For more information on pursuing trade policy interests through the legislative process, please contact Nicole Bivens Collinson at (202) 730-4956 or via email.
Duties. The Stopping Adversarial Tariff Evasion Act (S. 5110, introduced Sept. 19 by Sen. Rubio, R-Fla.) would clarify the country of origin of certain articles imported into the U.S. for purposes of certain trade enforcement actions. “Chinese manufacturers have exploited a loophole in U.S. trade law by shifting manufacturing facilities to third countries with favorable U.S. trade terms, such as Mexico, Vietnam, and Malaysia,” a press release from Rubio’s office said. “This ‘country hopping’ has allowed Chinese companies to evade tariffs and flood the U.S. market with cheap goods.” The new bill would “close this loophole and ensure tariffs apply to goods manufactured by a foreign adversary no matter where the production happens.”
S. 5066 (introduced Sept. 17 by Sen. Paul, R-Ky.) would require the approval of Congress for the president to impose duties on the importation of articles into the U.S.
The America’s Clean Future Fund Act (S. 5107, introduced Sept. 19 by Sen. Durbin, D-Ill.) would, among other things, impose a border adjustment on covered imported fuels and carbon-intensive goods.
H.R. 9724 (introduced Sept. 20 by Rep. Arrington, R-Texas) would provide additional authority to the International Trade Commission under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
In a Sept. 17 letter, four senators urged President Biden to reimpose Section 232 duties of 25 percent on Mexican steel to address a surge in imports of such goods. The letter also called on the president to work to prevent Chinese steelmakers from exploiting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement by shifting production to Mexico.
GSP. S. 5123 (introduced Sept. 19 by Sen. Casey, D-Pa.) would modify the eligibility requirements for the Generalized System of Preferences to strengthen worker protections and ensure that beneficiary developing countries afford equal rights and protection under the law regardless of gender.
Imports. H.R. 9612 (introduced Sept. 16 by Rep. Rosendale, R-Mont.) would prohibit the importation of platinum and palladium from Russia.
H.R. 9717 (introduced Sept. 20 by Rep. Zinke, R-Mont.) would prohibit the importation of certain minerals from Russia.
Import Marking. The House of Representatives passed Sept. 20 the Anti-BDS Labeling Act (H.R. 5179), which would (1) require products made in the Israeli-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria to be marked as originating from “Israel” and (2) require goods made in Gaza or Palestinian-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria to be labeled as made in either “Gaza” or the “West Bank,” not in “Gaza/West Bank.”
Cargo Inspections. H.R. 9722 (introduced Sept. 20 by Rep. Higgins, R-La.) would establish a pilot program to assess the use of technology to speed up and enhance the cargo inspection process at land border ports of entry.
The Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act (H.R. 9667, introduced Sept. 18 by Reps. Spanberger, D-Va.. and Crenshaw, R-Texas) would (1) authorize at least 500 U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to assist with outbound inspections at the southern border, (2) authorize at least 500 Homeland Security Investigations special agents to primarily assist with investigations involving smuggling of currency and firearms at the southern border, (3) authorize 50 additional non-intrusive imaging systems and the procurement of additional infrastructure or alternative inspection equipment at the U.S.-Mexico border, and (4) require that at least 10 percent of all outbound conveyances at the southern border be inspected, to the extent practical, and that the Department of Homeland Security report on the feasibility of increasing inspection rates to 15 and 20 percent.
Ports. H.R. 9668 (introduced Sept. 18 by Rep. Strong, R-Ala.) would establish in the Department of Homeland Security a working group relating to countering terrorist, cybersecurity, border, and port security.
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