Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady issued the following statements on Wednesday in response to passage of H.R. 2832, the Generalized System of Preferences, which includes  the Trade Adjustment Assistance bipartisan agreement:

Chairman Camp stated:  “Today’s long-awaited Senate action should clear the path for consideration of our pending trade agreements.  I applaud the Senate for passing this bipartisan legislation, which contains both the 40-year-old Generalized System of Preferences already passed by the House and the bipartisan, bicameral extension of a streamlined Trade Adjustment Assistance package.  The next step is for the president to promptly submit the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, which also enjoy bipartisan, bicameral support, to the House and bring us one step closer to passage.  Congress has in good faith shown a clear path forward on the pending trade agreements, GSP, and TAA.   Now is the time for the President to show leadership on trade and work together with us to bring the trade agreements, GSP, and TAA across the goal line.”

Trade Subcommittee Chairman Brady commented:  “The Senate’s passage of the Generalized System of Preferences renewal and a compromise Trade Adjustment Assistance program is both commendable on its own right and for its greater significance.   My sincere hope is that this bipartisan piece of legislation will mark the beginning of America’s return to a vibrant international trade agenda, beginning with the President sending up the three pending trade agreements for swift Congressional consideration.  The trade deals with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, which were signed nearly five years ago, have languished for simply too long:  our businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers, are being left behind in these markets while our foreign competitors have taken full advantage of our inaction.  The President has himself repeatedly made the case for why these trade agreements are critical to U.S. economic growth and job creation.  I hope he takes this opportunity to promptly move forward with all three agreements immediately.”