For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Customs. The U.S. Customs Modernization Act of 2023 (S. 3431, introduced Dec. 7 by Sen. Cassidy, R-La.) would strengthen the authorities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enforce U.S. customs and trade laws by (1) expanding CBP access to data by allowing access prior to the entry of goods and from parties throughout the supply chain, (2) clarifying CBP’s authority to provide information to relevant supply chain parties when it has a reasonable suspicion that goods are counterfeit or otherwise illicit, (3) reducing uncertainty for law-abiding importers while giving CBP the tools it needs to hold bad actors accountable, (4) enabling CBP to collect more information on duty-free shipments under $800, and (5) cutting bureaucratic red tape, increasing the transparency of shipments entering the U.S., and creating an appeals process for CBP decisions on imports.
Imports. The Ban China’s Forbidden Operations in the Oceanic Domain Act (S. 3417, introduced Dec. 6 by Sen. Cotton, R-Ark.) would prohibit the importation of seafood and aquaculture products from China until determinations are made that China’s fishing fleets are not meaningfully using forced labor, Beijing is not subsidizing its fishing fleets beyond international norms, and those fleets would not be used in a potential invasion of Taiwan. This bill would also sanction companies found to knowingly participate in the transshipment of Chinese seafood and aquaculture products into the U.S. and place tariffs on countries that facilitate such transshipments.
The Clean Competition Act (S. 3422, introduced Dec. 6 by Sen. Whitehouse, D-R.I., and H.R. 6622, introduced Dec. 6 by Rep. DelBene, D-Wash.) would create a carbon border adjustment, an environmental trade policy that includes charges on imports from particularly carbon-intensive manufacturers. Starting in 2025 the adjustment would apply to energy-intensive industries such as fossil fuels, refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, fertilizer, hydrogen, adipic acid, cement, iron and steel, aluminum, glass, pulp and paper, and ethanol. In 2027 it would be expanded to include imported finished goods that meet certain weight or value thresholds.
S. 3386 (introduced Dec. 4 by Sens. Rounds, R-S.D., and Tester, D-Mont.) would temporarily suspend the importation of beef and beef products from Paraguay and require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by such imports.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Dec. 6 asking her to initiate a Section 232 investigation into imports from China of all grades of garlic, whole or separated into constituent cloves, whether or not peeled, chilled, fresh, frozen, provisionally preserved or packed in water or other neutral substance. Scott said such imports pose a threat to U.S. national security due to their quality and safety in addition to the fact that fresh garlic is the top product with unpaid antidumping duties. A Section 232 could eventually result in additional tariffs on imports of Chinese garlic.
Trade Adjustment. The Resilient Communities Act (S. 3425, introduced Dec. 6 by Sens. Baldwin, D-Wis., and Cassidy, R-La.) would authorize the Department of Commerce to establish a Resilient Communities Program that would direct antidumping and countervailing duty revenues to a fund that supports communities that have been injured by trade, including where there are companies facing layoffs, declining sales, or reduced shifts as a result of import competition.
Exports. The No Technology for Terror Act (H.R. 6603, introduced Dec. 4 by Rep. Moran, R-Texas) would make permanent existing U.S. export control restrictions that prohibit the transfer of U.S.-made technology to Iran by extending the foreign direct product rule to that country.
The Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales Act (H.R. 6618, introduced Dec. 6 by Rep. Castro, D-Texas) would transfer regulatory control of small arms exports from the Department of Commerce back to the Department of State and require the development of a comprehensive interagency strategy and program to disrupt arms trafficking and diversion of exported firearms.
H.R. 6614 (introduced Dec. 6 by Rep. Jackson, R-Texas) would amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 relating to licensing transparency. H.R. 6602 (introduced Dec. 5 by Rep. McCormick, R-Ga.) would amend the ECRA relating to the review of the interagency dispute resolution process.
H.R. 6609 (introduced Dec. 5 by Rep. Waltz, R-Fla.) would amend the Arms Export Control Act to increase the dollar amount thresholds under sections 3 and 36 of that act relating to proposed transfers or sales of defense articles or services under that act.
Supply Chains. The Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act (H.R. 6571, introduced Dec. 4 by Reps. Bucshon, R-Ind., and Blunt Rochester, D-Del.) would establish a supply chain resiliency program within the Department of Commerce to map, monitor, and promote U.S. supply chains in critical industries and emerging technologies; encourage private-public partnerships to promote resilient supply chains and respond to supply chain shocks among critical industries and emerging technologies; and encourage the development and competitiveness of U.S. productive capacities and manufacturing in the U.S. The bill would also direct the DOC to develop best practices through the program on how to secure supply chains.
Copyright © 2025 Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.; WorldTrade Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.