New Trade-Related Bills as of May 6
Recently introduced trade-related legislation in Congress:
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Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
- HR-1886, Promoting Border Commerce and Travel Act; prohibits border crossing fees for pedestrians or passenger vehicles at land ports of entry along the U.S. northern and southern borders, and prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from conducting any study of such fees; introduced by Rep. Susan DelBene, D-Wa., May 8. An identical amendment was added to the Senate immigration bill, S-744, May 9.
- HR-1892, Unlocking Technology Act; makes circumvention of technological measures connected to a copyrighted work a violation of federal law and requires the President to take all necessary steps to make applicable bilateral and multilateral trade agreements consistent with the Act; introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., May 8.
- HR-1910, requires foreign manufacturers of products imported into the U.S. to establish registered agents in the U.S., who are authorized to accept service of process against such manufacturers; introduced by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., on May 9.
- HR-1917, lift the trade embargo on Cuba; introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., May 9.
- HR-1909, Export Coordination Act; establishes stronger congressional oversight and coordination between export agencies. Requires the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee to outline the role of every federal agency involved in the export process, provide a detailed list of current and future trade missions, fairs and related activities, and directs the TPCC to review the proposed annual budget for each federal trade promotion agency and make recommendations; Introduced by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., on May 9 (here).
- HR-1916, the Transparent Rules Allow Direct Exporting for Small Businesses and Jobs Act; requires certain trade agencies to monitor and clearly publish current information on tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations and practices of foreign countries affecting U.S. exports; introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., on May 9 (here).
- HR-1926, State Trade Coordination Act; requires the TPCC to include representatives from state trade agencies, directs the Commerce Secretary to develop plan to implement resources and strategies of states into federal trade promotion program and develop annual federal-state strategies to ensure federal compliance with each state’s individual economic and export strategy; introduced by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, May 9 (here).
The above three bills, HR-1909, HR-1916 and HR-1926, were introduced as a packaged deal by members of the House Small Business Committee. In a statement, the trio said the bills would help reduce some of the key barriers faced by small business exporters, and were estimated to have no cost by the Congressional Budget Office (here).