For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
De minimis. H.R. 322 (introduced Jan. 9 by Rep. Suozzi, D-N.Y.) would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 relating to de minimis treatment.
Senate Finance. With Republicans controlling the Senate in the 119th Congress, Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, will become the committee’s chairman. The committee will also add Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.
In a press release, Crapo indicated his interest in advancing a number of trade-related initiatives, including (1) negotiating “real, comprehensive trade deals” that expand market access for U.S. producers, (2) working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to reauthorize key trade programs (a likely reference to the Generalized System of Preferences and the African Growth and Opportunity Act) and enforce existing agreements, (3) helping workers in the manufacturing, innovation, creative, and tech industries by negotiating critical rules on technical barriers to trade, intellectual property, and key digital trade provisions, (4) ensuring access to open markets for U.S. digital goods and ending the forced transfer of U.S. technology and intellectual property, and (5) modernizing U.S. customs laws.
Ways and Means. The House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee will add Democrats Lloyd Doggett (Texas), John Larson (Conn.), and Brendan Boyle (Pa.), and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., will serve as ranking member.
Carbon fees. S. 25 (introduced Jan. 7 by Sen. Van Hollen, D-Md.) would impose assessments on any fossil fuel extractor or refiner that is U.S.-based, or is a foreign company engaged in trade or business in the U.S., and is responsible for generating more than one billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 to 2023.
Regulations. The Sunset Chevron Act (H.R. 274, introduced Jan. 9 by Rep. Green, R-Tenn.), would require the Government Accountability Office to compile a list of executive agency actions that have been upheld by Chevron deference and provide for such actions to sunset in reverse chronological order on a rolling basis unless they are upheld by congressional action.
FTAs. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chair Rep. Comer (R-Ky.) has requested an immediate briefing with USTR regarding reports that the agency is working to remove investor-state dispute settlement provisions from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and possibly other free trade agreements as well. While some argue that “investor protections pose a threat to the environment and human rights,” Comer said, the removal of ISDS “will instead severely undercut the ability of U.S. companies to protect themselves in disputes with foreign countries and will signal weakness to foreign governments.”
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