No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes definitions for purposes of this Act, including (1) "North America" as the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and (2) "USMCA" as having the meaning given that term in section 4502(9) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4502(9)) (i.e., the USMCA trade agreement).
This section expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. travel and tourism industry contributes approximately $1.3 trillion to the economy and supports 15 million jobs (2024 data); constitutes the top U.S. services export worth $214 billion (19% of all services exports and 7% of all exports), with a $35 billion trade surplus; relies significantly on visitors from Canada (20.4 million visits generating $20.5 billion in spending and 140,000 jobs) and Mexico (generating billions in spending and thousands of jobs); benefits from efficient cross-border travel and the USMCA framework; and would be advanced by establishing a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group under the USMCA.
This section directs the U.S. Trade Representative, during the first joint review of the USMCA (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 4611) after enactment and subject to that section's consultation requirements with Congress and stakeholders, to advocate for the establishment of a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group co-chaired by representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The working group is to include U.S. representatives from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Departments of Commerce, State, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, and Transportation, and other agencies as appropriate; seek input from the travel and tourism industry, including the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board; and (1) pursue activities to enhance North American travel and tourism competitiveness, increase related service exports, and promote employment and economic growth; and (2) serve as a forum for information exchange, policy collaboration (including on intercontinental travel), and initiative development. The working group must meet at least annually, and U.S. representatives must regularly brief the Senate Committees on Finance and Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce.