White House: Tariffs as Tax Revenue Risks Inflation and Inequality
July 17, 2024 – The White House Council of Economic Advisers released a blog post last week discussing the challenges and implications of using tariffs as a source of government revenue.
The post emphasizes that using tariffs as a revenue source to replace income tax would increase inflation and would harm low- and middle-income Americans.
Ways and Means Republicans Demand Section 301 Investigation on Canada’s DST
July 17, 2024 – Republicans of the House Ways and Means Committee wrote the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai last week demanding that the Biden Administration respond to Canada’s digital services tax (DST) on U.S. businesses. The letter urges USTR to “make clear that unilateral and discriminatory DSTs are unacceptable and immediately initiate an investigation under Section 301.” They warn of the consequences of a weak response. Read the letter.
CPSC Launches New Shipment Tracking Tool
July 17, 2024 – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a new shipment tracking tool today. This tool uses the Entry Number and Entry Line Number to show a shipment’s status and the remaining time left for CPSC to review the shipment. As a result, there is no longer a need to email CPSC for a status update. Learn more about the tool on CPSC’s website.
FMC Working on New Rules for Charge Complaints
July 17, 2024 – The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is developing a new rule that will affect how companies file formal or informal complaints about ocean carriers that they believe have billed them for unreasonable charges. The FMC says the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022) “authorized the Commission to promptly investigate information concerning complaints about charges assessed by a common carrier, 46 U.S.C. 41310(a)-(b), and order refunds and/or penalties for charges that do not comply with 46 U.S.C. 41104(a) and 41102.” The FMC is working to issue the rule next summer. Currently, shippers and cargo logistics companies follow interim procedures for submitting charge complaint.
Biden Reappoints Comm'r Bentzel to FMC
July 17, 2024 – President Biden announced last week that he is nominating FMC Commission Carl Bentzel to be reappointed to the Federal Maritime Commission. Bentzel is working with the trade community, including AAEI members, to fully implement the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022). One of his projects is the Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (MTDI).
Biden also nominated FMC Comm’r Louis Sola for reappointment. See the full list of the president’s recent nominations.
