Washington D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed a recent letter from 130 Members of Congress to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer highlighting broad bipartisan support for the current U.S. de minimis threshold and opposition to lowering the level through legislation to implement the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
In the letter, Members expressed “serious bipartisan concern” with the portion of the draft Statement of Administrative Action submitted by USTR regarding implementation of a provision in the Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation Chapter related to de minimis.
Members of Congress wrote:
“We strongly oppose any effort by the Executive Branch to lower the current $800 de minimis threshold through the USMCA implementing bill, including any amendment to 19 U.S.C. 1321 that would grant the Executive Branch additional authority to decrease or eliminate the threshold.”
Jake Colvin, Vice President of Global Trade and Innovation at NFTC, noted that “Congress raised the U.S. de minimis unilaterally in 2016 because a higher threshold benefits American businesses and consumers.”
He added, “NFTC appreciates the leadership of Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Vern Buchanan, Ron Kind and David Schweikert in support of American small businesses and consumers. This letter is a strong signal of the widespread bipartisan support for the existing U.S. de minimis level.”
A copy of the letter is available here.
About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914– The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves its member companies through its office in Washington D.C.
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