Bill Summary
This resolution expresses the Senate's opinion that the President should work with the government of the United Kingdom to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement between the United States and the UK. It also urges the President to work with the President of the European Commission to negotiate a comprehensive trade agreement between the US and the European Union. The resolution acknowledges the long-standing "Special Relationship" between the US and UK, as well as their shared economic prosperity and security cooperation. It also highlights the need for the US to support higher-paying jobs and grow the economy through improved trade and investment opportunities with the EU. The resolution also mentions the historical role of the US in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and acknowledges the need to preserve it during negotiations. Ultimately, the resolution calls for the President to work towards mutually beneficial trade agreements with both the UK and EU, while also striving to resolve any commercial disputes.
Possible Impacts
1. Impact on trade and investments: The legislation could potentially lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement between the US and the UK, as well as between the US and the European Union. This could affect people by opening up new opportunities for trade and investments, potentially leading to economic growth and job creation.
2. Effects on labor ties: The resolution highlights the strong labor ties between the US and UK, and calls for further strengthening of these ties. This could lead to increased job opportunities for people in both countries, as well as potential collaborations between industries and businesses.
3. Protection of the Good Friday Agreement: The legislation acknowledges the importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement in light of the UK's departure from the European Union. This could affect people living in Northern Ireland, who may be impacted by any changes to the agreement, as well as those who have a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 134 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 134
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should work with
the Government of the United Kingdom to conclude negotiations for a
comprehensive trade agreement between the United States and the United
Kingdom that the President should work with the President of the
European Commission to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive trade
agreement between the United States and the European Union.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 24, 2021
Mr. Lee (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mr. Cramer, Mr.
Lankford, Mr. Braun, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Cornyn,
Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance
May 25, 2022
Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to with an
amended preamble and an amendment to the title
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should work with
the Government of the United Kingdom to conclude negotiations for a
comprehensive trade agreement between the United States and the United
Kingdom that the President should work with the President of the
European Commission to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive trade
agreement between the United States and the European Union.
Whereas, on March 5, 1946, Sir Winston Churchill delivered the Iron Curtain
speech in Fulton, Missouri, solidifying the ``Special Relationship''
between the United States and the United Kingdom;
Whereas, since the end of World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom
have been beacons of freedom to the world, standing together in the
fight against tyranny;
Whereas the Special Relationship between the United States and the United
Kingdom has driven economic prosperity and security cooperation in both
nations for more than 70 years;
Whereas, according to ``Sterling Assets,'' a report from the Confederation of
British Industry, the United States and the United Kingdom share the
world's largest bilateral trade and investment relationship;
Whereas, while the United States and the United Kingdom already share a robust
economic partnership and strong labor ties, there remain clear
opportunities for both countries to further strengthen those ties;
Whereas the United States Trade Representative and United Kingdom Department for
International Trade have engaged in substantive negotiations towards the
conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement since May 2020;
Whereas the United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs in the United
States and to grow the United States economy by improving United States
opportunities for trade and investment with the European Union;
Whereas the economic relationship of the United States and the European Union is
the largest and most complex in the world, with over $1,100,000,000,000
in annual two-way trade;
Whereas the United States Trade Representative and the European Union have
engaged in substantive negotiations toward the conclusion of a trade
agreement;
Whereas the United States has historically acted as a guarantor of the 1998 Good
Friday Agreement, an agreement between the British and Irish
governments, designed to protect peace in Northern Ireland by avoiding a
hard border on the island of Ireland;
Whereas Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, President of the
European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the European
Council Charles Michel signed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement on January
24, 2020;
Whereas as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, in order to protect the Good
Friday Agreement in the aftermath of the United Kingdom's departure from
the European Union, the two parties agreed to the Northern Ireland
Protocol; and
Whereas the constitutional power of making trade agreements with foreign nations
rests with Congress: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) the United States should strengthen its close and
mutually beneficial trading and economic partnership with the
United Kingdom that takes into account, as relevant, conditions
requiring that obligations under the Good Friday Agreement be
met;
(2) the United States should strengthen its close and
mutually beneficial trading and economic partnership with the
European Union by working to conclude negotiations for a
comprehensive trade agreement;
(3) the President, in consultation with Congress, should
work to conclude negotiations for such comprehensive trade
agreements contingent upon an agreement between the European
Union and the United Kingdom that fully protects and preserves
the Good Friday Agreement consistent with the sentiments
expressed by the Senate in S. Res.117 (117th Congress); and
(4) the President, in consultation with Congress, should
strive to reach mutually advantageous resolutions of commercial
disagreements between the United States and the United Kingdom,
including ending the Digital Services Tax on United States
businesses and ensuring a satisfactory final resolution to the
World Trade Organization large civil aircraft dispute.
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