For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Tariffs. The Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act (S. 2934, introduced Oct. 5 by Sens. Toomey, R-Pa., and Warner, D-Va.) would make any presidentially-proposed tariffs or quotas applied for national security purposes (under Section 232 authority) subject to review and approval by Congress prior to taking effect. It would also restore the national security intent to the Section 232 statute by defining that term to include articles specifically related to military equipment, energy resources, and critical infrastructure.
Imports. The Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act (S. 2950, introduced Oct. 6 by Sens. Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Fitzpatrick, R-Penn.; and H.R. 5508, introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Blumenauer, D-Ore.) would prohibit the importation of products made wholly or in part of certain commodities produced on land undergoing illegal deforestation. Among other things this bill would (1) cover commodities such as palm oil, soybeans, cattle, rubber, pulp, and cocoa, (2) require importers to certify that they have exercised reasonable care to ensure that certain products made of covered commodities were not produced on illegally deforested land, (3) require the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to identify, and develop action plans for, countries without adequate and effective protection against commodity-driven illegal deforestation, and (4) provide that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will share declarations and other information with relevant agencies to ensure effective enforcement.
Supply Chains. The Supply CHAIN Act (H.R. 5479, introduced Oct. 5 by Reps. Bourdeaux, D-Ga., and Kinzinger, R-Ill.) would create a Supply Chain Resiliency and Crisis Response Office in the Department of Commerce to monitor supply chains of critical goods and materials and plan for and respond to supply chain disruptions.
The Manufacturing Economic and National Security Act (H.R. 5492, introduced Oct. 5 by Reps. Kinzinger, R-Ill., and Malinowski, D-N.J.) would establish an Office of Manufacturing Security and Resilience in the Department of Commerce.
Agriculture. The Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act (S. 2931, introduced Oct. 5 by Sen. Tuberville, R-Ala., and H.R. 5490, introduced Oct. 5 by Rep. Jackson, R-Texas) would (1) add the secretary of agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., (2) add language to protect the U.S. agricultural industry from foreign control through transactions, mergers, acquisitions, or agreements, (3) designate agricultural supply chains as critical infrastructure and critical technologies, and (4)require USDA reports to Congress on current and potential foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural industry.
Cosmetics. H.R. 5537 (introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Schakowsky, D-Ill.) would ban certain substances in cosmetic products and H.R. 5539 (introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Schakowsky) would ensure the supply chain transparency needed for companies to make safe cosmetics.
NTR Status. H.R. 5544 (introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Titus, D-Nev.) would authorize the permanent extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Kazakhstan.
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