A Tennessee congresswoman wants President Obama to provide a “full explanation” of the 2011 Lacey Act raids on Gibson Guitar, linking the raid to the recent Internal Revenue Service scandal. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said in a May 29 statement that recent administration scandals “raise a number of questions about who they choose to target and why. The arrogance and lack of transparency displayed by this President and his cabinet officials in events such as the raids on Gibson Guitar and the IRS targeting of conservative groups show a complete disregard for the rule of law.” Gibson and the Justice Department settled their Lacey Act violation dispute -- related to the purchase of wood from Madagascar and India -- in August 2012 (see 12080721). Blackburn was one of a group of representatives who sent a letter to the Justice and Interior departments following the 2011 raid, asking why it was necessary. In her statement, Blackburn said the administration assured no musicians would be targeted, but "provided no real answers about the raid itself." The White House and Gibson didn't return requests for comment.
A New York Senator heartily criticized CBP for being “asleep at the wheel” and failing to collect millions in antidumping duties on illegal Chinese wooden furniture imports May 29, and said the agency should publicly identify and collect the fees immediately. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned CBP outside Stickley Furniture in Manlius, a town southeast of Syracuse, NY. CBP’s negligence costs furniture manufacturers “tens of millions of dollars across the country, and it is felt deeply at home where Stickley Furniture, one of Central New York’s landmark companies, has been denied an estimated $2 million dollars in uncollected fees,” he said. In a statement, Schumer said he previously worked to impose AD duties on companies unfairly competing with domestic furniture producers. CBP, however, has not collected the fees, failed to disclose which companies are hurt by the AD evasion and failed to reveal how much the companies are owed. “I am calling on the CBP to swiftly reconcile the damages owed to Stickley so they can expand production, maintain and grow their workforce,” Schumer said. CBP didn't comment.
New lobbyist registrations on trade-related issues include:
Recent trade-related legislation introduced in Congress includes:
The Senate confirmed the nominations of Brooklyn Law School professor Claire Kelly and Commerce Department staffer Mark Barnett to be judges on the Court of International Trade May 23. Barnett has been deputy chief counsel in the Office of Chief Counsel for Import Administration at Commerce since 2005 (see 12071314). Kelly is also chair of the Court of International Trade Bar Association subcommittee on trade adjustment assistance (see 12111526).
Vowing to reassess regulations, increase exports and work on collecting unpaid duties on agricultural imports from China, Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker had a relatively trouble-free nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee May 23. The longtime Obama fundraiser and businesswoman repeatedly said one of her goals is to ensure equal footing for American businesses.
A group of Senators introduced a bill to impose a total export embargo on Iran May 22. as punishment for what they called Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, terrorism sponsorship and human rights violations. The Iran Export Embargo Act, introduced by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., would prohibit the purchase or transfer of goods and services from any entity owned or controlled by the Iranian government. Iran has continued to pursue nuclear weapons capability, sponsored terrorism, violated human rights and aided North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, said a statement from Cornyn’s office. “The time for maximum pressure on the Iranian regime is now, before the only option left on the table is the military one,” the statement said. “Put simply, countries and companies around the world will be forced to choose -- stop doing business with the government of Iran or stop doing business in the United States of America.” The bill would ban all transactions on behalf of such entities for the purpose of exports from Iran. The bill would block all assets -- as well as prohibit insurance or reinsurance -- of entities deemed to be government-controlled.
Transportation Secretary nominee Anthony Foxx said he intends to be an “active participant” in transportation bill reauthorization discussions, while stressing the U.S. needs to find a more sustainable infrastructure funding source, in his May 22 nomination hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “Clearly we need a longer-term surface transportation bill, [we] need a longer-term answer for the sustainability of our funding sources,” he said. A public-private infrastructure bank to help pay for projects is one “good idea,” Foxx said, but it’s not a panacea to funding woes. In written testimony, Foxx said if nominated he will focus on safety, improving the efficiency and performance of the existing transportation system and making long-term investments and planning for infrastructure. Foxx, who is mayor of Charlotte, N.C., was well-received by the committee: At adjournment, Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said he anticipated Foxx to “ride the fast rail right into the secretaryship.” For more on Foxx’s background see 13043017.
Both the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees approved new sanctions against Iran and Syria, in separate votes on separate bills May 21 and 22. The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act May 22, which creates additional sanctions in an attempt to cripple Iran’s nuclear abilities.
Two House Republicans introduced a Generalized System of Preferences update act May 22, which broadens the trade preference program to include imports of travel goods. The GSP Update for Production Diversification and Trade Enhancement Act was introduced by Reps. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., and Adrian Smith, R-Neb. The bill would remove current prohibitions that prevent most travel goods from being eligible for duty benefits under GSP, according to a statement from the American Apparel and Footwear Association supporting the bill (here). The bill still excludes from GSP eligibility certain types of travel goods still made in the U.S., and requires a complete government review and public comment before the U.S. Trade Representative approves any GSP benefits for travel goods, AAFA said. The bill also prohibits China and Vietnam from participating in GSP.