Bipartisan House Bill Invites President to Lift Tariffs on Baby Formula
A bipartisan bill was recently introduced that would codify the executive action on formula importation (see 2205260032) and which invites the administration to suspend tariffs on baby formula and formula ingredients.
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The text of the bill was published June 2. The bill, led by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., also says: "During any period in which an infant formula shortage is declared... the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol shall give the highest priority and take any steps as may be necessary to expedite the processing of all entries of covered infant formula and articles used in the production of infant formula."
The bill said it would apply only to formula from the EU, Canada, Japan and the U.K.
“While the health and safety of U.S. families is paramount, it is important that we come together during this critical period and do everything in our power to make sure that no baby in America goes hungry because of red tape at our borders,” Sherman said in a press release announcing the bill.
“Congress needs to act now to speed up the delivery of baby formula and to reduce the price,” Bacon said. “Removing the tariffs and barriers to safe baby formula imports will help families struggling with the empty shelves.”
“No family in America should ever be concerned they cannot feed their babies. Corporate greed and malfeasance have put us in this dire situation and now we must act with urgency,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in that release “That’s why I’m introducing the Emergency Infant Formula Act in the Senate, a bill that would authorize the president to suspend tariffs and significantly expand the sourcing of baby formula in times of emergency, and spells out the president’s ability to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of formula. These key steps will help address hoarding, offset price gouging, and alleviate the stress and anxiety faced by too many parents desperately searching for food to keep their children fed.” Her bill has not yet been introduced.