Order Code RS21004
Updated August 26, 2004
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Trade Promotion Authority and Fast-Track
Negotiating Authority for Trade Agreements:
Chronology of Major Votes
Carolyn C. Smith
Senior Research Librarian
Information Research Division
Summary
This is a chronology, from 1974 to the present, of significant legislation
concerning presidential trade promotion authority (also referred to as TPA) for trade
agreements. TPA was previously known as fast-track trade negotiating authority for the
President. This report identifies significant bills and resolutions that had floor votes.
Also included is a chronology of floor votes on implementing legislation for trade
agreements, from 1979 to the present; these bills were passed under expedited
procedures by Congress and signed by the President. For further discussions of TPA or
fast-track legislative activity, the report lists CRS reports and Internet resources.
Members of Congress who want more information on this topic may consult the CRS
Electronic Briefing Book on Trade, [http://www.congress.gov/brbk/html/ebtra1.shtml].
This report will be updated as legislation warrants.
Legislative Background Information
Fast-track is an expedited procedure for congressional consideration of international
trade agreements. This process is tied to the President’s authority to enter into trade
agreements to reduce U.S. tariff and non-tariff barriers with other countries. The fast-
track authority provides that Congress will consider trade agreements within mandatory
deadlines, with a limitation on debate, and without amendment, as long as the President
meets prescribed requirements as set out by law. The statutory provisions for “trade
agreement negotiating authority” are in the United States Code, at 19 U.S.C. 2902, 2903,
2904, and 2906.
The Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934 (P.L. 73-316) established a policy
under which Congress delegated authority to the President to negotiate reciprocal
reductions of tariff barriers. The Trade Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-618) required more
extensive consultations between Congress and the President during trade negotiations.
This act also provided a new mechanism for expediting the consideration of trade
agreements, which came to be known as fast-track. Congress authorized and extended
fast-track authority several times, as shown in the chronology of votes, but fast-track
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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negotiating authority expired in 1994. In subsequent sessions of Congress, there were
several legislative proposals to reauthorize fast-track authority, but these bills did not
pass. In the 105th Congress, H.R. 2621 was defeated in a House vote on September 25,
1998.
In the 107th Congress, several legislative proposals on trade promotion authority
(TPA) were considered. On December 6, 2001, the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority
Act of 2001 (H.R. 3005) passed the House, with a vote of 215 to 214. Another trade bill,
H.R. 3009, was introduced as the Andean Trade Preference Act; this bill passed the House
with a voice vote on November 16, 2001. H.R. 3009 was amended several times in the
Senate in 2002, to include additional trade issues. The Senate approved H.R. 3009, which
included TPA provisions, on May 23, 2002. On June 26, 2002, the House agreed to the
Senate-passed bill with its own changes pursuant to H.Res. 450. Following negotiations
of House and Senate conferees regarding provisions in H.R. 3009, the House agreed to
the conference report for H.R. 3009 on July 27, 2002, and the Senate agreed to the
conference report on August 1, 2002. The President signed H.R. 3009, as P.L. 107-210,
the Trade Act of 2002, on August 6, 2002.
This major piece of trade legislation includes provisions for the Andean Trade
Preferences Act, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program, and the Generalized System
of Preferences program. The TPA provisions are found in P.L. 107-210; Title XXI is the
Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002. The TPA provisions in this
legislation cover trade agreements entered into force before June 1, 2005, with a possible
two-year extension. More detailed information on P.L. 107-210 can be found in the
“Resources for Additional Information,” at the end of this report.
In the chronology of fast-track legislation in Table 1, some of the listed bills focus
solely on fast-track trade negotiating authority or TPA. Other bills are major landmarks
of trade legislation, of which fast-track is only one of many trade provisions. These
major trade acts, listed in boldface, include the Trade Act of 1974, the Trade Agreements
Act of 1979, the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness
Act of 1988, and the Trade Act of 2002.
Table 1. Chronology of Votes in Legislation Authorizing or
Extending Fast-Track Negotiating Authority for Trade Agreements
Congress
Bill and Title
Description and Comments
Votes
93rd H.R.
10710
Trade reform, including
Passed House Dec. 11, 1973
Trade Act of 1974
provisions in Title I for
(272-140). Passed Senate
(P.L. 93-618, enacted
“negotiating and other authority”
Dec. 13, 1974 (77-4).
Jan. 3, 1975)
for trade agreements.
Conference Report passed
Senate Dec. 20, 1974 (72-4).

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Congress
Bill and Title
Description and Comments
Votes
96th H.R.
4537
Implemented trade agreements
Passed House July 11, 1979
Trade Agreements
negotiated by the United States
(395-7). Passed Senate
Act of 1979
in the Tokyo Round of the
July 23, 1979 (90-4).
(P.L. 96-39, enacted
General Agreement on Tariffs
July 26, 1979)
and Trade (GATT). Extended
for an additional 8 years (until
Jan. 3, 1988), the President’s
authority to negotiate trade
agreements, under expedited
procedures.
98th H.R.
3398
Included Section 401 (for the
Passed House June 28, 1983
Trade and Tariff
negotiation of a free trade
(368-43). Passed Senate
Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-
agreement with Israel) and
Sept. 20, 1984 (96-0).
573, enacted Oct. 30,
Section 404 (a provision on fast-
Conference Report passed
1984)
track procedures for perishable
House Oct. 9, 1984 (386-1).
articles).
Related bill: H.R.
U.S. Israel Free Trade Area
Passed House Oct. 3, 1984
5377
(416-6). Text of bill was
inserted into H.R. 3398.
100th H.R.
4848
Comprehensive trade legislation
Passed House July 13, 1988
Omnibus Trade and
including section 1102,
(376-45). Passed Senate
Competitiveness Act
providing authority for the
Aug. 3, 1988 (85-11).
of 1988 (P.L. 100-
President to enter into reciprocal
418, enacted Aug.
bilateral and multilateral trade
23, 1988)
agreements.
See H.R. 3 below.
Related bill: H.R. 3
Omnibus Trade and
Passed House Apr. 30, 1987
Competitiveness Act of 1987.
(290-137). Passed Senate
Provisions concerning trade
July 21, 1987 (71-27).
agreement authority were
Conference Report passed
reintroduced into H.R. 4848,
House Apr. 21, 1988 (312-
which was enacted as P.L. 100-
107). Conference Report
418.
passed Senate Apr. 27, 1988
(63-36). Vetoed by
President, May 24, 1988.
Motion to override veto
passed House, May 24, 1988
(308-113). Motion to
override veto failed to pass
in Senate, June 8, 1988 (61-
37).
S. 1420
Omnibus Trade and
Several cloture motions on
Competitiveness Act of 1987
amendments in 1987.
102nd
H.Res. 101
Resolution disapproving the
Failed House May 23, 1991
extension of fast-track
(192-231).
procedures to implement trade
agreements entered into after
May 31, 1991, and by
May 31, 1993.
H.Res. 146
Resolution concerning U.S.
Passed House
objectives of future trade
May 23, 1991 (329-85).
agreements.

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Congress
Bill and Title
Description and Comments
Votes
102nd
S.Res. 78
Resolution disapproving a two-
Failed Senate May 24, 1991
year extension of fast-track
(36-59).
procedures under the Omnibus
Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988.
103rd H.R.
1876
Amended the Omnibus Trade
Passed House June 22, 1993
Uruguay Round of
and Competitiveness Act of
(295-126). Passed Senate
Multilateral Trade
1988 to extend fast-track
June 30,1993 (76-16).
Negotiations
procedures for Uruguay Round
(P.L. 103-49, enacted
trade agreements entered into
July 2, 1993)
before April 16, 1994.
105th
H.R. 2621
Reciprocal Trade Agreement
Failed House Sept. 25, 1998
Authorities Act of 1997.
(180-243). Failed to extend
the trade authority
procedures with respect to
reciprocal trade agreements.
107th
H.R. 3005
Bipartisan Trade Promotion
Passed House Dec. 6, 2001
Authority Act of 2001.
(215-214).
H.R. 3009
Title XXI is the Bipartisan Trade
Passed House Nov. 16, 2001
Trade Act of 2002
Promotion Authority Act of
(voice vote). Passed Senate
(P.L. 107-210,
2002. Other provisions in this
with an amendment May 23,
enacted Aug. 6,
major trade bill include the
2002 (66-30). Adoption of
2002)
Andean Trade Preference Act,
the rule (H.Res. 450) to
the Trade Adjustment Assistance
expand the scope of the
program, and the Generalized
conference committee.
System of Preferences program.
Adopted in the House June
26, 2002 (216-215). House
adopted conference report
July 27, 2002 (215-212).
Senate adopted conference
report Aug. 1, 2002 (64-34).
Congress has applied fast-track legislative procedures to approve several bilateral
and multilateral trade agreements. Table 2 lists the past uses of fast-track procedures in
the implementation of trade agreements. The table does not include the implementing
legislation for the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (H.R. 2603 enacted as P.L. 107-43
on September 28, 2001); this bill was not considered in Congress under fast-track
procedures.
In the 108th Congress, implementing legislation for free trade agreements was passed
under fast-track procedures on four separate bills:
! H.R. 2738, the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act, was signed on September 3, 2003 (P.L. 108-77).
! On the same day, H.R. 2739, the United States-Singapore Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act, was signed into law (P.L. 108-78).
! H.R. 4759, the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Act, was
signed by the President on August 3, 2004 ( P.L. 108-296).

