Voting on WTO Withdrawal

Simon LesterNext month, Congress may be voting on resolutions to withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the Senate, the vote is based on a joint resolution introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). Politicoreports the following:The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that Sen. Josh Hawley (R ‐​Mo.) is entitled to a vote on his resolution to withdraw from the World Trade Organization in late July, after the Senate returns from a two ‐​week recess.…… Hawley would be entitled to a vote on a motion to proceed to his resolution on the first day when the Senate is back from its recess, the parliamentarian ruled. If that motion succeeds, then the Senate would vote on the actual resolution, subject to certain expedited procedures, the parliamentarian said.In the House, the vote wasrequested by Representatives Peter DeFazio (D ‐​Or.) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Politico’s Doug Palmerreports that the House parliamentarian says a vote can be held there as well.As background, the statute implementing the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations, which created the WTO, provides for the possibility of a vote on withdrawal every five years.Votes were held in the House in 2000 and 2005. In 2005, the House voted 338 –86 against withdrawal. In 2000, the vote was 363–56 against withdrawal. (The Senate has never voted on this.) No votes have been taken since then.As I describedhere, based on hisNew York Timesop ‐​ed on the sub...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs