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US HR2523

US HR2523
American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act


summary

Introduced
05/21/2015
In Committee
06/03/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017

Introduced Session

114th Congress

Bill Summary

American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act This bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to the administration and enforcement of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders. Neither the administering authority (the Secretary of Commerce, or another U.S. officer given the responsibility by law) nor the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), as the case may be, is required to determine, or make any adjustments to, a countervailable subsidy rate or weighted average dumping margin based on any assumptions about information the interested party would have provided if it had complied with a request for information. The USITC shall not determine that there is no material injury or threat of material injury to a domestic industry from imports merely because that industry is profitable or its performance has recently improved. This bill includes gross profits, operating profits, net profits, and ability to service debt among the relevant economic factors the USITC must evaluate in examining the impact of imports of merchandise on a domestic industry in material injury determinations. The administering authority may use another calculation methodology than the ordinary one in determining the constructed value of subject merchandise being imported at less than fair value if a particular market situation exists where the cost of materials and fabrication or other processing of any kind does not accurately reflect the cost production in the ordinary course of trade. This bill revises requirements regarding administering authority determinations as to whether there are reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that a foreign like product is being sold at less than cost of production in AD investigations or reviews. The administering authority in making its determinations, however, shall request information necessary to calculate the constructed value and cost of production of subject merchandise in such investigations or reviews. The administering authority, in valuing the factors of production to determine the normal value of merchandise exported from a nonmarket economy country, may disregard price or cost values without further investigation if it determines that broadly available export subsidies existed or instances of subsidization occurred with respect to those price or cost values or if they were subject to an AD order. Certain factors are specified for the administering authority to consider when deciding whether it would be unduly burdensome in CVD or AD investigations and reviews to examine voluntary responses from exporters or producers which are not the subjects of the investigation or review.

AI Summary

This bill, the American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act, amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to strengthen the enforcement of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders, which are measures used to counteract unfairly priced or subsidized imports. Key provisions include that the Department of Commerce (referred to as the "administering authority") and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) will not be required to make assumptions about information a party would have provided if they had cooperated with a request, meaning non-compliance can lead to adverse inferences without further estimation. The USITC will also be prevented from dismissing a case of material injury or threat of injury to a domestic industry solely because that industry is profitable or has recently improved, and will be required to consider factors like gross profits, operating profits, net profits, and the ability to service debt when assessing injury. The bill also allows the administering authority to use alternative calculation methods for the "constructed value" of imported goods if market conditions distort the true cost of production, and revises how the administering authority investigates sales made below the cost of production, requiring them to seek necessary information for these calculations. For imports from nonmarket economy countries, the administering authority may disregard certain price or cost values without further investigation if they are affected by broadly available export subsidies or were subject to an AD order. Finally, the bill clarifies factors the administering authority can consider when determining if examining voluntary responses from parties not directly under investigation would be unduly burdensome, aiming to reduce administrative workload and ensure timely completion of trade investigations.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (46)

Mike Bost (R)* Robert Aderholt (R),  Lou Barletta (R),  Dan Benishek (R),  Mo Brooks (R),  Bradley Byrne (R),  Rick Crawford (R),  Rodney Davis (R),  Charles Dent (R),  Blake Farenthold (R),  Bill Flores (R),  Jeff Fortenberry (R),  Bob Gibbs (R),  Sam Graves (R),  Gene Green (D),  Richard Hudson (R),  Bill Johnson (R),  Walter Jones (R),  Marcy Kaptur (D),  Mike Kelly (R),  Adam Kinzinger (R),  David Loebsack (D),  Betty McCollum (D),  David McKinley (R),  Tim Murphy (R),  Richard Nolan (D),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),  Bill Pascrell (D),  Ed Perlmutter (D),  Robert Pittenger (R),  Tom Reed (R),  James Renacci (R),  Todd Rokita (R),  Peter Roskam (R),  Keith Rothfus (R),  David Rouzer (R),  Tim Ryan (D),  Terri Sewell (D),  John Shimkus (R),  Steve Stivers (R),  Scott Tipton (R),  Mike Turner (R),  Peter Visclosky (D),  Tim Walberg (R),  Roger Williams (R),  Joe Wilson (R), 

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade. (on 06/03/2015)

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