HR 2754 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 2754CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of the Treasury with authority to more aggressively enforce trade laws relating to textile and apparel articles, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

August 1, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. KISSELL (for himself, Mr. JONES, Mrs. ELLMERS, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. MICHAUD, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. FOXX, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, and Mr. COBLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and MeansCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of the Treasury with authority to more aggressively enforce trade laws relating to textile and apparel articles, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Textile Enforcement and Security Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Textile or apparel article defined.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Definitions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Findings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Sense of Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES FOR U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

Sec. 101. Seizure and forfeiture of certain textile or apparel articles and use of amounts from fines, penalties, and forfeitures.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Increase in certain TAPP positions and import specialist positions and biennial review of staff levels.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO THE TARIFF ACT OF 1930

Sec. 201. Special provisions regarding certain violations relating to import documentation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Electronic preference verification system for origin of textile or apparel articles under CAFTA-DR, NAFTA, and other free trade agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Establishment of textile and apparel new importer program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Nonresident importer declaration program for textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIER REGISTRY

Sec. 301. Establishment of textile and apparel manufacturing and supplier registry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--IMPLEMENTATION REPORT

Sec. 401. Implementation report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. TEXTILE OR APPAREL ARTICLE DEFINED.

(a) In General- In this Act, the term ‘textile or apparel article’ means any of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Any good classifiable in chapters 50 through 63 of the HTS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Any good classifiable under one of the following HTS headings or subheadings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 3005.90;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 3921.12.15;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) 3921.13.15;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) 3921.90.25;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) 6601.10 through 6601.99;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) 7019.19.15;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) 7019.19.28;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) 7019.40 through 7019.59;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) 8708.21;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) 9404.30.40;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) 9404.30.80; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(L) 9404.90.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) HTS Defined- In subsection (a), the term ‘HTS’ means the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMMISSIONER- The term ‘Commissioner’ means the Commissioner responsible for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ENTER; ENTRY- The terms ‘enter’ and ‘entry’ refer to the entry, or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of a textile or apparel article in the customs territory of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) IMPORTER- The term ‘importer’ means one of the parties qualifying as an importer of record under section 484(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1484(a)(2)(B)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SPECIAL OPERATIONS- The term ‘special operations’ means an initiative that is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) implemented to address specific instances of transactions that do not comply with United States trade laws with respect to textile or apparel articles;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) used to address any import violations involving textile or apparel articles, including fraud, quota requirements, revenue collection, trade preferences or requirements under free trade agreements, product safety, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, or intellectual property rights; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) initiated to address a singular instance or a pattern of high-risk behavior, involving a particular commodity or other trade issue, including valuation, origin fraud, or trade preference violation, on the part of a country, importer, or manufacturer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) TAPP- The term ‘TAPP’ means the Textile and Apparel Policy and Programs division of the Office of International Trade within U.S. Customs and Border Protection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) TPVTs- The term ‘TPVTs’ means Textile Product Verification Teams.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) DEDICATED- The term ‘dedicated’ means, with respect to an import specialist, that such import specialist who focus solely on the import of textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) TRAINED- The term ‘trained’ means, with respect to an import specialist, that such import specialist has received, at least every last three years, education or training related to the import of textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) NONRESIDENT IMPORTER- The term ‘nonresident importer’ means an importer who is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a partnership, corporation, or other commercial entity that is not organized under the laws of a jurisdiction within the customs territory of the United States (as such term is defined in General Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States) or in the Virgin Islands of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) NEW IMPORTER- The term ‘new importer’ means an importer with fewer than three years of import history into the United States of textile or apparel articles. For purposes of this paragraph, a new importer that merges with or is purchased by another importer, or is otherwise altered, shall be considered to remain a new importer until such time as such new importer presents proof to the Commissioner of such merger, purchase, or other alteration for a determination regarding whether such new importer may be treated as an importer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) CAFTA-DR COUNTRY- The term ‘CAFTA-DR country’ has the meaning given such term in section 3(2) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States-Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4002(2); Public Law 109-53).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The fraudulent or illegal imports of textile and apparel articles into the United States results in significant revenue loss to the Department of the Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Textile and Apparel Policy and Programs division of the Office of International Trade within U.S. Customs and Border Protection or any subsequent division has, with respect to textile or apparel articles, the primary responsibility to ensure the proper enforcement of all trade laws, rules, and regulations affecting textile and apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The TAPP has the authority to direct the implementation and enforcement of free trade agreements, multilateral agreements, bilateral textile agreements, trade preference programs, and all other trade laws affecting textiles and apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The primary focus of the TAPP is to ensure the effective implementation of all trade enforcement activities involving textile or apparel articles with its principle focus to prevent circumvention of the requirements to obtain preferential trade treatment under free trade agreements and trade preference programs in order to avoid quotas or duties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the TAPP should be involved in supporting the negotiation of enforcement provisions of trade preference programs and free trade agreements affecting textiles and apparel articles;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the TAPP should conduct outreach to other Federal departments and agencies involved in overall trade policy, such as Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the TAPP should be involved in the development of policies and procedures that provide guidance to the port of entry of the textile and apparel articles, including training of TAPP officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the TAPP headquarters office is currently below its optimal staffing levels and the TAPP personnel efforts should be targeted at retaining senior staff and hiring new qualified personnel so that the division is brought up to optimal staffing levels, and these positions should be designated as not only policy positions, but enforcement positions as well;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the TAPP should implement special operations, Textile Product Verification Teams, and other actions under U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority to ensure enforcement of trade laws relating to imports of textile or apparel articles in a timely manner as concerns arise, particularly as such concerns relate to enforcement of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, and all other free trade agreements and trade preference programs, in order to prevent transshipments and origin fraud;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) the TAPP officials should coordinate and collaborate with foreign government counterparts to ensure effective enforcement of textile and apparel articles; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) U.S. Customs and Border Protection should ensure that seizures, detentions, special operations, and TPVTs remain the primary focus of its enforcement efforts relating to textile and apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES FOR U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTIONCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF CERTAIN TEXTILE OR APPAREL ARTICLES AND USE OF AMOUNTS FROM FINES, PENALTIES, AND FORFEITURES.

