Brady, Levin, Reichert, and Rangel Announce Kick Off of New Process to Deliver Tariff Relief to U.S. Businesses
New Process Will Increase American Competitiveness, Lower Costs, and Create Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) invited American businesses to apply for temporary duty suspensions and reductions at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
In a letter to their Congressional colleagues, the Ways and Means Members outlined specifically how American businesses and manufacturers who have had to pay expensive tariffs for certain products not made in the United States can now benefit from the new process established by the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (AMCA) of 2016.
"Starting today, American businesses have until December 12, 2016, to file petitions at the ITC for a temporary duty suspension or reduction. Filing a petition at the ITC is the only way to pursue eligibility for this relief," the Members wrote.
American businesses that want to apply for this relief should visit https://www.usitc.gov/mtbinfo.htm.
CLICK HERE for more information on the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (AMCA) of 2016.
"Earlier this year, the House passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 415-2 and the Senate passed by unanimous consent the bipartisan American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (AMCA) of 2016. This new law will lower costs for American manufacturers who have had to pay expensive tariffs for certain products not made in the United States, unnecessarily increasing their costs and making them less competitive. The AMCA creates an open and transparent process to provide relief for such manufacturers through temporary duty suspensions and reductions, making it easier for them to sell their products, grow their businesses, create jobs, and invest in their communities. This new process is fully consistent with the letter and intent of all House Rules and related guidance.
"The AMCA process commences today at the International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent, nonpartisan agency charged by the statute with conducting the petition process and making recommendations to Congress. Starting today, American businesses have until December 12, 2016, to file petitions at the ITC for a temporary duty suspension or reduction. Filing a petition at the ITC is the only way to pursue eligibility for this relief.
"The only entities eligible to file petitions are members of the public who meet the definition of a ‘likely beneficiary' of the requested duty suspension or reduction. This term is defined in the statute as ‘an individual or entity likely to utilize, or benefit directly from the utilization of, an article that is the subject of a petition for a duty suspension or reduction.'
"After petitions are filed, the ITC will commence a public comment procedure in January 2017 and then will begin its evaluation.
"In evaluating each petition, the ITC will determine whether it meets the following tests: (1) there is no objection by a ‘domestic producer' of the merchandise, as defined in the statute; (2) it is administrable; (3) the estimated loss in revenue does not exceed $500,000 per calendar year; and (4) the benefit is available to any person importing the article. The ITC may make recommendations for technical corrections and modifications to a petition so that it meets these tests.
"The ITC will then make its final recommendations to Congress, which are due in the summer of 2017. At that point, Congress may then consider legislation providing for tariff relief only for those petitions for which the ITC made a positive recommendation.
"In the event that you receive inquiries from constituents, please refer them to the very thorough ITC website ‘MTB Info Page': https://www.usitc.gov/mtbinfo.htm. This page contains the links to file a petition, a handbook on filing procedures, a ‘Before You File' manual, and answers to frequently asked questions. In addition, the page contains the portal required by the enhanced transparency requirements of the new statute to allow the public to follow the process in detail, including access to all petitions, public comments, and ITC report. Finally, the Ways & Means website contains further information: /competitive/."
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