Customs Brokers Take to Capitol Hill to Urge Action on Customs Bill, GSP, MTB
Members of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) were meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Sept. 24 to push them to move forward with several pieces of trade legislation. The meetings were part of the NCBFAA's Government Affairs Conference. At the top of the list of legislation brokers would like to see the next step be a customs reauthorization bill, according to a paper distributed by the NCBFAA to its members going to the Hill. Differences in the House over how the customs bill will treat antidumping/countervailing enforcement changes has emerged as a sticking point between Republicans and Democrats (see 13040911). NCBFAA "strongly supports passage of a robust customs reauthorization bill that provides firm direction to revitalize CBP's commercial trade facilitation and enforcement function," the paper said.
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Also of interest to the brokers are Water Resources Bills and related changed to the Harbor Maintenance Fee. The Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act in May (see 13051602), and a House committee approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act earlier this month. (see 13092029). "We urge the House to move expeditiously to approve a Water Resources bill that includes language to ensure that collections by [the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund] will be spent for its intended purpose," the paper said. Brokers should also seek Congressional action on a Generalized System of Preferences renewal, a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill and Trade Promotion Authority renewal, it said.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the NCBFAA list of legislation of interest.