A bill recently introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would renew the Generalized System of Preferences benefitsprogram through the end of 2029, while adding new eligibility criteria related to the environment, women’s and human rights, rule of law and digital trade barriers, according to a final text of the bill provided by her office. The bill, S-4915, is the same as a proposal that was passed by the Senate in 2021 as an amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 but never made it into law (see 2207190059).

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, hosted an event in Brooklyn, Ohio, last week to highlight his efforts to restrict Chinese goods from eligibility for de minimis shipments. The event included representatives of a local textile mill, law enforcement and others. Brown introduced a bill, the Import Security and Fairness Act, in June 2023 that would end China’s de minimis eligibility (see 2306150061). He also has urged the Biden administration to take executive action on the matter (see 2402260076).

Following the lead of House Select Committee on China members, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., introduced a bill Aug. 1 to enhance criminal prosecutions for trade offenses.

The Commerce Committee passed the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act, which would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper imported into the United States.

Climate champion Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., used his perch at the head of the Senate Budget Committee to ask witnesses about the future of electric vehicles. Although Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., helped shape the panel, the future of electric vehicle production in the U.S. seemed somewhat cloudy if Republicans are able to win back the White House and Senate and retain a House majority, given most Republicans on the panel's views of the EV subsidies that are reshaping the EV supply chain.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled an FY 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act last week that would provide $45 million for the Federal Maritime Commission, $3.5 million below the Biden administration’s request but $5 million above the FY 2024 enacted level and $2 million above the House version of the bill (see 2406260007).

Senators criticized both Congress and the administration's lack of action to use lower tariffs to build relationships in the developing world, at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on strategic competition with China. The hearing, which was meant to focus on China's influence in Africa, Latin America and Europe, and what the U.S. could do to counter it, was held July 30.

Senate Finance Committee member Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., looking forward to the opportunity to rewrite tax laws next year as the Trump-era tax cuts expire, recently told a tax reporter at Punchbowl News that he will be pushing a carbon border adjustment tax, what he calls a "foreign pollution fee." He said it would make American production more cost competitive and help "our balance of trade" (see 2311030006).

Senate appropriators marked up a bill that would spend $2 million more a year on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and $4.1 million more on the International Trade Commission, in each case matching the president's budget request.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduced a bill that would require the president to impose tariffs of at least 500% on all products imported from countries that buy oil or petroleum products from Iran.