USChina.org has posted a September 14, 2010 letter to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership from 36 trade associations stating their strong opposition to H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, which seeks to address concerns regarding the value of China's currency. The letter comes one day in advance of September 15-16 Ways and Means hearings on China's exchange rate policies.
On September 15, 2010, the House is scheduled to consider, among other things, H.R. 3116, the Berry Amendment Extension Act, to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from procuring certain items directly related to the national security unless the items are grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the U.S., and for other purposes.
On September 14, 2010, the Senate reached agreement to continue its consideration of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act, on September 15, 2010. According to a statement by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Baucus (D), the bill would, among other things, create new tools to help small businesses export goods and establish a new State Export Promotion Grant Program.
On August 5, 2010, Senators Wyden (D) and two cosponsors1 introduced S. 3725, the Enforcing Orders and Reducing Circumvention and Evasion Act of 2010 or "ENFORCE Act," a bill to prevent importation of merchandise that evades U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty orders, etc.
On September 10, 2010, House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Brady (R) urged the President to review the economy-wide effects of the Section 421 increased tariffs on certain Chinese tires. (In September 2009, the President imposed Section 421 additional duties on certain tires from China.) Brady notes that the law allows the President to request a report from the International Trade Commission to gauge whether or not the tariffs have proven effective.