WASHINGTON, D.C. (NAFB) – A top Senate Republican wants the details on President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plans for trade. Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
So far, senior Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley says he hasn’t seen them. Almost four months since President Biden took office and two months since the Senate confirmed Katherine Tai as his trade ambassador, Iowa Senator Grassley has seen no “Build Back Better” policy on pending trade talks.
A big concern as Tai comes before the Senate Finance Committee with commodity prices soaring and trade a key opportunity after years of low prices and a devastating pandemic. Grassley, a former Finance chair and senior panel member, wants answers on several trade priorities.
Others wonder if the U.S. will try to reenter the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and how will it enforce USMCA, where Grassley says there are still problems.
President Biden has prioritized domestic issues, including COVID and the economy over trade, despite their connection, and multilateral trade deals a priority over bilateral ones.