[Trade] Highlights of FY 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
The following are some of the trade-related highlights of the FY2004 omnibus appropriations bill that passed the House Monday and awaits final Senate action. Efforts by the Senate to pass the bill yesterday were unsuccessful and it appears that the bill may not be reconsidered by the Senate until early next year.
• Cuba - As expected, the bill does not include the language in the original House and Senate bills that would have ended the ban on travel to Cuba by US citizens. The bill provides the administration's request of $7 million to promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba.
• International Trade Administration (ITA), Department of Commerce - The spending bill appropriates $395 million for the ITA — $27 million (7 percent) more than the current level, but equal to the request and the House level. The bill includes $500,000 for a comprehensive study of future domestic demand for steel and $3 million to establish an Office of China Compliance.
• Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). The bill provides $42 million for the USTR — $7 million (21 percent) more than the current level.
|posted by Douglas N. Jacobson| Permalink 
