For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Tariffs. The Senate has agreed that no later than Oct. 31 it will be in order to discharge the Finance Committee from considering S.J.Res. 88, which would terminate the national emergency declared under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose “reciprocal” tariffs. Once that occurs the Senate will proceed to consider this resolution and vote on whether to approve it.
Sen. Collins, R-Maine, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer Oct. 20 asking them to reopen a process for excluding goods from the 50 percent import tariffs on steel and aluminum because of the hardship those tariffs have imposed on Maine lobstermen.
Several Democrat senators wrote to Lutnick Oct. 23 to express “significant concerns” about the Trump administration’s “unprecedented use” of Section 232 tariffs. These tariffs “are putting U.S. jobs, economic competitiveness, and credibility at risk by driving up costs for American businesses and consumers, creating significant uncertainty and confusion for importers, and alienating our allies,” the letter said. Moreover, “the reliance on Section 232 to pursue tariffs on everything from cars to household appliances and kitchen cabinets stretches the limited authority delegated by Congress,” and “the Commerce Department has run an opaque, unaccountable process, making decisions behind closed doors, with no justification and with limited opportunity for the American public to weigh in on the tariffs they will have to pay.”
China. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has favorably reported (1) S. 2960, the Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Act, which would establish an interagency task force to identify military and non-military entities that could be subject to sanctions or other economic actions immediately following any action by China to achieve physical or political control of Taiwan, (2) S. 1744, the PORCUPINE Act, which would amend the Arms Export Control Act to make it easier and quicker to ship military equipment to Taiwan, and (3) S. 2657, the STOP China and Russia Act, which would impose sanctions against China relating to its support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trade officials. The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for Oct. 29 to consider the nominations of Jeffrey Goettman to be a deputy USTR and Julie Callahan to be chief agricultural negotiator at USTR.
Exports. S. 3035 (introduced Oct. 23 by Sen. Cruz, R-Texas) and H.R. 5814 (introduced Oct. 24 by Rep. Cloud, R-Texas) would amend the Natural Gas Act to provide for expanded natural gas exports.
Beef. H.R. 5818 (introduced Oct. 24 by Rep. Hageman, R-Wyo.) would prohibit retailers from designating the U.S. as the country of origin of foreign beef.
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