Withdrawing approval of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.
This bill is a joint resolution that would withdraw the United States’ approval of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement. Specifically, it targets the approval Congress provided under section 101(a) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA) and references the definition of the WTO Agreement in URAA section 2(9). If enacted, the United States would no longer be considered to have approved the WTO Agreement, effectively removing U.S. participation and obligations under the WTO framework. In short, the measure would reverse U.S. commitment to the WTO as established by the URAA, a move with broad implications for how the U.S. conducts and enforces international trade policy, dispute settlement, and adherence to multilateral trade rules.
Key Points
- 1What it does: The joint resolution explicitly withdraws Congress’s approval of the WTO Agreement, as provided under URAA section 101(a) and defined by URAA section 2(9). This would reverse the legal basis for U.S. participation in the WTO framework.
- 2Legal mechanism: The URAA implements WTO-related obligations into U.S. law. Section 101(a) grants approval of the WTO Agreement; Section 2(9) defines the WTO Agreement. The bill directly targets and withdraws that approval.
- 3Legislative action and scope: The bill is introduced in the House (H. J. Res. 93) and would require passage by both chambers and (ultimately) the President’s action to become law. It does not include implementing regulations or transition provisions in the text provided.
- 4Consequences for U.S. trade policy: If enacted, the United States would no longer be bound by WTO rules and dispute settlement as a member country under the WTO framework (though the precise domestic and international consequences would depend on subsequent policy choices and any transitional arrangements).
- 5Timing and status: The bill is introduced and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee; no companion measure or Senate action is described in the provided text.