Southern West Virginia News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced the For Accurate Import Relief To Aid Retailers and Importers of Foreign Freights (FAIR TARIFF) Act alongside Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). This bipartisan bill will provide industries 60 days’ notice before imposing tariffs on products and goods.

Click here for bill text.

“It is imperative American importers are taken care of as they stimulate the U.S. economy. Suppliers should not be unfairly hit by tariffs for goods that have been already purchased,” said Congresswoman Miller. “The FAIR TARIFF Act equips our importers for success, ensures USTR gives U.S. companies ample warning when implementing tariffs, and corrects the tariffs that have put unnecessary costs on U.S. businesses that get passed down to consumers.”

"When tariffs are enacted, we should not punish American businesses who already have supply or consumer orders en route — a problem I have heard about directly from Ohio businesses,” said Congressman Wenstrup. “I am proud to reintroduce the FAIR TARIFF Act to ensure that American companies are not surprised with high fees and penalized on goods already in transit.” 

"Alabama workers and consumers deserve trade laws that are balanced and fair," said Congresswoman Sewell. "The bipartisan Fair Tariff Act is a common sense bill that modernizes our trade laws to ensure that tariffs are not placed on goods already in transit. As a proud member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, I will continue to advocate for legislation that creates a fairer and more equitable trading system."

"When tariffs are imposed on goods in transit, American importers are hurt,” said Congressman Thompson. "The Fair Tariff Act will ensure that any penalties are enforced on foreign exporters, rather than American importers. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Reps. Wenstrup and Sewell to ensure that American companies do not pay any penalties for having goods in transit when tariffs are imposed.”

"In a globalized economy, giving businesses ample notice of tariffs on their imported inputs is essential," said Rep. Smith, Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. "The Fair Tariff Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to better equip U.S. importers to make purchasing decisions. If tariffs must be implemented, we should ensure American businesses, manufacturers, and workers are protected from unintended negative impacts. I thank my colleagues Reps. Wenstrup, Thompson, Sewell, and Panetta for their cooperation on this important bill." 

Background:

The FAIR TARIFF Act would direct the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) to provide U.S. companies time to land goods in transit before imposing retaliatory tariffs and refund tariffs implemented while products were on water following the implementation of retaliatory tariffs.

source can be found here.