H.R. 7064 – Fair Environmental Trade Agreements Act of 2018

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Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:08 AM UTC

The Fair Environmental Trade Agreements Act of 2018 requires the U.S. Trade Representative to certify that any new or renegotiated trade agreement meets defined labor and environmental standards and includes mechanisms to enforce those standards before Congress can consider the implementing legislation. The rule is aimed at ensuring trade deals protect workers and the environment, and it applies to agreements entered after specific dates.

Key Provisions

Adds a new requirement that the U.S. Trade Representative must certify to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee that any trade agreement meets specific labor and environmental goals and includes enforcement mechanisms before an implementing bill can be considered.
The certification must confirm the agreement meets the objectives listed in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 and has a way to enforce labor or environmental provisions.
This certification rule applies to trade agreements entered into or renegotiated starting one year after the law’s enactment, and to implementing bills for agreements entered on or after July 1 2018 unless other statutory conditions are met.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Trade Subcommittee

October 17, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 16, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Ways and Means Committee

October 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Trade Subcommittee

October 17, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 16, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7064

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 16, 2018

Mr. Coffman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the United States Trade Representative to certify certain trade agreements respecting labor and the environment entered into by the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Fair Environmental Trade Agreements Act of 2018.

2.

Limitations on procedures with respect to labor and the environment

(a)

Limitations on procedures with respect to labor and the environment

Section 106(b) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4205(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(7)

Limitations on procedures with respect to labor and the environment

The trade authorities procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement or trade agreements entered into under section 103(b) unless upon the submission of such bill to Congress the United States Trade Representative certifies to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate that such trade agreement—

(A)

meets the applicable objectives with respect to labor and the environment described in section 102(b)(10); and

(B)

includes a mechanism or mechanisms to implement and enforce any provision in such agreement relating to labor or the environment.

.

(b)

Effective Date

Paragraph (7) of section 106(b) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4205(b)), as added by subsection (a) of this Act, shall apply to trade agreements entered into or renegotiated beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this section.

3.

Certification of certain agreements

(a)

Certification of certain agreements

Upon the submission of an implementing bill concerning a trade agreement or trade agreements, the United States Trade Representative shall certify to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate that such trade agreement or trade agreements entered into by the United States—

(1)

meet the applicable objectives with respect to labor and the environment described in section 102(b)(10) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4202(b)(10)); and

(2)

include a mechanism or mechanisms to implement and enforce any provision in such agreement relating to labor or the environment.

(b)

Application

Subsection (a) shall apply to implementing bills submitted with respect to trade agreements entered into on or after—

(1)

July 1, 2018, if the requirements of section 103(c)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4202(c)(1)(A)) are not satisfied; or

(2)

the date set forth under section 103(c)(1)(B) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4202(c)(1)(B)).

(c)

Implementing bill defined

In this section, the term implementing bill has the meaning given the term in section 103(b)(3) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4202(b)(3)).