Biden Signs Taiwan Act Into Law
President Joe Biden signed the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act into law Aug. 7 but said there are constitutional concerns with language that would require the U.S. trade representative to provide negotiating texts to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees "in the midst of negotiations," and would also preclude USTR from presenting its text to Taiwan while Congress is reviewing it.
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"Section 7(d) of the Act would require the inclusion of members of the Congress as accredited members of the United States delegation who would be entitled to daily briefings, including of tentative agreements. In cases where the requirements of section 7 of the Act would impermissibly infringe upon my constitutional authority to negotiate with a foreign partner, my Administration will treat them as non-binding," Biden said.
House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard Neal, D-Mass., hailed Biden's decision to sign the bill. "The Taiwan Implementation Act underscores the exclusive Constitutional authority of Congress -- and particularly the Ways and Means Committee -- as the gatekeeper of our trade priorities," he said.