The Senate on Aug. 2 approved under unanimous consent legislation that would renew import restrictions from Burma and extend a Third-Country Fabric (TCF) provision that allows African countries to use third-country fabric and then export that into the U.S. The bill also makes non-controversial technical changes to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) textiles and apparel provisions. The House approved an identical bill earlier the same day. The legislation will next go to the President.
Tim Warren
Timothy Warren is Executive Managing Editor of Communications Daily. He previously led the International Trade Today editorial team from the time it was purchased by Warren Communications News in 2012 through the launch of Export Compliance Daily and Trade Law Daily. Tim is a 2005 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and lives in Maryland with his wife and three kids.
New lobbyist registrations on trade issues include:
In the Aug. 1 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No.32), CBP published a notice of its revocation of its rulings and treatment regarding the tariff classification of terracotta grills.
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation (HR-6265) Aug. 2 meant to reduce the cost of importing raw materials for manufacturing cotton shirts in the U.S. "Every day millions of shirts enter the U.S. duty free, while American shirt manufacturers are subject to strict entry quotas and duties as high as 13.5% once the quota is filled," said Rangel's office in a press release. Text of the bill wasn't yet available by press time. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J) has introduced similar legislation recently approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
CBP posted a "Pocket Guide" for its work on Trade Transformation initiatives. The guide includes a list of the initiatives and various ways people can follow the progress. CBP email updates are available (here). CBP's Twitter page is available (here). CBP news feed are available (here). The Trade Transformation website is (here). Trade outreach webinars are available (here).
CBP posted a July version of a document explaining plans for Private Sector Intelligence Liaison Offices. The July document largely mirrors the previous version. The Trade Intelligence pilot under development by CBP intends to create a formal process for the trade and domestic industry to provide Centers for Excellence and Expertise and other CBP offices with up-to-the-minute information on (i) industry trends, (ii) issues that may impact CBP processing, enforcement and targeting (IPR, AD/CV and trade preference areas), and (iii) specific allegations of fraud or malfeasance.
The Airforwarders Association said Aug. 1 it hired Clint Fisher, a former senior lobbyist for the Air Transport Association, as director of government affairs and strategic communications.
The House of Representatives approved a bill Aug.2 that would renew import restrictions from Burma and extend a Third-Country Fabric (TCF) provision that allows African countries to use third-country fabric and then export that into the U.S. A House summary of the bill is (here). Senate leadership said it would also consider legislation Aug. 2
In the Aug. 1 issue of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin (Vol. 46, No. 32), CBP published two notices that propose to revoke two rulings and similar treatment regarding the tariff classification of a polyethylene and insulating mineral materials.