Customs and Trade Groups Report Relatively Small Lobbying Expenses in First Quarter

AAEI and the Textiles and Apparels Importer Group both spent the same amount the first quarter of 2012. For NCBFAA, however, the year thus far marks a reduction: the group spent $20,000 lobbying in last year's first quarter. The only two customs associations recording lobbying in Q1 focused on a variety of trade issues. The Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Forwarders spent $10,000 on issues including the Lacey Act, U.S.-Mexico trucking legislation, customs reauthorization, adequate customs staffing and funding levels, funding for the Automated Commercial Environment and monitoring trade-related federal agencies (here). The Business Alliance for Customs Modernization also registered $10,000 to lobby on trade facilitation issues, homeland security, port and container security and other trade issues (here). That group is made up of large companies that seek to improve trade processing. Both groups spent similar amounts in the first quarter of 2012.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld spent $40,000 on behalf of the Certified Importer Program Coalition on the three customs reauthorization bills -- the two House bills from last session and the Senate bill introduced in March -- as well as the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, and on establishment of a voluntary safety and compliance program for company’s supply chains (here and here). The Coalition also spent $20,000 in 2012's first quarter. UPS also spent $60,000 lobbying on customs reauthorization and trade issues (here), an increase over the $20,000 the group spent in last year's first quarter. DHL spent $40,000 lobbying on similar issues: international supply chains in the customs reauthorization, pending free trade agreements, a proposed FDA certified importer program, various importer and carrier issues, express delivery services and market access. The company spent $20,000 in the first quarter of 2012.

Miscellaneous Tariff Bill

A handful of footwear and apparel companies focused on the MTB and other duty relief bills. The American Apparel and Footwear Association led the way, spending $198,527 -- a slight increase over its spending in Q1 of 2012, which was $182,735. The Association lobbied on a litany of issues, including MTBs, the extension of GSP to travel goods and various country-specific agreements. The Fashion Accessories Shippers Association also listed MTB and GSP extension in its disclosure. The Rubber and Plastics Footwear Manufacturing Association spent $30,000 on imported footwear duties in the TPP, as well as various Miscellaneous Tariff Bills regarding imported footwear duties. Rhodia Inc. also spent $10,000 on yet-to-be-introduced MTBs. Deckers Outdoor spent $20,000 on footwear MTBs, while Reebok International spent $10,000 on other duty relief bills in the House and Senate.

Antidumping/Countervailing Duties

The big names that lobbied for AD/CVD issues in the fourth quarter of 2012, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Leaders Industry Association, were absent from this quarter’s filings. The issue was still a popular one, though. The New Shipper Bond Petitioners Coalition, an ad hoc group of companies seeking improved antidumping/countervailing duty enforcement, spent $180,000 on “enforcement of antidumping orders and collection of duties secured by ‘new shipper’ customs bonds,” according to the filing. Whirlpool Corporation spent $280,000 on antidumping regarding clothes washers and the miscellaneous tariff bill. Illinois Tool Works registered $410,000 on various manufacturing-related trade policy issues, including support for the PROTECT Act, which aims to combat antidumping and countervailing duty evasion. PROTECT is a part of HR-6642, the customs reauthorization bill introduced by House Republicans last year (see 13040911). The U.S. Steel Corporation also spent $140,000 on “issues pertaining to provisions to amend US trade enforcement laws, antidumping and countervailing duty provisions,” among other things.

Upcoming Trade Agreements

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spent more than $1.8 million on the EU-U.S. trade agreement, among other issues. It spent almost the same amount in the first quarter of 2012. The group ranks among the top spenders on trade, though for many lobbying reports, the customs and trade topics are among many issues listed, making it impossible to determine how much lobbying was actually done on a specific issue. AGCO Corporation spent $490,000 on the proposed EU-U.S. agreement, the Trans Pacific Partnership and Trade Promotion Authority. The Biotechnology Industry Organization also lobbied on the TPP.

Hanes Brands also spent $240,000 on various free trade agreements -- including U.S.-Korea and the Trans Pacific Partnership -- as well as World Trade Organization treatment of textiles and yarn and customs reauthorization. Search the complete lobbying disclosure database (here). -- Jessica Arriens