§ 4127. Approval of trade agreements
(a) Options for binding the State. If the U.S. government provides the State of Vermont with the opportunity to consent to or reject binding the State to a trade agreement or to a provision within a trade agreement, then the Governor may bind the State or give consent to the U.S. government to bind the State only after consultation with the Commission as provided for in subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Recommendations to Congress and the U.S. Trade Representative. In all other circumstances in which the U.S. government provides the State with information about a proposed trade agreement, the Commission shall make a recommendation to Vermont’s delegation to Congress and to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative within the time frame requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
(c) Consultation process.
(1) When a communication from the U.S. Trade Representative regarding a proposed trade agreement is received by the State, the person who receives the communication shall submit a copy of the communication and any proposed trade agreement or relevant provisions of the trade agreement to the Chairs of the Commission. The Chairs may disseminate the information to the chairs of the relevant legislative standing committees of jurisdiction.
(2) The Commission shall review and analyze the trade agreement and issue a recommendation on the potential impact of the trade agreement to the appropriate party as described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section within a time frame that will afford Vermont’s recommendations due consideration. (Added 2009, No. 78 (Adj. Sess.), § 43; eff. April 15, 2010.)