17 February 2009

[US] Legislative Update: Food Safety, Miscellaneous Trade Bill, Trade Enforcement

This article is excerpted from the 17 February 2009 edition of “WorldTrade Interactive”.

Congress recently completed action on its top priority, an economic stimulus bill, which includes several trade-related provisions.

Although most observers expect lawmakers to now turn their attention to unrelated issues, food safety, trade enforcement and a miscellaneous trade bill are all expected to see action later this year. …

Economic Stimulus. Both the House and Senate approved late last week a final economic stimulus bill that includes several trade- and transportation-related provisions, including an expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program, “buy American” requirements for some steel and textiles, and funding for land border port of entry construction and the procurement of non-intrusive cargo container inspection technology at sea ports of entry….

Food Safety. With the peanut product scare continuing to make headlines, food safety is expected to be high on the congressional agenda this year. However, some observers say Congress is likely to take up other issues first, such as health care reform. …

MTB. With lawmakers focusing on ways to help stimulate the economy, a miscellaneous trade bill that extends duty reductions and suspensions on imports of key manufacturing and production inputs is likely to come up before the end of the year, when current benefits are slated to expire. Amendments to customs laws and modifications to unilateral trade preference programs may also be included….

Trade Enforcement. H.R. 496 includes a wide range of trade enforcement provisions, but as of yet no committee hearing or markup has been scheduled.

In the Senate, Sen. Olympia Snowe, D-Maine, introduced Feb. 2 a bill designed to make it easier to bring Section 301 cases against foreign country violations of U.S. trade rights. …