Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph B (page 1, lines 8 to 15 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘ B. "Trade agreement" means an agreement reached between the United States Government and any other country, countries or other international political entity or entities that proposes to regulate trade, procurement, services or investment among the parties to the agreement. "Trade agreement" includes, but is not limited to, any agreements under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, all regional free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central America Free Trade Agreement and all bilateral agreements entered into by the United States, as well as requests for binding agreement received from the United States Trade Representative.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 by striking out all of subsection 2 (page 1, lines 16 to 20 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 in subsection 3 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 22 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " agreement" the following: ' provision'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 in subsection 3 in the 5th line (page 1, line 25 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " Representatives" the following: ' , the Maine International Trade Center'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 in subsection 4 in the first line (page 1, line 28 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " commission" the following: ' , in consultation with the Maine International Trade Center,'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §13 in subsection 4 in the 3rd line (page 1, line 30 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " including" the following: ' any necessary'
summary
This amendment broadens the definition of "trade agreement" and clarifies that the legislative approval of trade agreements may occur only when the United States Government provides the State with the opportunity to consent to or reject binding the State to a trade agreement or a provision within a trade agreement. It also requires the Governor to provide the Maine International Trade Center with a copy of any communication concerning a trade agreement provision when it is received by the State, and it adds the requirement that the Citizen Trade Policy Commission consult with the Maine International Trade Center when it reviews and analyzes trade agreements.