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The trade community is looking for leadership from the government, and it isn't finding it. Six months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, those involved in import-export trade recognize that [...]

Heads are still shaking in bewilderment over the House's provision in the SAFE Port Act calling for 100 percent inspection of inbound ocean containers. Had they not been listening? Had [...]

The Clinton administration and the House Republican leadership have agreed on a bill to authorize fast-track trade negotiations. The deal is seen as a prelude to a hard battle since most Democrats in the House are expected to oppose the legislation. Fast-track authority is also not a guarantee that the administration will have its way in trade matters as the Congress still would have to authorize trade talks one at a time.

The House of Representatives will likely impose tougher economic sanctions against Libya in response to the demands of parents of victims in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. One of the more outspoken parents is Susan Cohen, mother of 20-year old drama student Theodora Cohen, who was among those killed in the incident. The House had earlier imposed tougher economic sanctions against Iran, which, along with Libya, have been tagged as supporters of various terrorist groups.

Some House lawmakers have threatened to pass legislation withholding the salaries of National Science Foundation (NSF) officials if they insist on buying Japanese made supercomputers. The issue began when NEC Corp. beat out Cray Research (Cray) in bidding for an NSF supercomputer contract. Refusing to accept defeat, Cray asked the Commerce Dept. and some legislators to put pressure on the NSF to drop the NEC bid in favor of its own offer. Many observers have noted the irony of the situation, given longstanding US accusations that Japanese procurement rules discriminate against US firms.

Warring factions in the House are preparing to vote on Jun. 3, 1996 to decide on the fate of US' trade relations with China. Opponents of trade with China claim that, far from being a political or economic matter, the issue is actually a moral and a conscience one, referring to China's human rights violations. In 1995, the China Policy Act of 1995 and a resolution that opposes the renewal of non-discriminatory trade with China passed the House but encountered problems in the Senate. Current Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole meanwhile, is backing continued trade ties with China.

Stricter trade sanctions against Iran may be imminent as a House committee deliberates on a bill that seeks 'secondary boycott' measures on foreign companies dealing with the Middle Eastern country. The proposed legislation, which is a tougher version of a Senate bill passed in Dec. 1995, seeks to ban US companies from doing business with foreign firms investing in or selling equipment for oil and gas projects in Iran. Some US corporations have opposed the bill, saying it will affect business with foreign companies that will violate the sanctions, even on projects in other countries.

The Helms-Burton bill shall be passed by the House. It aims to discourage foreign investments and tighten the US embargo against the Cuban government. Called the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1995, it gives US citizens the right to claim property rights in Cuba in US federal courts. While the Clinton administration is opposed to the bill, foreign policy advisers believe that the US should take a more democratic approach in influencing changes in the Castro government.

Congressional support for the GATT has decreased from an initial estimate of 320 to about 245 out of 435 votes, indicating Pres. Clinton's minimal influence with his minority partymates. This was revealed in an informal roll call by Democratic and Republican House leaders on Nov. 28, 1994. The situation, for which a support-raising rally was held on the same day, is mainly due to the Nov. 8, 1994 elections which put Republicans in control of both houses of Congress.

The approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) by the US Congress bolstered hopes of achieveing a breakthrough in the 7-year old Uruguay Round of the GATT. Congress approval of the Nafta bolstered the credibility of US negotiators at the GATT, which had been stalled as nations held back trade concessions on politically sensitive trade items. Negotiations on controversial farm product tariffs and EC farm subsidies continued in Nov 1993.

Pres Bill Clinton is turning to the House of Representatives for the long-delayed approval of the NAFTA. Clinton needs only 10 more votes to achieve the 218 required for the approval of the legislation. He is reportedly using his political influence to convert House members who have been publicly opposing the NAFTA. The strategy seems to be effective as some previously undecided House members have already thrown their support to the new trade law.

Congress has approved Pres. Clinton's renewal of China's most-favored-nation status in a 286-141 vote on Jun. 27, 1996. With the upholding of China's MFN status, the House effectively disregarded criticisms of the Asian country's record in human rights, arms sales, nuclear proliferation and military adventurism. Supporters of trade with China successfully contextualized the issue as a choice between disengagement with China or continued dialogue and trade that would lead to incremental change.

Republicans on the Senate and House Budget committees have petitioned for a substantial rise in Superfund budget. The Republicans, however, require the reimplementation of the Superfund program's authority to collect corporate environmental income and other taxes as a condition to the increased funding. The House proposed a $700 million yearly increase while the Senate proposed $898 million.

The House of Representatives is set to approve a bill that would provide import protection to producers of tomatoes and other perishable farm products. The bill targets Florida producers who lost heavily from the increased tomato imports from Mexico. However, opponents claim that the bill could extend to other nations exporting perishable agricultural goods to the US such as Canada, Australian and Europe.

Republicans are again revising their Superfund reform bill in another attempt to secure its approval in the House of Representatives. Rep. Michael Oxley of Ohio is dropping the controversial Retroactive Liability Discount while Commerce Committee Chmn. Thomas J. Bliley, Jr., is amenable to a proposal to provide grants for municipalities that want to clean former waste sites for urban redevelopment. The bill could be shelved once the 1996 presidential primaries begin.

