In 2022, during the last Congress, House Democrats passed the Import Security and Fairness Act, which would deny de minimis treatment for all Chinese merchandise.
At a time when China continues its attempts to decimate American manufacturers and workers through predatory trade activity, Chairman Jason Smith’s leadership on trade issues has been a welcome improvement over previous chairs that have rubber stamped failed free trade programs.
USTR Katherine Tai sat for a two hours-plus hearing with the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday to discuss trade matters and was met early on by some staunch criticism.
There is growing bipartisan support for taking action, and CPA is proud to join with more than two dozen organizations representing thousands of voices that support closing the de minimis loophole.
The Coalition to Close the De Minimis Loophole launched today, representing thousands of voices, from the families of victims of fentanyl fatalities and nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations to labor unions, domestic law enforcement associations, domestic manufacturers, and business associations.
The roughly 485 million packages that come into the U.S. duty free via the de minimis loophole is “overwhelming” and that volume “makes it harder for us to police products for consumer safety,” James Joholske, director of the office of import surveillance at the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) told the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission on March 1
Coalition vice presidents explain the FDAs shortcomings and why U.S. medicines are often in short supply in a new American Affairs Journal article.
Modern-day smugglers are using the de minimis loophole to bring in illicit imports of fentanyl, pill presses, and all manner of contraband.
Homeland Security and U.S. Customs face a daunting task in policing the millions of packages full of textile fabrics and apparel that come into the country duty free. They know it. What can be done about it, is the question.
The Biden administration must take swift action to close this loophole, it should issue nationwide withhold release order on all Chinese textiles, and Congress should pass legislation immediately.
