Background

For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson.

Buy American. The 21st Century Buy American Act (S. 4418, introduced Aug. 4 by Sen. Murphy, D-Conn.; and H.R. 7955, introduced Aug. 7 by Rep. Cicilline, D-R.I.) would amend the Buy American Act to (1) close loopholes that allow federal agencies to waive Buy American requirements, (2) invest in new and existing manufacturers of non-available items or manufacturers that are the only domestic manufacturer of a specific item, and (3) increase the domestic content requirement from 50 percent to 60 percent.

The American Made Strategic National Stockpile Act (H.R. 7989, introduced Aug. 7 by Rep. Trone, D-Md.) would insert language from the Berry Amendment, which fosters the purchase of U.S. goods by the Department of Defense, into the Strategic National Stockpile statute to strengthen domestic medical supply chains and better prepare the U.S. for future public health emergencies.

Drone Exports. S. 4474 (introduced Aug. 6 by Sens. Murphy, D-Conn., and Lee, R-Utah) would amend the Arms Export Control Act to prohibit the export, transfer, or trade of advanced drones with a range greater than 300 km or a payload greater than 500 kg, with an exception for NATO members, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Israel.

Foreign Investment. S. 4485 (introduced Aug. 6 by Sen. Tillis, R-N.C.) would expand the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to include review of foreign investments in emerging and foundational technology in the U.S. Under this bill a technology would be considered emerging and foundational if at least the chair and one other member of CFIUS deem it to be essential to U.S. national security and such determinations would not be left up to the Department of Commerce.

USTR. S. 4493 (introduced Aug. 6 by Sen. Menendez, D.-N.J.) and H.R. 7980 (introduced Aug. 7 by Rep. Pascrell, D-N.J.) would establish an inspector general in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to perform independent oversight, improve transparency and accountability, and crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse. This new IG would be required to commence within 180 days an audit of the Section 301 tariff exclusion process.

Tariffs. The Stop PPE Taxes Act (S. 4497, introduced Aug. 6 by Sens. Toomey, R-Pa., and Hassan, D-N.H.) would suspend through 2022 all Section 301 tariffs on imports of medical products identified by the International Trade Commission as needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Strategic Global Supply Chains Act (S. 4501, introduced Aug. 6 by Sens. Toomey and Hassan) would require the ITC to regularly update its list of such goods and require USTR to consult with other federal agencies on trade policy affecting the domestic supply of such goods

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J. Nicole Bivens Collinson
Managing Principal, Operating Committee; International Trade & Government Relations Practice Leader

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