On June 2, 2011, the House passed an amended version of the fiscal year 2012 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 2017) which would provide funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, etc.
The Congressional Research Service has issued two reports stating that the circumstances framing the proposed U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement differ considerably from the Korean and Colombian signed free trade agreements that are being considered by Congress.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report on the major policy issues that Congress has had, and will continue to pursue, in relation to U.S.-Colombia policy, such as the pending U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
On May 25, 2011, Senator Schumer (D) wrote a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection urging corrective action on behalf of two upstate New York rag manufacturing companies that are being hit with a 32% duty on imported worn clothing from Canada. According to Schumer, the companies import worn clothing from Canada which they then process into rags for sale in the U.S. After years of importing rag materials under HTS 6309.00.0010, with a zero rate of duty, CBP recently reclassified these materials under a catch-all apparel category (6110.30.3059) with a 32% rate of duty. Schumer wants Customs to correct the misclassification.
On June 1, 2011, 52 Congressmen from districts with textile and apparel industry interests sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative on the challenges presented by the Trans-Pacific Partnership for the U.S. textile and apparel industry, especially with the inclusion of Vietnam, and recommended yarn forward and other rules to address those challenges.
The following hearings, markups, or meetings are scheduled for June 1, 2011:
The following are the trade-related hearings scheduled for May 30-June 4, 2011:
On May 31, 2011, the House passed S. 1082, to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. The Senate passed S. 1082 on May 26, 2011.
On May 31, 2011, the House Appropriations Committee held a mark up of the fiscal year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Act. The bill was ordered reported, as amended.
On May 31, 2011, the President announced his intent to nominate John Bryson as the Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce. Previously, Bryson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison and Edison Mission Group, from 1990 to 2008.