements to bring them into compliance with such standards. Expresses the sense of Congress that certain processes for U.S. trade negotiations should be followed when Congress considers legislation providing special procedures for implementing bills of trade agreements.
