Tariff preferences Legislation - Federal Government

A bill to promote freedom, human rights, and the rule of law in Vietnam. 10/1/2008--Introduced. Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2008 - Prohibits the federal government from providing the government of Vietnam with nonhumanitarian development, trade, economic, and security assistance during any fiscal year that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during FY2008, unless such increases are matched or exceeded by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights and democracy promotion. Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or it is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. Prohibits the President from providing certain duty-free treatment for Vietnam until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam protects freedom of association and does not engage in violations of workers' rights. Authorizes the President to provide U.S.[...]

show full description

To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes. 10/16/2008--Public Law.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on October 2, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Amends the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) to prohibit the extension of duty-free treatment or other preferential treatment to: (1) Colombia or Peru after December 31, 2009; (2) Ecuador after June 30, 2009, except that such preferential treatment shall remain in effect through December 31, 2009, unless the President reports to specified congressional committees on or before June 30, 2009, that Ecuador does not satisfy certain beneficiary country designation requirements; and (3) Bolivia after June 30, 2009, except that such preferential treatment shall remain in effect through December 31, 2009, only if the President reports to specified congressional committees on or before June 30,[...]

show full description

To establish an earned import allowance program under Public Law 109-53, and for other purposes. 7/29/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Amends the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an earned import allowance program, which shall provide earned import allowance certificates to any producer or entity controlling production of eligible apparel articles in the Dominican Republic, based on specified elements. Specifies as eligible apparel articles cotton (but not denim) trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, skirts and divided skirts, and pants. Declares that such apparel articles wholly assembled in, and imported directly from, the Dominican Republic shall enter the United States free of duty, without regard to the source of the fabric or yarns from which the articles are made, if they are accompanied by an [...]

show full description

To provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and for other purposes. 6/18/2008--Public Law.    (There is 1 other summary) Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Deems the Joint Explanatory Statement submitted by the Committee of Conference for the conference report to accompany H.R. 2419 of the 110th Congress (House Report 110-627) to be part of the legislative history of this Act and to have the same effect regarding implementation of this Act as it would have had regarding implementation of H.R. 2419. (Sec. 4) Repeals P.L. 110-234 (H.R. 2419) and the amendments made by that Act, effective on the date of enactment of that Act. States that, except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the earlier of: (1) the date of enactment of this Act; or (2) the date of enactment of P.L. 110-234 [...]

show full description

A bill to provide duty-free treatment for certain goods from designated Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2008 - Declares the purposes of this Act, including to stimulate economic activity and development in Afghanistan and the border region of Pakistan in an effort to combat violent extremism. Authorizes the President to: (1) designate an area within Afghanistan or Pakistan as a Reconstruction Opportunity Zone, provided such country meets certain eligibility requirements; and (2) proclaim duty-free treatment for certain articles (including certain textile and apparel articles as well as non-textile or non-apparel articles) that are imported into the United States from a designated zone within such country, provided certain requirements are met. Specifies rules of origin for such articles.Prohibits duty-free treatment for [...]

show full description

To extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, and for other purposes. 2/29/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on February 27, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Andean Trade Preference Extension Act of 2008 - Amends the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), as amended and expanded by Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), to extend, through December 31, 2008, the ATPA program providing for the duty-free treatment of certain imported apparel articles assembled in one or more ATPDEA beneficiary countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru).Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend certain customs fees for the processing of merchandise entered into the United States through December 27, 2014. Amends the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 to increase the amount [...]

show full description

To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act with respect to lesser developed countries. 1/17/2008--Introduced. Amends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to add Mauritius as a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country (LDC) for purposes of the application of preferential treatment to apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and wholly assembled, or both, in one or more LDCs, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric or the yarn used to make such articles, that are imported into the United States. Repeals provisions granting preferential treatment for imported apparel articles produced in LDCs of yarn or fabric that is produced in beneficiary sub-Saharan countries and determined to be available in commercial quantities for use by LDCs. Provides for the liquidation or reliquidation (refund of duties) for such articles entered into the United States on or after October 1, 2005, and before the 15th day after enactment of this [...]

show full description

Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to strengthen the earmark point of order. 1/15/2008--Introduced. Additional Earmark Disclosure Resolution - Amends rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to consider a conference report unless the accompanying joint explanatory statement includes: (1) a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits (and the name of any requesting Member or Senator) that were not committed to the conference committee by either House, not in a report on such bill, or not in a report of a Senate committee on a companion measure; or (2) a statement that the proposition contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits. Makes it out of order also to consider an amendment between the Houses to a bill or joint resolution unless the proponent has caused to be printed in the Congressional Record before [...]

show full description

A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. 4/24/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Global Poverty Act of 2007 - Directs the President, through the Secretary of State, to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. Requires the strategy to contain specific and measurable [...]

show full description