It is a rare time in Congress when there are multiple pieces of legislation that are of interest to the international trade community, but that is where we find ourselves today. First, the America COMPETES Act of 2022 passed the House and is headed to a conference with a Senate version. Key are provisions renewing GSP, implementation for two cycles of the MTB, and a contentious bit about de minimis and excluding non-market economies from participating in the Section 321 program.
The second piece of legislation is the Senate’s version of OSRA that will set the stage for a fight over language imposing accountability for certifying demurrage and detention bills. The World Shipping Council is the trade association representing carriers and it’s likely a safe bet to be the first interest group that can whip count 50+1 for their side of the issue wins.