The House decision on granting Pres. Clinton trade authority has been deferred by Republican leaders, along with action on a special program for workers displaced by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the proposed grant of new trade benefits to Caribbean countries. House Republican leaders have said they will increase funding for the worker benefit program if Democrats can gather a big number of votes for the trade authority bill.

The House voted 305-117 on Aug. 4, 1995 to approve the landmark telecommunications reform measure. The legislation eliminates some restrictions on foreign ownership of mass media interests and ensures the opening of foreign telecommunications and media markets to US investors and vice versa. It also lifts a requirement that a radio officer be on board US-flag ships.

The House is considering the passage of the American Overseas Interest Act of 1995 which would reduce food aid cargo preferences for US-flag carriers and consolidate three international agencies with the Dept. of State. The bill, which has gained Republican support, would cut the budget for US-flag vessel shipments of annual food aid from $2 billion to $356 million and $305 million in FY 1995 and FY 1996. The Clinton administration, however, expressed opposition to the measure and criticized it as a Republican bid to change US foreign policy.

The proposed budget bill of the Republican-controlled House, which seeks to balance the federal budget and ease the tax burden of Americans over a seven-year period, has been approved on May 18, 1995. The bill involves slashing some $1.4 trillion from the budget over seven years, much of which will be lopped off from trade and transport programs. Efforts to spare the transportation industry from reductions in funding and shift the cuts to other sectors have failed.

House Republicans believe that the Clinton administration's unilateral trade embargo against Iran is insufficient and are developing new regulations to promote stricter economic sanctions. International Economic Policy Chmn. Rep. Toby Roth believes that current sanctions will adversely affect US exporters and workers and will fail to force Iran to reverse its military policies. Roth stressed that the US should ask its allies to join the embargo to stem international trade expansion with Iran.

Congress has threatened to block the planned financial aid to Mexico if the Clinton administration fails to furnish it information on the bailout. This warning was contained in a provision in a defense funding measure that it approved in early Apr. 1995. Officials of the Treasury Dept., who were questioned by a House panel on the proposed bailout, said the House had already been furnished documents pertaining to the matter.

The insurance industry is optimistic that the new Republican majority in Congress will help introduce regulatory changes particularly on such issues as tort reform and Superfund. The National Assn. of Independent Insurers, through its president Lowell Beck, likewise mentioned that the defeat of a number of 'populist' state insurance commissioners will help bring down a number of regulatory barriers.

House members have until Jan 7, 1994 to hand in their justifications for new highway and transit projects that they are seeking to include in a legislation establishing a National Highway System. The new 159,000-mile highway system is stipulated in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. House members must submit requests, accompanied by data about the projects, to the Surface Transportation Subcommittee of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee before the deadline.

Traders and financial analysts believe that the value of US dollars, stocks and bonds will decline if the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is not approved by the House of Representatives. Traders believe that a NAFTA defeat will lead to the decrease of foreign investments as well as give an impression that the US observes a protectionist policy. Furthermore, a negative vote will weaken the country's bargaining position in other trade negotiations.

Democratic Rep David Bonior claims that there are already 208 House members who are solidly opposed to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and an additional 31 or 32 who are leaning against the Nafta. Bonior further claims that Pres Bill Clinton can count on only 150 House members who are staunchly pro-NAFTA. While the Clinton administration says that its lobbying in the House for the Nafta is gaining momentum, NAFTA opponents believe that the House will not approve the agreement. To sway undecided House members in favor of the agreement, some proponents are proposing a review of the NAFTA after a few years.

Flooded communities in the Midwest will receive help from a $3-billion disaster relief package, which the House is expected to approve. President Clinton originally asked for $2.48 billion, but the the House Appropriations Committee increased the figure. The money will fund emergency operations and farm supplies in addition to the effort to rebuild the region's roads and bridges. Most railroads will be unable to transport goods for another month or more. Trucking lines are benefitting from the extra business and subsequent price hikes, which are estimated to be 10-15% higher than normal.

House Republican leaders have informed President Clinton that they intend to oppose the North American free-trade agreement if changes in the current plans for environment and labor concerns are not forthcoming. Business groups and some Clinton administration members have joined the Republicans to force a US compromise on the side agreements that would be more attractive to Canada and Mexico. Both Canada and Mexico oppose the creation of a tri-national commission on labor and environment that would monitor abuses and recommend trade sanctions.

Critics argue that legislative policies on urban urban development have been long overdue. Congressional approval of an aid plan to support urban enterprise zones in impoverished areas in the US have only been passed on Jul 1992. As it awaits Senate approval, the delayed endorsement reflects political partisanship in Congress. Federal administrators and legislators should implement radical measures as traditional efforts at improving the inner cities have proven to be ineffective.

The possibility of a turf battle at the House of Representatives has delayed a proposed bill allowing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to secure funding from harbor maintenance fees. The Commerce Department has sought to shift 8% of the revenues from harbor tax dredging for the NOAA. However, the question of which committee has jurisdiction over the proposed funding, whether the House Ways and Means Committee or the Public Works Committee, has delayed a showdown between supporters and critics of the bill. Port users and shippers are opposed to the proposed legislation.