On November 12, 2010, the American Apparel & Footwear Association released its ShoeStats 2010 report, a snapshot of the U.S. footwear industry market trends for 2009. ShoeStats 2010 examines business and trade information related to U.S. footwear consumption, production, employment, imports, and retail prices.
Senator Wyden has posted a press release announcing that his staff conducted an experiment to find out how easy it would be to find a Chinese supplier willing to engage in customs fraud to avoid paying U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD).
On November 5, 2010, 12 trade associations1 sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative expressing their concern with the USTR’s opposition to a number of pending duty suspensions proposed for inclusion in the next Miscellaneous Tariff Bill.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report (RL33087) entitled, "U.S.-Canada Trade and Economic Relationship: Prospects and Challenges.”
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report (RL33456) entitled, "Brazil-U.S. Relations," which analyzes Brazil’s political, economic, and social conditions, and how those conditions affect its role in the region and its relationship with the U.S.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report (RS20871) entitled “Iran Sanctions,” which states that there appears to be a growing international consensus to adopt progressively strict economic sanctions against Iran to try to compel it to compromise on its further nuclear development.
As a result of the November 2, 2010 election, Republicans will be the majority party in the House of Representatives when the 112th Congress convenes in January 2011. As the majority party in the House will change, new Republican Committee Chairmen will be chosen for the 112th Congress.
On November 2, 2010, Representative Thompson (D), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Representative Jackson-Lee (D), Chairwoman of the Committee’s Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting an assessment of the progress and challenges of screening and securing U.S.-bound cargo. Letter available here.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report (R41402) entitled, "The Mexican Economy After the Global Financial Crisis." The state of Mexico’s economy is important for U.S. policymakers for many reasons, most significantly because a prosperous and democratic neighboring country is in the best interest of the United States.
The Congressional Research Service has issued a report (RS22600) entitled, "The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer," which states that a number of comprehensive food safety proposals aimed at addressing perceived shortcomings in the U.S. food safety system were introduced but not enacted by the prior 110th Congress.