(a) Seizure and Forfeiture-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The following penalties shall apply with respect to an importation of a textile or apparel article:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) In the case of importation for which a trade preference has been claimed and with respect to which the textile or apparel article has been either misdescribed on entry as to country of origin or for which the importer does not verify actual country of origin, for purposes of avoiding a duty or other obligation to the United States Government, including any merchandise accompanied by documentation which indicates a false or fraudulent country of origin or source of textile or apparel articles, and any merchandise accompanied by a counterfeit visa, license, permit, bill of lading, or similar documentation that is subsequently used by the importer for entry of textile or apparel articles, the textile or apparel article shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture in accordance with United States trade laws and title 18, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) In the case of importation by an importer who provides false information with respect to the physical address of the importer or who does not meet the requirements of section 484(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1484 (a)(2)(B)), the textile or apparel article shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture in accordance with United States trade laws and title 18, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EXCEPTION- A clerical error shall not be considered a violation of paragraph (1) unless such error is part of a pattern of negligent conduct.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Use of Amounts From Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner, or the Secretary of the Treasury--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) shall use amounts from fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property for violations of any law regarding the import of textile or apparel articles enforced by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of the Treasury to pay for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) expenses directly related to investigations of, and civil or criminal enforcement proceedings on, violations of any law regarding the import of textile or apparel articles, including any necessary expenses for equipment, training, travel, witnesses, and contracting services directly related to such investigations or proceedings; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) expenses related to training and education for applicable revenue positions, including import specialists, international trade specialists, and auditors who participate in the enforcement of the export or import of textile or apparel articles through United States trade laws; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) may use amounts from fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property for violations of any law regarding the import of textile or apparel articles enforced by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner, or the Secretary of the Treasury to pay for a reward of not less than 20 percent of the amount of the fine, penalty, or forfeiture of property collected or $20,000, whichever is the lesser amount, to any person who furnishes information that leads to an arrest, conviction, civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property for any violation of any law regarding the import of textile or apparel articles enforced by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner, or the Secretary of the Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Amounts collected from fines, penalties, and forfeitures of property for violations of any law regarding the import of textile or apparel articles enforced by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner, or the Secretary of the Treasury to pay for expenses described in paragraph (1)(A) or a reward described in paragraph (1)(B) are in addition to amounts otherwise available for such purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. INCREASE IN CERTAIN TAPP POSITIONS AND IMPORT SPECIALIST POSITIONS AND BIENNIAL REVIEW OF STAFF LEVELS.

