The head of the US House of Representatives main trade committee said on Wednesday he hoped to move quickly on a group of trade bills covering Australia, Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, a California Republican, told reporters he was exploring the idea of packaging the bills together so House lawmakers could vote on all three pieces of trade legislation the same day.
"We're a little concerned about stringing out votes, given the remainder of this (legislative) session with the political presidential season rolling around," Thomas said.
Trade has become an issue in the campaign, with Democratic candidate John Kerry accusing President George W. Bush of not doing enough to keep US jobs from moving overseas.
In addition, many lawmakers would prefer not to vote on trade legislation right before the fall elections.
Thomas spoke with reporters shortly after the Ways and Means Committee approved a bipartisan bill that would extend textile and other trade benefits for sub-Saharan African nations until 2015.
The legislation addresses an immediate problem faced by many of the region's textile producers by allowing them to continue using third-country fabric for an additional three years under the duty-free US import program.
Although overall benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act are due to end in 2008, the third-country provisions expire in September, creating a problem for African textile producers who do not yet make fabrics.
Thomas said he expected the Africa bill to win easy approval in the full House of Representatives. But rather than sending it to the floor right away, House leaders might want to hold it until legislation to implement a pair of new trade agreements with Australia and Morocco is ready for action, he said.
The Bush administration plans to sign the trade agreement with Australia on May 18. The earliest it could sign the Morocco agreement is the second week of June.
Congress cannot vote on the pacts until they are signed and the White House has submitted an implementing bill.
Thomas said the House could consider other trade bills as part of the proposed package. However, a free trade pact with five Central American countries and the Dominican Republican may "not be ready for prime time," he said.
Many Democrats oppose that agreement on the grounds that its labour and environmental provisions are not strong enough.
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