Linda Sánchez Legislation Added to Manufacturing Agenda (July 9, 2012)
Washington, DC—Today, House Democratic leadersannounced that legislation sponsored by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-39)will be included as part of the Democrats' "Make It In America" plan to growmanufacturing jobs. The bipartisan Enforcing Orders and Reducing CustomsEvasion (ENFORCE) Act of 2011 (H.R. 3057), sponsored by Congresswoman Sánchezand Congressman Bill Long (R-MO), will help U.S. Customs and Border Protectionenforce trade rules and prevent illegal imports. The ENFORCE Act wouldestablish new procedures for investigating claims against foreign manufacturersfor evading anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders.
"I am pleased this important trade legislation is beingincluded in the ‘Make It In America' manufacturing plan," saidCongresswoman Sánchez. "For far too long,U.S. manufacturershave been undermined by foreign competitors and their fraudulent schemes toavoid paying the duties they owe. We have to support the Americanmanufacturing sector if we want to create more good-paying jobs here athome. American manufacturers deserve a level playing field, and theENFORCE Act will ensure that Customs agents will aggressively enforceanti-dumping and countervailing duty orders."
Background
Congresswoman Sánchez also introduced the ENFORCE Act in the111th Congress. Under the ENFORCE Act, domestic producers willbe able to petition U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to investigatepossible antidumping and countervailing duty evasions. The ENFORCE Actputs in place timelines for CBP to make preliminary and final determinationsabout whether an importer is engaged in duty evasion.
Antidumping duties are imposed when it is established thatforeign goods are being sold (or "dumped") in the U.S. at prices below theprices in the home market. Countervailing duties are imposed when foreigngoods receive illegal subsidies that artificially hold down their prices. The duties are meant to even out these illegal practices so that American andforeign goods are competing on a more level playing field when it comes toprices. Those who work to evade these duties are not only breaking thelaw, they are hurting U.S. businesses and killing jobs.
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