Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the 112th Congress
4 Pages Posted: 5 Jun 2013
Date Written: June 4, 2013
Abstract
A review of the Cato Institute’s congressional trade votes database reveals how the 112th Congress and its individual members voted on major trade bills and amendments. After a lull in congressional trade policymaking, the 112th Congress saw renewed action in trade policy but very little initiative. There were 15 individual votes that had an impact on Americans’ freedom to trade, whereas the 111th Congress held only three. The votes in the 112th Congress included consideration of three free trade agreements; two initiatives targeting imports from China; the extension of export finance subsidies, agriculture subsidies, and price supports; and the acceptance of U.S. obligations toward Russia after that country’s accession to the World Trade Organization.
Keywords: house of representatives, US senate, American trade policy, Free market legislation, international economic policy
JEL Classification: F10, F13, D72
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation