Congressional lawmakers this morning approved legislation (HR 5986) renewing US import sanctions on Burma and extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act third country fabric provision.

The measure – which now goes on to the White House for the President’s signature – also makes changes to the rules of origin for textiles and apparel under the US-Central America free trade agreement.

     The measure first passed the House on a voice vote.  The Senate followed suit about an hour later, passing the bill by unanimous consent, after rejecting by a vote of 40 to 58 an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla) that would have changed the bill’s revenue offset, which he said amounted to a budget gimmick.  He proposed that the $200 million cost of the bill be paid for by cuts in trade-related programs at the Commerce Department, Trade and Development Agency, Small Business Administration, US Export-Import Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corporation.  Those spending cuts would have come by eliminating or streamlining redundant programs.

     Opponents to the amendment argued Congress should not be cutting funding to agencies that promote and help finance US exports.