The Outdoor Industry Association said in a statement that it now appears due to multiple problems, Congress is not likely to pass a miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) before adjourning for the end-of-year holiday recess.
In a statement, Alexander Boian, OIA's director of trade policy, said that should Congress adjourn without passing an MTB, all duty suspensions will expire on December 31st and full duties will go back in to place on January 1, 2010. While there is a possibility that an MTB could be completed this year, it now appears more likely that Congress will address the MTB early next year, but the timing and scope of a package remains unclear.
“Although the situation could change before the end of the year, OIA’s recommendation is that outdoor companies that have utilized duty suspensions, plan to pay full duties on January 1,” said Boian.
The OIA noted that late last week, House and Senate trade staff had worked out an agreement to pass an MTB, but that agreement now appears to have failed to move the bill after a some senators indicated they would place a “hold” on a Senate MTB, which in turn has delayed the introduction of the House MTB.
OIA was working on eight MTBs that extend the duty suspensions on certain outdoor performance footwear and had several new duty suspensions pending.
OIA said it is unclear when the MTB will be taken up next year, but the House is scheduled to be adjourned until January 13th and the Senate has not yet released the 2010 legislative calendar.
