Senate Reaches a Deal on Trade Bills

By Taylor Garland
May 13 2015 |
Sen. Debbie Stabenow debates on the Senate floor. | Photo via C-SPAN

Trade enforcement and currency will get a standalone vote.

The Senate reached an agreement on Wednesday afternoon paving the way for a package of trade bills.

The Senate will vote on the customs and enforcement package as a separate, standalone bill. This bill includes the Schumer Currency Amendment that would direct the Commerce Department to investigate undervalued currencies as a subsidy under U.S. trade remedy laws.

While it would have been preferable for this bill to be “bundled” together with Trade Promotion Authority and Trade Adjustment Assistance, this agreement gives the customs and enforcement package a vote. Reminder: Stopping currency manipulation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership could create millions of jobs. Oh, and Americans support the measure too. 

The vote is scheduled for Thursday at noon Eastern time. If the bill passes the 60-affirmative threshold, it will proceed to the House.