A HOUSE RESOLUTION endorsing the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory committee's report on the us‑central america free trade agreement.
Whereas, the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee (IGPAC) recommended in its report on the US‑Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in March 2004 that the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), the Trade Policy Review Group (TPRG), and the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) be expanded or reconfigured to include state and local government representation; and
Whereas, issues for the attention and action on the part of a newly expanded trade promotion and trade policy consultative process should include:
(1)	Establishing and fully funding a formal, regularly scheduled mechanism for US federal‑state trade policy consultations in light of the increasing state role in trade policy formulation, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
(2)	Increasing awareness by state officials of the recent and ongoing efforts on the part of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and other TPCC federal agencies to proactively discuss trade issues with national associations of state officials exercising regulatory functions.
(3)	Establishing a clear priority for federal support of high technology manufactured goods and services exports.
(4)	Assessing the comparative costs and benefits to the federal budget and US economy, particularly in terms of employment creation/retention and trade value, of the allocation of resources and trade protections to agricultural commodities, technology research and development, industrial goods, manufactured products, and services sectors.
(5)	Collecting and disseminating better national, state, regional, and zip‑code‑level data on merchandise and services exports and imports, and on international investment flows, deploying mapping technologies and other tools to better inform analysis and planning.
(6)	Encouraging TPCC federal agencies to: (i) deepen the state/federal trade development partnership; (ii) prioritize support by overseas posts for state‑led trade initiatives in global markets; (iii) increase cooperation in domestic trade development program delivery; and (iv) integrate further Eximbank trade finance and delegated authority activities with those of states and the private sector, improving small firms' awareness of and access to trade financing.
(7)	Substantially transforming, expanding, and fully funding the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.
(8)	Emulating our nation's effective responses to natural disasters, in order to mobilize resources for economic disasters, TPCC and related entities should collaborate on the creation of an Economic Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Whereas, IGPAC also suggests that the USTR: (i) intensify the focus of its consultative process on reaching out to State Points of Contact, advisory committees, and other interested parties for their input as trade policy is being formulated and as trade agreement negotiations are being initiated; and (ii) utilize the existing corporate, government, and academic relationships of the US states abroad as a bridge to foster cooperation and understanding in preparation for future trade policy, trade capacity building, program development, and trade agreement initiatives and meetings; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives endorses the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee's report on the US‑Central America Free Trade Agreement from March 19, 2004.
SECTION 2.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, the United States Trade Representative, and the Chair of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.