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! On August 17, 2004, H.R. 4842, the United States-Morocco Free Trade
Agreement Implementation Act, was signed into law (P.L. 108-286).
Table 2. Chronology of Votes for Bills Using Fast-Track Procedures
in the Implementation of Trade Agreements

Congress
Bill and Title
Description and Comments
Votes
96th Trade
Agreements
Approved and implemented the
Passed House
Act of 1979
trade agreements negotiated by the
July 11, 1979 (395-7).
(P.L. 96-39, H.R.
United States, in the Tokyo Round
Passed Senate
4537, enacted
of multilateral trade negotiation,
July 23, 1979 (90-4).
July 26, 1979)
within the framework of the GATT.
Fast-track trade authority stemmed
from the Trade Act of 1974.
99th United
States-Israel
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Free Trade Area
trade area between the United States
May 7, 1985 (422-0).
Implementation Act
and Israel, under the Trade and
Passed Senate
of 1985 (P.L. 99-47,
Tariff Act of 1984.
May 23, 1985 (voice
H.R. 2268, enacted
vote).
June 11, 1985)
100th United
States-Canada
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Free Trade
trade agreement between the United
Aug. 9, 1988 (366-40).
Agreement
States and Canada, under the Trade
Passed Senate
Implementation Act
and Tariff Act of 1984.
Sept. 19, 1988 (83-9).
of 1988 (P.L. 100-
449, H.R. 5090,
enacted Sept. 28,
1988)
103rd
North American Free
Approved and implemented the
Passed House
Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade
Nov. 17, 1993 (288-146).
Implementation Act
Agreement (NAFTA) between the
Passed Senate Nov. 20,
(P.L. 103-182, H.R.
United States, Canada, and Mexico,
1993 (61-38).
3450, enacted
under the Omnibus Trade and
Dec. 8, 1993)
Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Uruguay Round
Approved and implemented the
Passed House
Agreements Act
trade agreements concluded in the
Nov. 29, 1994 (288-146).
(P.L. 103-465, H.R.
Uruguay Round of multilateral trade
Passed Senate Dec. 1,
5110, enacted Dec. 8,
negotiations, under the Omnibus
1994 (76-24).
1994)
Trade and Competitiveness Act of
1988.
108th United
States-Chile
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Free Trade
trade agreement between the United
July 24, 2003 (270-156).
Agreement
States and Chile.
Passed Senate
Implementation Act
July 31, 2003 (65-32).
(P.L. 108-77, H.R.
2738, enacted Sept.
3, 2003)

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Congress
Bill and Title
Description and Comments
Votes
108th United
States-
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Singapore Free Trade
trade agreement between the United
July 24, 2003 (272-155).
Agreement
States and Singapore.
Passed Senate
Implementation Act
July 31, 2003 (66-32).
(P.L. 108-78, H.R.
2739, enacted Sept.
3, 2003)
United States-
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Australia Free Trade
trade agreement between the United
July 14, 2004 (314-109).
Agreement
States and Australia.
Passed Senate
Implementation Act
July 15, 2004 (80-16).
(P.L. 108-286, H.R.
4759, enacted Aug.
3, 2004)
United States-
Approved and implemented the free
Passed House
Morocco Free Trade
trade agreement between the United
July 22, 2004 (323-99).
Agreement
States and Morocco.
Passed Senate
Implementation Act
July 22, 2004 (unanimous
(P.L. 108-286, H.R.
consent, no recorded
4842, enacted Aug.
vote)
17, 2004)
Resources for Additional Information
CRS Report RL31844. Trade Promotion Authority (Fast-Track Authority for Trade
Agreements): Background and Developments in the 107th Congress, by Lenore Sek.
CRS Issue Brief IB10123. Trade Negotiations in the 108th Congress, by Ian Fergusson
and Lenore Sek.
CRS Report 97-896. Why Certain Trade Agreements Are Approved as Congressional-
Executive Agreements Rather Than as Treaties, by Jeanne Grimmett.
CRS Report RL31356. Free Trade Agreements: Impact on U.S. Trade and Implications
for U.S. Trade Policy, by William H. Cooper.
Office of the United States Trade Representative website at [http://www.ustr.gov]. This
site has a section on “Trade Agreements,” with information on multilateral and bilateral
trade agreements and negotiations. Keyword searches for information on Trade
Promotion Authority (TPA) and other trade issues are possible on this site.
White House website on “Trade Promotion Authority” at [http://tpa.gov]. This site
provides links to statements of the President and U.S. trade officials on TPA. A state map
provides links to government documents discussing the impact of trade for each state.
For Members of Congress, the CRS Electronic Briefing Book on Trade has information
on TPA at [http://www.congress.gov/brbk/html/ebtra9.html].

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