'Poorly Written' HMT Revamp Bill Would Add Costs to Non-North American Imports, Says Waterfront Coalition Director
NEW YORK-Recently introduced legislation meant to prevent shippers from skirting certain port fees through the use of Canadian and Mexican ports would impose some major new taxes on any good not originating from North America and should be of concern to importers, said Robin Lanier, director of the Waterfront Coalition. Lanier spoke Nov. 6 at the U.S. Fashion Industry Association conference. The bill in question, the Maritime Goods Movement Act, was recently introduced by Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
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The legislation would replace the HMT with a new Maritime Goods Movement User Fee, effectively adding to the costs of importing to the U.S. any goods that don't originate in North America, she said. "The bill is so poorly written that what it would do is basically tax anything that crosses the Canadian or Mexican border that bears a label that says anything other than 'Made in Canada' or 'Mexico,'" she said. For instance, if a U.S. company imported sheeting that was cut and hemmed in Canada but originated in China, those goods would be taxed under the that law, she said.
While Lanier does not "think this bill is going anywhere," the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma are very much engaged, she said. "They are not giving up on this and it is something" importers should be "aware of," she said. The legislation is meant to improve port infrastructure and maintenance while revamping the HMT, which Murray and Cantwell say has been collected inefficiently (see 13082120). Murray and Cantwell did not comment.