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Imports. Fourteen senators wrote to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Dec. 13 urging him to take immediate action to address “the surge of Mexican steel imports into the U.S. market in violation of the 2019 Joint Agreement on Steel and Aluminum.” They commended U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai for securing a commitment from Mexico to reinstate export monitoring to guarantee future compliance with that agreement but expressed concern that Mexico is “willfully delaying finalization” of the agreement and has “drastically reduced” staff at its Economy Ministry, “putting into question whether Mexico can even enforce an export monitoring agreement.” The senators said the Biden administration should set a clear deadline for implementing the agreement and “take aggressive action” if Mexico fails to meet that deadline or proves unable or unwilling to effectively enforce the agreement.
S. 3533 (introduced Dec. 14 by Sen. Kennedy, D-La.) would appropriate $36 million for the Seafood Import Monitoring Program to increase audits of imported shrimp and red snapper.
The House passed Dec. 11 H.R. 1042, which would prohibit imports of un-irradiated low-enriched uranium produced in Russia.
Exports. The Energizing American Shipbuilding Act (S. 3467, introduced Dec. 12 by Sens. Wicker, R-Miss., and Casey, D-Penn.; and H.R. 6724, introduced Dec. 12 by Reps. Garamendi, D-Calif, and Wittman, R-Va.) would require that vessels built in the U.S. transport 15 percent of total seaborne liquefied natural gas exports by 2043 and 10 percent of total seaborne crude oil exports by 2035.
S. 3531 (introduced Dec. 14 by Sen. Lee, R-Utah) would prohibit actions to carry out the Department of Commerce's pause in the issuance of new export licenses for certain exports under the Commerce Control List.
Labeling. The Transparency, Readability, Understandability, Truth, and Helpfulness in Labeling Act (S. 3512, introduced Dec. 13 by Sen. Blumenthal, D-Conn., and H.R. 6766, introduced Dec. 13 by Rep. Schakowsky, D-Ill.) would require a standardized front-of-package nutrition label that helps consumers differentiate between foods of greater or lesser nutritional value. The labels would also have to show the amount of calories a food contains.
Agriculture. H.R. 6712 (introduced Dec. 11 by Rep. Ruiz, D-Calif.), would provide recovery payments to seasonal and perishable crop growers who experienced low prices caused by imports.
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