CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
June 14, 2012 – 12:56 a.m.
Former Trade Chief Attempts to Be Dealmaker in Tariff Dispute
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff
As U.S. trade representative during the George W. Bush administration,
Now, as a Republican senator representing Ohio, Portman is in the middle of a trade fight within the GOP that pits conservative anti-earmark crusaders against tax writers and some senior lawmakers.
The standoff has prevented the completion of a new package of miscellaneous tariff provisions — legislation that Congress has cleared periodically to allow U.S. companies cheaper access to a range of products said to be unavailable from domestic manufacturers.
Portman and Sen.
“The idea is to move this on its own as soon as possible. The current process is deadlocked,” Portman said.
With DeMint in attack mode, only two Republicans —
Without GOP-sponsored provisions in a miscellaneous tariff package, it could prove difficult for Senate Finance Chairman
But some Republicans are complaining that DeMint’s position could leave the GOP open to criticism for blocking legislation that is important to business. Tax writers have suggested that DeMint was intruding on their turf.
Portman and McCaskill propose to break the impasse by routing requests for tariff modifications through the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) rather than through lawmakers’ offices. Legislation they introduced on Wednesday calls for the commission to review requests, including referrals from members of Congress, and send recommended tariff changes to Congress later this year and again in 2015 and in 2018.
DeMint proposed something similar (
Baucus has not weighed in on what Portman and McCaskill are proposing. Democratic aides questioned the need for such a process, arguing that the provisions of miscellaneous tariff legislation are already vetted by the ITC. “The existing process is as open and transparent as they come. . . . The system isn’t broken,” said a Finance Committee aide.
Meanwhile, many requests await action. Majority Leader
Golf club manufacturers have the backing of Democratic Sens.
Former Trade Chief Attempts to Be Dealmaker in Tariff Dispute
Inhofe, one of DeMint’s most conservative colleagues, is seeking tariff reductions on fishing reels imported by companies including Tulsa-based W.C. Bradley, which makes Zebco fishing products.