Letter regarding S. 662, the "Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2013”

The Honorable Max Baucus
Chairman
Committee on Finance
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Orrin Hatch
Ranking Member
Committee on Finance
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Hatch:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system, supports S. 662, the “Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2013,” which would facilitate trade, improve enforcement of customs and trade laws, advance cooperation among government agencies, and set the global standard for border management.

Businesses are linked together through a global web of interconnected, predictable, and efficient supply chains. U.S. businesses rely on these supply chains to access international consumers and compete in the global marketplace. Making improvements to address crossborder friction would smooth the flow of trade and would ensure timely delivery of inputs and final products. Implementing such improvements would increase the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and would unleash the potential for small- and medium-sized businesses to access foreign markets. This bill would also take common sense steps to improve our security and facilitate legitimate trade.

S. 662 would be an important step towards securing American intellectual property rights (IPR) and innovation. More than 55 million American jobs and nearly three-quarters of U.S. exports are from intellectual property-intensive industries. Yet, American creativity, innovation, and respected brands are under attack by those who seek to profit illegally by copying and distributing goods into the U.S. marketplace. To combat this massive threat, this bill would provide appropriate legal authority and resources to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This bill would also promote collaboration with right holders, and would provide an authorization for the National IPR Coordination Center.

The Chamber recognizes that Title III, regarding antidumping and countervailing duty enforcement, remains controversial. The Chamber urges the Committee to find a balanced solution that would reduce risk and provide certainty to businesses, or remove the provision so that it does not delay the bill from moving forward.

The Chamber appreciates the opportunity to submit these comments and looks forward to seeing this bipartisan legislation become law in the 113th Congress.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten
cc: The Members of the Senate Committee on Finance