If TPP and Other Trade Agreements Pass, Does the U.S. Need a Plan for Enforcing the Rules? (H.R. 644)

This used to be the "Fighting Hunger Incentive Tax Act", introduced in the House to create a permanent tax deduction for companies who make donations to nonprofits that work on reducing hunger. The bill made it through committee, and passed the House in a 279 - 137 vote — and then was brought to the Senate where it was co-opted as the legislative vehicle for something completely unrelated. Through the Senate amendment process, this bill is now the "Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015," (related to H.R. 1907), providing authority to enforce trade agreements.

In its current form, this bill aims to ensure that U.S. officials have the authority to enforce trade agreements with other countries. The bill passed the Senate in May 2015 on a 78 - 20 vote, and is now waiting for a House vote to resolve the differences. 

This bill would create guidelines for how to enforce free trade agreements addressing health and safety regulations, intellectual property rights, and not letting other countries get away with shirking antidumping and countervailing duty orders . (Antidumping laws prevent foreign competitors from flooding the market with underpriced goods. Countervailing duty orders are basically fees that cancel out an imported good that was subsidized by a foreign government.)

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be directed to train their officers on how to enforce trade agreements. These agencies would send an annual strategic plan to Congress on trade facilitation and enforcement. When creating the plan, they would be able to ask advice from federal agencies, international organizations, and private sector organizations in developing the strategic plan.

Protocols would be created and taught to CPB personnel for detecting the infringement of intellectual property on cargo imported into the U.S.

There are also a number of miscellaneous provisions in this bill, like: An import broker who is found guilty of conspiring to or committing an act of terrorism would lose their license (among other things, we're sure). 

Also, a loophole allowing the U.S. to accept imports from other countries that were clearly created with forced or indentured labor would be closed. Basically, no more goods from other countries created with labor that doesn't meet human rights standards. 

The importance of the U.S.-Israel trade relationship would also be emphasized, and the U.S. would discourage foreign countries from boycotting, divesting, or sanctioning Israel. The President would be required to report instances of politically-motivated instances of these actions to Congress.