Hatch says TAA doesn’t have votes to pass

Renewing TAA at 2009 levels would cost about $7.2 billion over 10 years, “piling on more debt” when the “country is basically broke,” Hatch said. 

Last week, the White House said it won’t submit the trade agreements for congressional approval until lawmakers agree to renew the TAA program, which expired in February. 

Pushing for the TAA renewal “doesn’t appear to be a reason to stop these three trade agreements,” Hatch said. “If it’s being used as leverage it’s a heck of a way to treat our allies.”

Hatch argued that if the three deals create jobs, then “TAA doesn’t seem to apply in these instances.” 

“Why don’t we work on that separately,” he said, noting that there might be some other programs that could help workers. 

Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, deputy U.S. Trade Representative, argued the program is needed because “globalization continues” creating shifts in employment patterns and helping workers manage transitions. 

He also reiterated the White House is eager to complete all three trade deals along with the extended trade agenda, including TAA and trade preferences. 

“I think we can work together and work on all these issues in tandem,” he told the panel. 

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) reiterated his stance that Congress must pass all the trade deals, renew TAA and complete the broader trade agenda. He said lawmakers must reach a compromise to pass everything this year. 

Democrats said TAA must be enacted before the trade deals are sent to Capitol Hill. Technical discussions are under way on all three deals — Korea, Panama and Colombia — between congressional staff and the White House. 

Panel member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said TAA must be locked in before Congress takes up the trade deals. 

“I’m concerned about if we have a deal and one chamber passes TAA and another doesn’t,” he said. “That leaves workers unprotected.” 

Assurances to pass TAA “have to be iron clad” so “we don’t play Russian roulette with workers who deserve the program.”

Across the board, the lawmakers expressed support for the Korean deal, agreeing votes can’t slip beyond the summer. 

Baucus, who backs the trade deals, said he’d do his best to make sure the agreements move through Congress within the next couple of months.