TPA Increases Transparency & Accountability in Trade Negotiations

Trade Tool Keeps Congress and the Public Informed of Global Trade Talks

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) is the key to making trade agreement negotiations more transparent.

Without it, the administration has no legal obligation to keep Congress or the American people well-informed about what’s happening during international trade talks.

With it, the administration will be required to publish detailed and comprehensive summaries of the specific objective that trade negotiators are seeking in negotiations, keeping stakeholders and Congress informed as meetings take place.

TPA also ensures Members of Congress and the public have the time they need to thoroughly examine trade deal – before it is even signed. In fact, TPA requires the administration make any agreement public for at least 60 days before entering into that pact, several months before it can be submitted to Congress for consideration.

Want more transparency in trade negotiations? Let’s set the rules with TPA.

Transparency Timeline

180 Days before entering into an agreement, the administration must submit a report to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees on potential changes to U.S. trade remedy laws.

90 Days before entering into an agreement, the administration must notify Congress of intent to enter and continue to provide details of the agreement.

60 Days before the President can enter into an agreement, the text of the completed agreement must be made available to the public online – several months before it can be submitted to Congress for debate.
30 Days before the President submits the agreement to Congress, the final legal text, along with its draft Statement of Administrative Act detailing how the administration intends to administer the agreement, must be provided to Congress.

TPA sets the terms for making trade agreement negotiations more transparent, resulting in better agreements for America’s workers and job creators.

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