Congress posted the text of the Customs Business Fairness Act. Introduced by New York Reps. Peter King (R) and Gregory Meeks (D) on Dec. 14, H.R. 4657 would provide relief to customs brokers for duties paid on behalf of importers who declare bankruptcy (see 1712180053).
New York Reps. Peter King (R) and Gregory Meeks (D) on Dec. 14, introduced H.R. 4657, the Customs Business Fairness Act, which would provide relief to customs brokers for duties paid on behalf of importers who declare bankruptcy. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America is trying to get co-sponsors for the legislation and has drafted a “Dear Congressman” letter to circulate among House members aimed at galvanizing support for the bill, the NCBFAA said in an email to members. The trade group mentioned its support for such legislation earlier this year (see 1709110033). The King-Meeks bill would recognize when customs brokers provide funds to CBP on behalf of the importer and would spare them from liability for those funds, the NCBFAA said.
U.S. energy industry officials cautioned House lawmakers on Dec. 13 that the U.S.’s approach to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) during the NAFTA negotiation threatens the ability to lock in energy reforms through the agreement. “Without having that free cross-border trade” enabled by ISDS, “we wouldn’t have the benefit of both the import and export of energy from both of our trading partners, which would be a big setback to energy security,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute CEO Karen Harbert said during a House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee hearing. “We would also jeopardize North America becoming the center of gravity of the world’s energy market.”
A defense bill President Donald Trump signed into law on Dec. 12 allows the defense secretary to terminate contracts or prohibit the awarding of contracts this fiscal year to Chinese companies found to support illicit North Korean activities. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 directs the defense secretary, in consultation with the secretary of state, treasury secretary and director of national intelligence, to conduct an assessment of “all trade” between China and North Korea, probing the extent to which the U.S. procures goods or services from Chinese companies that “materially support” illicit North Korean activities. The law authorizes the defense secretary to terminate existing contracts or ban the awarding of contracts for procurement from such Chinese entities. It also requires the defense secretary to submit a classified report to Congress by June 10.
More than 190 organizations representing several sectors sent a letter to all members of Congress Dec. 6, pushing for quick advancement of miscellaneous tariff bills that have been pending in Senate and House committees since their Nov. 9 introduction (see 1711090039). Since the last MTB expired at the end of 2012, businesses have paid “billions of dollars” in tariffs on products not made in the U.S., hurting good-paying jobs and U.S. competitiveness, the letter says. Citing analysis by the National Association of Manufacturers, the organizations said the pending MTBs would cut tariffs by more than $1.1 billion over the next three years and boost U.S. manufacturing output by more than $3.1 billion. “Our organizations strongly support passage of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2017, which would bolster manufacturers and other businesses in the United States, especially small- and medium-sized manufacturers, in industries ranging from chemicals, agriculture, textiles and footwear to electrical equipment, machinery and sporting equipment,” the letter says. The House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees didn’t comment.
The Senate Finance Committee on Dec. 7 approved the nomination of Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to be permanent CBP commissioner, clearing the way for a Senate floor confirmation vote. “CBP plays an important role in facilitating trade and ensuring the nation’s borders are protected, and it is essential that the agency is led by someone who understands how trade impacts the competitiveness of our economy,” committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement. “Mr. McAleenan is the right man for the job, and I hope he receives swift and fair consideration on the floor.” The office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., didn’t immediately comment.
The Senate Finance Committee scheduled a session on Dec. 7 to consider Kevin McAleenan as CBP commissioner, the committee said in a notice. McAleenan, who is currently the acting CBP commissioner, received largely high praise from members during a hearing on the nomination in October (see 1710240033).
Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Mich., won’t seek re-election in 2018, his office announced. Levin has worked 35 years in Congress, including 2010-2011 as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction for trade policy. Levin was also ranking member of that committee 2011-2016. After leaving Capitol Hill, Levin will work at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, he said. “But for the next year, much work remains in Congress, especially as it relates to important tax, trade and health policies.”
The Senate was set to consider the confirmation of Kirstjen Nielsen to be homeland security secretary on Dec. 4, after the Senate Homeland Security Committee cleared Nielsen’s nomination on Nov. 14 (see 1711160029). Elaine Duke has worked as acting homeland security secretary since July 31, after former confirmed DHS Secretary John Kelly was named President Donald Trump’s chief of staff (see 1707310017).
The Senate passed tax reform legislation on Dec. 2 by a vote of 51-49, setting up a legislative conference process with the House to settle differences between the two chambers’ passed tax bills and to form one united bill that would be subject to another round of congressional votes. The Senate bill proposes to cut excise taxes on beer, wine and certain distilled spirit imports (see 1711170012), provisions that the House bill omits. The House on Nov. 16, passed its version of tax reform legislation, which would install a new excise tax on payments from U.S. corporations to related foreign corporations for imports (see 1711060056), a provision that the Senate bill omits. The GOP majority of both the Senate and the House will now lead meetings in hopes of combining elements of both chambers’ bills into one piece of legislation, which would be subject to both House and Senate approval before it could be sent to the White House for signature. Republican lawmakers aim to send final tax legislation to President Donald Trump by the end of 2017.