The AGOA Action Coalition told the House Ways and Means Committee that it is staunchly against allowing apparel and textiles to be covered for all Generalized System of Preferences benefits program countries. The group, which publicized its Sept. 3 letter, argued that all the African clothing production nurtured by the duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act would be put out of business if Pakistan, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines are granted duty-free access in apparel, as “margin-hungry sourcing managers” would choose these more competitive factories. They noted that AGOA participant country textile exports were $1.4 billion, compared with $4.9 billion from Indonesia.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, speaking to reporters Sept. 3, said the organization plans on filing a case under the rapid response labor enforcement mechanism within the next 30 days. “We have tremendous concerns with Mexico’s ability to enforce their own laws,” he said. Trumka gave no clue about which company, or in what sector, the unions are scrutinizing.
More than 80% of the comments submitted on USMCA product rule of origin were requests or demands for country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef, something that is not part of the treaty.
As the International Trade Commission begins its investigation into safeguard actions to protect U.S. blueberry growers, a Canadian Embassy spokesperson notes that the North American trade treaty requires that Canada be excluded from a global safeguard tariff if “Canadian imports are not contributing to serious injury or any threat of serious injury to the U.S. domestic industry. This is the case for U.S. imports of Canadian blueberries. As a result, Canada expects that the United States will not apply any safeguard tariff or quota on blueberry imports from Canada.”
Less than two weeks before Canada will impose 10% tariffs on $2.7 billion in aluminum-containing goods, the Aluminum Association, and the much smaller American Primary Aluminum Association, squared off on a Sept. 3 Washington International Trade Association panel, with the Canadian Aluminum Association and aluminum customers complaining about being caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China conflict.
The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee said he thinks renewing the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act this month is very important. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, didn't say whether it could move as a suspension bill or as part of a continuing resolution package, but said either way, he would support it.
The International Trade Commission will begin an investigation on whether imports of blueberries from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Chile, Canada and Argentina are damaging domestic growers. The ITC will have until Dec. 30 to determine whether there is serious injury, and increased imports are at least as important as any other cause. According to the ITC, the injury requirement is considered to be more difficult than the one in antidumping and countervailing duty laws. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requested the investigation -- only the second time USTR has initiated a safeguard investigation in 25 years -- and is also laying the groundwork for potential investigations into strawberries and bell peppers.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, acknowledged that the tightening of Brazilian quotas on semi-finished steel exports is intervening in the private sector (see 2008310010), and he said the committee will be watching what the outcome is. “I’m not an advocate for [using Section] 232, because I think in too many instances, [the assertion of] national security has been misused,” he said during a call with reporters Sept. 1. He said he still thinks Congress ought to limit the power of the president to restrict trade without congressional input. His former chief trade counsel said recently that she didn't think that could happen any time soon (see 2008250049).
Market access negotiations needed to return India to the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program may be mostly “sorted out,” India's Economy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a speech to the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Sept. 1. His office summarized some points about the deal, which was described as foundational, in a series of tweets. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “and I agreed that we can look finalising before the election, but otherwise soon after the election,” he said. “The entire package is nearly ready and can be finalised at any time. India is open to signing tomorrow on what we have agreed on.”
With a month left to go before the expiration of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act benefits program, some lobbyists are starting to worry that a renewal won't get done. Beth Hughes, vice president of trade and customs policy for the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said Aug. 31 that her organization has been contacting the trade staffers at the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee since April or May, reminding them that the expiration is coming up. About a month ago, the trade staffers from both chambers were telling her that while they are aware of the deadline, they wanted to make sure that the administration supports renewal.