Several trade items are awaiting action during the ongoing lame duck session of Congress, which is expected to last into next week. The Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) both expire on December 31. Separately, the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program enacted in the 2009 Recovery Act also expires on December 31. There are some outstanding issues with regards to GSP and TAA that are still being debated among Congressional leaders. Finally, there is also the possibility of moving a second Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) before the end of the year. The Chamber strongly supports a positive outcome on all of these items before the end of the session.
Separately, the membership of the Ways and Means Committee was selected this week. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) was chosen as the next chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Sander Levin (D-MI) will be the Ranking Member. The new Republican Members on the Ways and Means Committee, in alphabetical order, are: Rick Berg (ND), Diane Black (TN), Vern Buchanan (FL), Jim Gerlach (PA), Lynn Jenkins (KS), Chris Lee (NY), Erik Paulsen (MN), Tom Price (GA), Aaron Schock (IL), and Adrian Smith (NE).
