The EU is aiming for a sixth sanctions package next month, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters in Washington, but there is still not unanimity among the 27 countries on how to treat Russian oil and on what to do about Sberbank.
Exporters told the Federal Maritime Commission that detention and demurrage invoices need to include the earliest return dates containers will be allowed at the terminal, and that "clock-stopping events," such as a lack of appointments to bring a container to the terminal, should also be on the invoices. However, the World Shipping Council said that while the earliest return date is something shippers need to know, they need to know it before a carrier invoice.
A dozen members of the House of Representatives are asking U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to change the administration's strategy on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to move it closer to a traditional trade agreement, including asking partners to lower tariffs for U.S. exports (see 2204120058). The April 12 letter, led by Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and Carol Miller, R-W.Va., also was signed by the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.
Massive delays and a drop in traffic at the U.S.-Mexico border caused by secondary Texas state inspections have drawn fire from CBP, the trade community and even the White House.
The Democratic and Republican leadership in the House of Representatives selected members to serve on a massive conference committee with the goal of working out a compromise between the Senate and House visions for a China package. The trade titles of the two bills diverge significantly, and the members who will represent House points of view on trade are:
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his Mexican counterpart said they have a plan to finalize "expanded access to the entire Mexican market no later than May 15 for all U.S. table stock and chipping potatoes according to the agreed workplan."
A Burma sanctions bill called Burma Unified Through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021, or BURMA Act, passed the House by a voice vote April 6.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a bill on for further consideration that would require the administration to determine whether a person or a foreign financial institution is covered by either Executive Order 14024 (see 2203090036) or Executive Order 14039, (see 2108230061). The administration would have to justify who is covered if either the chair or ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee or the Senate Foreign Relations Committee asks it to. The bill says the administration would have to respond to a request within 60 days. The voice vote in committee was April 5. It was co-sponsored by Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., and Rep Susan Wild, D-Pa.
After passing the House 424-8 more than two weeks ago, a bill to end permanent normal trade relations status with Russia and Belarus remains hung up in the Senate. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected to the language renewing Magnitsky sanctions that is attached to the bill (see 2203290057).
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said it would be good if the House and Senate could name their respective conferees to the committee that will aim to hash out a compromise between the two chambers' China packages. He said the next two weeks, when Congress will not be in Washington, could be put to good use by the members. But Hoyer suggested the House will wait until the Senate passes its motion to go to conference, and gives its negotiating instructions.