For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Trade relations. The Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act (S. 1651, introduced May 17 by Sen. Shaheen, D-N.H.) would, among other things, establish a regional trade and economic competitiveness initiative to support democratic resilience, economic development, and prosperity in the region.
Trade data. The Uniform Postal Data Acquisition for Transparency and Early Detection within the United States Postal Service Act (S. 1711, introduced May 18 by Sen. Scott, R-Fla.) would strengthen advance electronic data requirements on shipments from foreign adversaries and allow the USPS to block packages that lack digital tracking data.
IPR. The Advancing America’s Interests Act (H.. 3535, introduced May 18 by Rep. Schweikert, R-Ariz.) aims to prevent the International Trade Commission’s Section 337 process from being misused by patent licensing entities by (1) providing that a U.S. company cannot be used as a plaintiff or complainant unless it voluntarily joins a complaint requesting ITC relief, (2) clarifying that companies whose only industry is licensing (no research, development, or manufacturing) must show that their patent has led to the adoption or development of products that actually incorporate the patent, and (3) reaffirming that the ITC must consider public interest as paramount to the exercise of its remedial powers (regarding an exclusion order) and affirmatively determine that any exclusion serves the public interest.
Imports. The Lacey Act Amendments of 2023 (S. 1614, introduced May 16 by Sen. Rubio, R-Fla.) would limit imports of species not previously traded before they have been assessed for invasiveness and restrict the transport of known invasive species in interstate commerce.
H.R. 3518 (introduced May 18 by Rep. McCaul, R-Texas) would prohibit the importation, exportation, and interstate trade of bear viscera and bear viscera products.
Agricultural goods. The Safeguarding American Value-Added Exports Act (H.R. 3423, introduced May 17 by Rep. Johnson, R-S.D.; and S. 1652, introduced May 17 by Sen. Thune, R-S.D.) would include and define a list of common names for agricultural commodities and food products, and terms used in marketing and packaging of products, and direct the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate with foreign trading partners to defend the right to use common names for agricultural commodities in those foreign markets.
Supply chains. H.R. 3365 (introduced May 16 by Rep. Duarte, R-Calif.) would direct the Department of Transportation to give priority consideration for certain DOT grant programs to eligible projects that improve or build resiliency in the supply chain.
Ports. H.R. 3395 (introduced May 17 by Rep. Auchincloss, D-Mass.) would direct the Federal Maritime Commission to seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development center to evaluate foreign ownership of marine terminals at the 15 largest U.S. container ports.
Gas cylinders. The Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act (S. 1632, introduced May 17 by Sen. Vance, R-Ohio) would (1) help prevent foreign manufacturers from selling counterfeit hazmat cylinders, (2) hold foreign cylinder manufacturers to higher safety and inspection standards, (3) better equip DOT regulators to conduct inspections abroad and terminate authorizations if companies prevent or obstruct them, and (4) require foreign manufacturers seeking DOT authorization to certify several items; e.g., that their cylinders are not manufactured using forced or child labor.
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