Rep. Brady Expects Movement on Customs Reauthorization, MTB Soon

House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) hopes to see movement on two major pieces of customs-related legislation by the end of the year, he said at the CBP East Coast Trade Symposium Nov. 27. Brady hopes to introduce a customs reauthorization bill this year and expects a miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) “shortly,” he said.

Brady will introduce a customs bill that includes language addressing enforcement of antidumping/countervailing duties, a subject that has increased in importance since the last time a customs bill was introduced in 2009, he said. The AD/CV language comes from legislation from Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.), said Brady. The Boustany's bill, which was introduced earlier this year, is (here).

(See ITT's Online Archives 12091931 for summary of items the National Customs Broker and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has said it would like to see in a customs reauthorization bill.)

Brady also said he expects to see a MTB soon. The MTB process has received some criticism from conservatives who say it amounts to earmarks, but Brady pushed back at that description, saying the MTB is effectively a “jobs” bill. The House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees recently posted comments on proposed bills from the Obama Administration. The comments kicked off new controversy among some trade associations due to the administration’s concerns with several footwear and apparel duty suspensions.

(See ITT’s Online Archives 12112034 for summary of the administration’s concerns over footwear and apparel duty suspensions and the resulting controversy.)

Brady also backed an “ambitious” trade agenda moving forward. Brady voiced support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership but said more work for trade is needed. Brady also said he looks forward to extending the generalized system of preferences.