Bill > S1291

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for monitoring and regulating international free trade zones (FTZs) to combat illicit international trade. The legislation requires the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner to create and maintain a public list of non-United States free trade zones within two years of enactment, and periodically review and update this list. The Commissioner must also classify countries hosting these zones into four tiers based on their compliance with international standards related to preventing criminal activities such as drug trafficking, arms trade, human trafficking, and intellectual property violations. Countries will be ranked from Tier I (fully compliant) to Tier IV (non-compliant), considering factors like criminal activity levels, enforcement efforts, and adherence to international guidelines from organizations like the UN, OECD, and World Trade Organization. For countries in Tier II, III, and IV, the bill allows the President to impose economic sanctions and visa restrictions on foreign persons involved in illicit trade, including blocking property transactions and denying entry to the United States. The bill aims to increase transparency, reduce criminal activities, and improve international trade zone governance by creating a systematic evaluation and response mechanism, with provisions for ongoing monitoring, reporting, and potential corrective actions.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1291/all-info