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trade bill

trade bill

5 5.3
A proposed law to control trade between countries
  • noun
  • /treɪd bɪl/
translation icon : proyecto de ley comercial
  • That is why President Clinton fought to enact trade bills for the Caribbean and Africa, which will give Africa, for example, more liberal access to our market than Europe and Asia enjoy.
  • trade bill passed
  • a new trade bill
  • a free trade bill

Examples

  • As Kissinger would later lament: "The trade bill passed—with the Jackson amendment—at the end of 1974."

    Academic text (1991)
  • As Ways and Means chairman, Rostenkowski has a special power beyond shaping tax and trade bills.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Where are you guys on the trade bill?

  • Will bring down a trade bill that's been worked on for years.

  • Trade this week sent lawmakers a letter signed by more than 500 trade associations and businesses urging quick action on the trade bill.

    Blog text (12)
  • Unfortunately, Congress is unlikely to approve the trade agreement this year due to its crowded calendar, union opposition in an election year, and the White House's preoccupation with the China trade bill.

    Academic text (2000)
  • That is why the U.S. Commission on International Freedom's report, released in early May 2000, urged Congress to withhold the trade bill until China began to treat religious groups humanely.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat – California) tried to make cheaper drugs for Africa part of the proposed African trade bill, but Congress removed the provision.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The Senate will debate the proposed trade bill that aims to improve relations with foreign countries.

  • After much discussion, Congress finally approved the new trade bill to enhance tariffs on imported goods.

How Restrictive

embargo
  • Formal
150 6.8
trade policy
28 3.2
regulation
  • Formal
4.0
trade bill
5 5.3
proposal
817 2.9

Surface Forms

trade bill singular
trade bills plural

Morphology

trade + bill

The meaning 'a proposed law about trade' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'trade' (commercial activity) + 'bill' (a legislative proposal). This straightforward noun–noun combination follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The term trade bill comes from combining trade, meaning buying and selling between countries, and bill, a paper that proposes a new law. Imagine a paper on a merchant's table listing new rules about imports and exports, so a trade bill is a proposed law 'to control trade between countries'.