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Third NEMA/Capitol Hill Word of the Week: helium. (The first two Words of the Week must be either 1) Shaheen and 2) Portman or 1) energy and 2) efficiency.) Yesterday, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to modernize and reform federal policy to better secure supplies of helium for U.S. industry and government
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It has been a decent year for international trade policy in Washington -- but it's not over yet! The House and Senate are still deciding whether to take up and pass a large package of proposals to temporarily suspend import duties on many inputs that are used by U.S. manufacturers (including some NEMA members) but that are not available from U.S
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Today (Aug. 22) two events will take place in the world of international trade, both of which have been in the works for quite a while. In one case, two years is the "long time" I am talking about. In the other: 19 years. In the former case, the event will be met with loud cheers by some but by likely muffled groans from many others. In the
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Somewhat behind the scenes, the House and Senate are in the middle of a process to determine how to cut costs for U.S. manufacturers without significantly denting U.S. government revenues: the construction of a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). From time to time Congress considers proposals to temporarily suspend application of U.S. import duties on
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A new approach to updating U.S. regulations on air shipment of lithium batteries is expected this spring following President Obama’s Feb. 14 signature on legislation authorizing activities of the Federal Aviation Administration and a Feb. 10 agreement at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on new requirements set to take effect
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Yesterday, with bipartisan votes, Congress approved legislation proposed by President Obama to implement free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. The votes are the most significant milepost to date on the road to greater market access for U.S. electroindustry exporters to these 3 important markets in Asia and Latin America
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Tomorrow (Oct. 1) in Japan representatives from several governments, including the U.S., are expected to put pen to paper and formally sign an international agreement to combat theft of intellectual property rights. As NEMA has pointed out repeatedly , product counterfeiting as well as trade- and certification-mark piracy are not just an issue for movies
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In his jobs speech to Congress, President Obama asked members to "clear the way" for consideration of the long-stalled 3 free trade agreements with South Korea , Colombia and Panama . Today, the way is expected to become clearer as the Senate starts formal consideration of extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program and
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Picking up from where I left off: We are a week closer to the return of Congress from its August break and the level of anxiety is rising. President Obama is to make a speech next month presenting a jobs initiative. Meanwhile, we wait for the White House to send implementing legislation to Congress for 3 free trade agreements (FTAs) that will help support
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In his weekly radio address last Saturday , President Obama listed several things that Congress can do to help American workers as soon as it returns from an August break: extend tax breaks for middle class and low income families, extend unemployment benefits, and approve three market-opening free trade agreements. This item is the first in a weekly