Sen. Cantwell planning legislation to authorize U.S.-Middle East trade talks

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) last week announced she would soon introduce a bill to authorize the White House to negotiate a trade agreement with Middle Eastern countries. Cantwell announced the legislation during a June 26 event hosted by the Washington International Trade Association. She said she hopes her proposal can help reduce tensions in the Middle East, roiled by recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and what she called a “tenuous” ceasefire agreement between Israel...