On July 29, 2010 the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled “The Crisis in Haiti: Are We Moving Fast Enough.”
A press release from Senator Wyden (D) states that in an effort to make it more difficult for foreign exporters to circumvent U.S. trade laws, he and Senator Snowe (R) introduced a bill on August 5, 2010 that would give the U.S. Department of Commerce both a mandate and additional tools to enforce U.S. trade remedy laws, specifically those related to antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD).
On August 4, 2010, the following trade-related bills were introduced:
On July 29, 2010, the following additional trade-related bills were introduced:
On July 27, 2010, Representative Lowey introduced H.R. 5887, the Choking Hazard Awareness Act, which would strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements regarding choking hazard labeling for certain toys and games in Internet and catalogue advertising.
On July 29, 2010, Representative Nadler and 56 co-sponsors, introduced the “Clean Ports Act of 2010” (H.R. 5967), which would provide ports the authority to adopt “clean” programs for motor carriers and commercial vehicles, among other things.
On July 29, 2010, Representative Speier introduced the Toxic Metals Protection Act of 2010 (H.R. 5920) which would place limits on the allowable levels of four heavy metals in children’s products and require other actions.
On August 3, 2010, the following trade-related bill was introduced:
On August 3, 2010, Representative Thompson (D), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Representatives Markey (D) and Nadler (D), sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano regarding the Department of Homeland Security’s lack of progress in implementing the 100% maritime cargo scanning requirement, as mandated by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53), which was enacted into law three years ago.
On August 3, 2010, Representatives Spratt (D) and Coble (R), co-chairmen the Congressional Textile Caucus, sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Kirk expressing concern about the Free Trade Agreement with Korea (KORUS FTA). In their letter, the Representatives state that they believe the current agreement will place domestic producers at a distinct disadvantage by allowing a massive flow of highly technical industrial textiles from Korea into the U.S. with few opportunities for reciprocal export of U.S. products to Korea. Press release and letter available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.