Senate Back in Session, Little Room for Trade

The Senate returned last weekj from the August Congressional break with a packed agenda that will leave little time for action on pending trade legislation like countering China’s unfair trade practices or renewal of the expired Generalized System of Preferences program.

Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R- Calif) started the year with hopes of putting together a major China trade bill.

But that effort is now more like to happen in the second session of the 118th Congress given that lawmakers are facing tough issues that need immediate action, including fiscal year 2024 government funding and a new farm bill.

In a Dear Colleague sent out to members of the Senate, Sen. Schumer said a top priority for this month is funding the federal government “to avoid a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown.”

Short-Term Spending Bill

Sen. Schumer and Speaker McCarthy have agreed to cooperate on a short-term spending bill thatwould keep the government funded until December while the regular appropriations bills move forward. But Mr. McCarthy faces problems with his more conservative Republicans, who want spending cuts and impeachment proceedings against President Biden in exchange.

There are some provisions dealing with China in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The House and Senate must hammer out a compromise version of the NDAA this fall.

Lawmakers also are far behind schedule on crafting a 2023 farm bill, which always includes a trade chapter. The chairs of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are talking about passing a stripped down bill reauthorizing farm programs and completing a comprehensive bill next year.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party expects to release recommendations later this year on legislation to deal with China’s unfair trade practices and national security concerns.