Customs Bill Conference Progresses as House Names Members to Committee

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., appointed three former House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairmen to complete customs reauthorization legislation, Ryan said (here). The appointments followed a House vote on Dec. 1 that approved proceeding with a conference to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the customs bills (here). Ryan named Reps. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio and Dave Reichert, R-Wash., to represent the House Republicans in the conference committee. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., chose Reps. Sandy Levin, D-Mich., and Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., as the House Democrats on the committee, Pelosi said (here).

Brady, Tiberi and Reichert "understand the importance of a modern, efficient and streamlined U.S. customs process that securely moves legitimate trade across our borders," said Ryan. "In the area of fulfilling American trade objectives, our goal is to help guide the customs conference committee to strengthen and update enforcement mechanisms and create new tools to hold our trading partners accountable. These are high priorities for members of Congress of both parties.” Specifically, the House Republicans "intend to give Treasury stronger and more effective means to fight currency manipulation and strengthen our ability to fight evasion of our trade remedy laws," said Ryan. A final bill will also "facilitate legitimate trade by streamlining burdensome procedures," he said.

The House Democrats "are united in our concern over the impact that our trade agreements have on hard-working American families," said Pelosi. “With the leadership of our outstanding conferees, we will continue to push for a strong customs bill that strengthens American workers, American manufacturing and the American economy.” The Senate named its conferees over the summer (see 1507070066). The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America laid out a number of areas of concern that could impact customs brokers in June (see 1506220022).

House customs reauthorization legislation "does little to address the many shortfalls contained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in a news release (here). “While some have suggested that the passage of [customs] reauthorization legislation would include language that would make the TPP more palatable, the deal leaves the same sour taste in the mouths of everyday Americans," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "By failing to address currency manipulation, for instance, the economic and employment conditions for millions of U.S. workers are still at risk."