For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Duty-Free Imports. The Western Hemisphere Nearshoring Act (H.R. 7579, introduced April 26 by Rep. Green, R-Tenn.) would, among other things, provide 15 years of duty-free treatment to U.S. imports of goods and services made or produced in a Latin American or Caribbean country by a qualified corporation that has received assistance under this bill to relocate its operations from China. Such companies could not be or become owned or controlled by the governments of China or Russia. Revenues lost as a result of this duty-free treatment would be offset by tariffs on imports from China.
This bill would also direct the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to launch negotiations on trade agreements with Latin American or Caribbean countries not already party to free trade agreements with the U.S., provided that they (1) are taking steps to reduce illegal migration to the U.S., (2) are taking steps to reduce their economic dependence on China, and (3) allow Taiwan to establish and maintain a commercial office in that country.
Forced Labor. The Transaction And Sourcing Knowledge Act (S. 4095, introduced April 27 by Sen. Scott, R-Fla.) would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to require reporting of sourcing and due diligence activities of companies involving supply chains of imported products that are directly linked to products utilizing forced labor from Xinjiang, China.
S. 4101 (introduced April 27 by Sen. Peters, D-Mich.) would require the Department of Commerce to provide training and guidance relating to human rights abuses, including those perpetrated against the Uyghur population by the government of China.
China. The Senate voted April 28 to go to conference with the House to resolve differences between the America COMPETES Act passed by the House and the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act passed by the Senate. It remains unclear when conference talks will begin.
Import Restrictions. The Securing the Border for Public Health Act (H.R. 7586, introduced April 26 by Rep. Lesko, R-Ariz.) would provide for the suspension of entries and imports from designated countries to prevent not only the spread of communicable diseases but also the import of controlled substances such as narcotics, opiates, opium derivatives, and fentanyl-related substances.
Supply Chain Security. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee amended and reported April 27 a bill (S. 2322) that would create a pilot program allowing up to ten non-asset-based third-party logistics providers to become certified in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism.
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