11 Reps Send Letter to Ways & Means Urging Renewal of ATPDEA
On March 31, 2011, 11 Representatives from textile states sent a letter to the trade leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee2 urging the renewal of the Andean Trade Preference Act/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPA/ATPDEA).
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(ATPDEA expired on February 12, 2011 and attempts to renew it have not yet been successful due, according to some, to issues relating to renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), action on the Colombia free trade agreement (FTA), etc.)
Representatives Say U.S. Yarn Spinners Are Harmed by ATPDEA Lapse
In the letter, the Representatives state that businesses in their districts are being adversely affected by the ATPDEA lapse, in particular, U.S. yarn spinners. They say that the ATPDEA lapse has seriously disrupted demand in Colombia for U.S. yarn and without duty-free benefits, prices on Colombian-made apparel will spike and the demand in the U.S. will drop. U.S. yarn spinners are at risk of losing important customers in Colombia and the Andean region. The letter warns that such a disruption in the supply chain, even for a short period, is catastrophic to the yarn spinning business.
The Representatives urge the Committee to agree to an extension of ATPDEA and to seek Congressional approval without delay. Copy of letter available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.
1Representatives Coble (R), Kissell (D), Myrick (R), McHenry (R), Foxx (R), Ellmers (R), Broun (R), Mulvaney (R), Wilson (R), Duncan (R), and Roe (R).
2Committee Chairman Camp (R), Ranking Member Levin (D), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Brady (R), and Ranking Member McDermott (D).