Six Republican senators, including President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, Marco Rubio of Florida, reintroduced a bill that would prohibit the Biden administration from requiring that goods made in the West Bank be labeled as such, rather than labeled "Made in Israel." The senators, led by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are concerned that labeling items as from the West Bank would help the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which opposes the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights and Gaza. The BDS movement argues that those who support Palestinians' rights shouldn't buy goods from firms that either manufacture in those territories, such as Ahava, or allegedly support the Israeli army, like Sabra, oppress Arab citizens of Israel, like SodaStream, or provide technology for surveillance of Palestinians, like HP.
The leaders of the House Select Committee on China are asking Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and her staff to examine the sale of Dahua Technology USA to Foxlink, as they believe it is an attempt to evade an import prohibition on Dahua cameras destined for government facilities, critical infrastructure surveillance or other national security uses.
President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of billionaire businessman Howard Lutnick to be Commerce secretary (see 2411190036) drew mixed reaction on Capitol Hill this week.
Ten Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee introduced a bill that would forbid the president from using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose tariffs or quotas on imports.
Outgoing Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., last week formally introduced a bill restricting de minimis eligibility for textiles and apparel from anywhere in the world, as well as goods subject to Section 301 tariffs (see 2408020031). The bipartisan bill goes beyond the version that passed the House Ways and Means Committee, in that it adds apparel to the list of restricted items, and it would levy a $2 fee on de minimis packages, to help CBP fund its inspections of the low-value packages. The Biden administration is planning to issue a proposed rule before Jan. 20 that would remove Section 301 goods from de minimis, but it can't add the fee through rulemaking.
The Senate Appropriations Committee issued its proposal for funding the Department of Homeland Security, asserting its bill could get the bipartisan support needed to pass that chamber. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has previously said he would prefer to delay spending decisions until next year, when the House, Senate and White House will have Republican majorities. However, some observers believe Republicans would be better served by passing during the lame-duck session appropriations for the fiscal year that goes through September, freeing up Congress to spend its time in 2025 on the massive tax bill and other policy Trump administration priorities (see 2411120026).
House Select Committee on China Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., proposes increasing tariffs on nearly all Chinese goods to at least 35% and raising tariffs on "strategic goods" to 100%, with exceptions only for goods that are currently sourced only from China.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asked the Federal Trade Commission to enforce its truth in advertising laws so that Chinese-made American flags aren't advertised as “Made in the USA” when they are listed for sale on e-commerce platforms.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, arguing that CBP is not enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act he co-authored, as pharmaceuticals made in Xinjiang are entering the U.S.
The chairman of the House Select Committee on China welcomed a new report from Horizon Advisory that said the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act have spurred investments in advanced battery production and critical minerals recycling, which "carry great promise but they will be for naught if the U.S. does not recognize and counter China's state-backed market dominance and manipulations with additional investments, stronger protective measures, and stringent enforcement mechanisms."