International Client Alert- February 2004

November Elections Influence Trade Policy In 108th Congress

On January 20, 2004, the 108th Congress convened for its second session. The committees with jurisdiction over trade issues – the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee – have crowded trade agendas this session. According to Angela Ellard, Staff Director and Counsel to the Subcommittee on Trade of the House Committee on Ways and Means, who spoke before members of the Washington trade community on February 5, 2004, oversight responsibilities will take a larger role than normal. The Administration has negotiated free trade agreements ("FTAs") with a number of countries, and is still negotiating FTAs with others. Although the Administration negotiates the FTAs, Congress must approve each FTA, and pass legislation to implement it. Consequently, the Congressional trade committees carefully review the completed agreements and participate actively in the ongoing negotiations to ensure their concerns are