§3535 Review of Participation in Wto

Summary

Every five years after the WTO Agreement takes effect for the United States, the first annual report Congress gets after that five-year mark — and then every five years after that — must analyze how the WTO Agreement affects U.S. interests, the costs and benefits of U.S. participation, and whether staying in the WTO is still worthwhile. Congress can only withdraw its approval of the WTO Agreement if both Houses pass a special joint resolution that withdraws the prior approval under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. Joint resolution: a resolution of both Houses that says Congress withdraws its approval under section 101(a) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (see section 2(9) of that Act). That resolution may be introduced any time after the President sends the required report and must be passed and sent to the President before the end of a 90-day period (excluding days listed in section 2194(b)). If the President vetoes it, both Houses must vote to override on or before the later of the end of that 90-day period or the end of a 15-day period (also excluding days in section 2194(b)) after Congress receives the veto message. Any member of either House may introduce the resolution. If a committee does not report it within 45 days, the committee is discharged and the measure goes to the calendar. The Senate must have it reported by the Finance Committee (or be discharged) and the House must have it reported by Ways and Means (or be discharged). Each House may only adopt one such resolution on its own. These steps are treated as rules of each House and can be changed by that House.