The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) welcomed bipartisan passage by the U.S. Senate of legislation necessary to provide market-opening objectives for U.S. international trade negotiations and to establish a structure and process for Congress to consider implementation of any trade agreements negotiated by July 1, 2018. The Senate approved an amended version of the Bipartisan Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) by a 62-37 vote.
“The Senate took a big step toward improving the playing field for NEMA member companies competing in the international arena,” says NEMA President and CEO Kevin J. Cosgriff. “As our focus turns to the House of Representatives, we support and are working for timely passage of TPA legislation.”
TPA-2015 sets out negotiating objectives for the Obama Administration to achieve in the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with 11 other countries that include Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Vietnam. The act also establishes a framework under which members of Congress continually advise the administration on how to achieve the negotiating objectives and provides for timely consideration of implementing legislation with an up-or-down vote without amendments.