White House Criticizes Trade Funding Levels in Commerce Appropriations Bill
The White House lashed into House legislation to appropriate funds for the Commerce Department in a June 1 statement, arguing the bill would underfund the International Trade Administration and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other trade-related agencies and programs. The funding legislation, which implements “the current Republican budget framework,” fails to provide the trade investment needed to boost the U.S. economy, said the White House (here).
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House Appropriations member John Culberson, R-Texas, introduced the legislation, HR-2578 (here), in recent days. Appropriations officials haven’t yet confirmed a hearing on the bill, choosing instead to move on a defense appropriations bill (here). The Senate hasn’t launched its appropriations process for the Commerce bill this Congress.
The House bill would give Commerce’s International Trade Administration $472 million for fiscal year 2016, which is $25 million below the White House request, the White House statement said. The legislation also falls shy of the USTR funding request by more than $2 million, the statement said. President Barack Obama made an aggressive pitch to boost trade functions and programs in his FY16 budget proposal, released in early February (see 1502020057).
The White House also objected to restrictions on dealings with Cuba in the Culberson legislation. The bill prohibits funds to facilitate exports to Cuban officials, and their family members, from Revolutionary Armed Forces and Interior ministries and all subsidies of either ministry. Obama and White House officials are continuing to prioritize more diplomatic and trade ties with Cuba (see 1505290025). The legislation allocates $84.5 million for the International Trade Commission, and bars funds for negotiating past FTA patent reform language into any future trade agreements. The legislation references language in FTAs with Singapore, Australia and Morocco.