(a) Increase in Certain TAPP Positions- Not later than 180 days of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall ensure that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the Textile Operations Branch (or any successor or related Branch) of the TAPP shall consist of, at a minimum, one Branch Chief and six Operations Staff, of whom three Operations Staff shall be assigned to one of the CAFTA-DR countries for purposes of assisting U.S. Customs and Border Protection with verification of textile and apparel preferences claimed under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Textile/Apparel Policy & Programs Division (or any successor or related Branch) of the TAPP shall consist of, at a minimum, one Branch Chief and three Operations Staff and two textile trade analysts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the Quota Branch (or any successor or related Branch) of the TAPP shall consist of, at a minimum, one Branch Chief and four Operations Staff.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Increase in Textile and Apparel Trained Import Specialists- As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall certify, with respect to the 15 largest (by value of entries) United States ports of entry for textile or apparel articles, that Import Specialists who are assigned to such ports of entry are trained in fraud, trade preference verification, undervaluation, or other issues relating to imports of textile or apparel articles so that the number of such trained Import Specialist positions is not less than 150 percent of the number of trained Import Specialist positions in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Increase in Dedicated Textile and Apparel Import Specialists- As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall increase dedicated textile and import specialists by 25 percent at the 15 largest (by value of entries) United States ports of entry for textile or apparel articles over the number of such specialists in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Biennial Review of Staff Levels- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the co-chairs of the Congressional Textile Caucus a report on the staffing levels specified in this section, including a determination of whether or not there is need for additional staff to carry out the duties of the TAPP.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO THE TARIFF ACT OF 1930CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. SPECIAL PROVISIONS REGARDING CERTAIN VIOLATIONS RELATING TO IMPORT DOCUMENTATION.

(a) Publication of Names of Certain Violators- Section 592A(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1592a(a)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘is authorized to’ and inserting ‘shall’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the comma at the end the following: ‘, including for violations of quotas, duties, or trade preference programs’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) List of High-Risk Countries- Section 592A(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (1592(a)(b)(1)) is amended, in the first sentence--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘is authorized to’ and inserting ‘shall’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting ‘or duties or violate trade preference programs’ after ‘quotas’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. ELECTRONIC PREFERENCE VERIFICATION SYSTEM FOR ORIGIN OF TEXTILE OR APPAREL ARTICLES UNDER CAFTA-DR, NAFTA, AND OTHER FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS.

(a) Establishment- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Commissioner and in coordination with the head of the Office of Textiles and Apparel of the Department of Commerce, shall establish an electronic verification system for tracking textile or apparel articles imported or exported under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, the North American Free Trade Agreement, or any other free trade agreement to which the United States is a party, to ensure compliance with the respective requirements of such agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Implementation- The President shall seek to enter into consultations and agreements, as appropriate, with the government of each foreign country that is a party to an agreement referred to in subsection (a) for purposes of implementing the electronic verification system established under such subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Confidentiality- The electronic verification system established under subsection (a) shall ensure that proprietary information, such as information about supply chain participants, are coded so that only U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Office of Textiles and Apparel personnel can access such information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the President should seek to make the integration of the electronic verification system established under subsection (a) in future free trade agreements a priority in negotiations for such agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL NEW IMPORTER PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish a new importer program that directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to adjust bond amounts for new importers of textile and apparel goods based on the level of risk assessed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for protection of revenue of the Federal Government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requirements- The Commissioner shall ensure that, as part of the new importer program established under subsection (a), U.S. Customs and Border Protection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) develops risk assessment guidelines for new importers of textile and apparel imports;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) adjusts bond amounts for new importers in accordance with the risk assessment guidelines developed under paragraph (1);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) maintains a centralized database of new importers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ensures accuracy of required information provided to U.S. Customs and Border Protection by new importers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Bonding Authority- Section 623(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1623(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) In the case of importation of textile or apparel articles, by regulation or specific instruction require, or authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to require, the amount of the bond to include amounts equal to any duties, fees, or penalties estimated to be payable on such articles. For purposes of this paragraph, amounts equal to any penalties estimated to be payable on such articles shall be based on a risk assessment of the new importer carried out in accordance with section 203 of the Textile Security and Enforcement Act of 2011. Any person who violates this paragraph shall be liable for a civil penalty of $50,000 for each such violation.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Other Penalties- In addition to the penalties specified in paragraph (5) of section 623(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1623(b)), as added by subsection (c) of this section, for a violation of such paragraph, any person who violates any other customs law of the United States with respect to the importation of textile or apparel articles shall be subject to any applicable civil or criminal penalty, including seizure and forfeiture that may be imposed under such customs law, including section 592 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1592).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. NONRESIDENT IMPORTER DECLARATION PROGRAM FOR TEXTILE OR APPAREL ARTICLES.

(a) Establishment of Program- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish and maintain a nonresident importer declaration program with respect to the importation of textile or apparel articles. The program shall require nonresident importers of textile or apparel articles to provide the information required under subsection (b) and declare the information required under subsection (c), and require that such information accompany the entry summary documentation for such textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Information Required- The Commissioner shall require the following information to be submitted by any nonresident importer seeking to import textile or apparel articles:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) An identification of a resident agent in the State in which the port of entry is located who is authorized to accept service of process against the nonresident importer in connection with the importation of the textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A certification that the resident agent described in paragraph (1) has assets in the United States in sufficient amounts for the purpose of ensuring the payment of any additional loss of revenue not covered by any surety bond or for any civil penalties levied by the Federal Government in connection with the importation of the textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A copy of the commercial invoice accompanying the shipment of the textile or apparel articles, including the name, address, and contact information for each person in the transaction, such as the trading house, the freight forwarder, and the ultimate purchaser of the goods.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Declarations Required- Pursuant to procedures prescribed by the Commissioner, any nonresident importer seeking to import textile or apparel articles shall declare the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The nonresident importer has secured a bond in connection with the importation of the textile or apparel articles as required by paragraph (5) of section 623(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1623(b)) (as added by section 203(c) of this Act).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The nonresident importer has established a power of attorney in connection with the importation of the textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Authority- A resident agent under this section shall accept service of process on behalf of the nonresident importer of such agent for the purpose of duties, penalties, or other fines issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Commissioner if the Secretary or the Commissioner is unable to collect duties, penalties, or other fines from such nonresident importer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Penalties-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person to import into the United States any textile or apparel article in violation of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CIVIL PENALTIES- Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be liable for a civil penalty of $50,000 for each such violation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) OTHER PENALTIES- In addition to the penalties specified in paragraph (2), any violation of this section that violates any other customs or trade law of the United States shall be subject to any applicable civil and criminal penalty, including seizure and forfeiture, that may be imposed under such customs or trade law or title 18, United States Code, with respect to the importation of textile or apparel articles.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIER REGISTRYCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIER REGISTRY.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the Commissioner and in coordination with the head of the Office of Textiles and Apparel of the Department of Commerce, shall establish an electronic Textile and Apparel Manufacturing Supplier Registry pilot program to serve as a centralized database of United States producers and manufacturers of thread, yarn, fabric, and apparel that supply products to companies in the United States, countries that are parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and other free trade or preference regions in the Western Hemisphere.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--IMPLEMENTATION REPORTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 401. IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the co-chairs of the Congressional Textile Caucus a report on the implementation of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink