Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., introduced a bill last week to direct the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize convincing Canada and Mexico to institute a foreign investment review board similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS.
Three Democrats and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., introduced a bill to end tariffs on imported coffee, and return them to the duty-free status they had before the administration imposed 10% tariffs on Colombia, 50% tariffs on Brazil, and 20% tariffs on Vietnam.
The House of Representatives voted 217-212 to extend current levels of federal spending through Nov. 21, but the Senate was not able to find the 60 votes needed to approve the same approach.
Several House Republicans changed their votes so that a move to block votes on emergency tariffs could succeed after being promised a Republican tariff working group (see 2509170048).
A former FDA overseas inspector told a Senate committee that in India and China fraud is common, including with falsified purity tests, and at times, lies about where pharmaceutical drugs are made.
The House Transportation Committee approved a bill Sept. 17 by voice vote that would reauthorize the Federal Maritime Commission through FY 2029. The legislation would give the agency several new tools to protect ocean shipping, including by establishing a formal process to report complaints about shipping exchanges, which connect shippers with carriers to make agreements or contracts for transporting cargo (see 2506300066).
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said there will be votes in the Senate in early October to end emergencies that underlie tariffs on Canada and Brazil.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., issued a report that he said shows how the president is using agencies in a "pay-to-play scheme," including in the case of a lifted withhold release order for forced labor.
House Republicans stopped an effort to end the 40% additional tariffs on some Brazilian imports in an evening vote Sept. 15, though two Republicans voted with Democrats. Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., sought to force a vote on the matter through a discharge petition, which can force a vote on a matter the House leadership does not want to take up. The effort came up short by a margin of 200-198.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., introduced a bill to restore Russia to the list of countries covered by the Jackson-Vanik Act. That act removes permanent normal trade relations for countries covered by it.