In January a U.S. investigation found that Vietnam was manipulating its currency and using illegally harvested timber in products. An April review by the Treasury Department countered the January Report finding insufficient evidence of currency manipulation. With Vietnam emerging as a major sourcing option due to Section 301 Tariffs on Chinese products, similar tariffs on Vietnamese products would harm the industry and lead to price increases. As the Biden Administration weighs its options in response to Vietnam violations, SFIA joined other leading business interests on a letter to United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai opposing implementation of Section 301 tariffs on Vietnamese imports in response to the violations. SFIA will continue to urge the Administration to seek alternative remedies over tariffs for all trade violations.

For additional information please contact Bill Sells bsells@sfia.org SFIA SVP for Government and Public Affairs

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The U.S. recently imposed sanctions that prohibit Americans from selling goods and equipment to ‘blacklisted’ companies engaged in forced labor. A summary of the alleged violations and U.S. actions can be found here https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/.

In response to the U.S. blacklisting of Chinese companies, China announced it will retaliate to protect Chinese companies interests. The U.S. has already initiated financial and trade penalties over treatment of Muslims in the Uyghur region. China has not outlined the measures it will take but in the past it has imposed sanctions to deny visas and impose curbs on financial links. https://www.dw.com/en/china-vows-retaliation-after-us-expands-trade-blacklist/a-58230391

The Senate recently passed the Trade Act of 2021, legislation to renew MTB, reauthorize GSP and re-open the Chine Tariff Exclusion process; all SFIA trade priorities.

U.S. businesses and consumers continue to bear the brunt of tariffs on consumer goods imported from China . U.S. Customs and Border Patrol estimates it has collected $92B in tariffs on Chinese-made products since the tariffs were implemented. The Senate has passed legislation to re-open the Tariff Exclusion process and SFIA joined other business’s, in a letter asking House of Representatives leaders to follow suit and pass legislation to re-open the exclusion process.

Please find the letter to House Leaders requesting the re-opening of the tariff exclusion process, here.

When the Supreme Court of the United States votes on an issue brought to them… it’s a big deal. When they vote unanimously 9–0, it’s a REALLY big deal. Unfortunately, the result of the decision is as clear as mud.

Last week, SCOTUS upheld the lower court’s decision that the NCAA’s “education-related benefits” for athletes violates anti-trust laws. In everyday jargon, that means athletes should be allowed to earn more than just scholarships. …

Health clubs, fitness studios and gyms were hit hard by the COVID restrictions on capacity and state rules on ‘safe’ activities. With nearly 3 million jobs lost in U.S. health clubs, many gyms and studios were forced to seek small business assistance (if they even qualified), file for bankruptcy (as was the case for 24 Hour Fitness and Gold’s) or shutter completely. …

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled unanimously against the NCAA in a dispute over limits placed on education-related compensation that student-athletes can receive.

The decision, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, clears the way for schools to provide more school-related perks to students like computers, musical instruments and internships.

Read the full story here: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/559383-supreme-court-rules-against-ncaa-in-dispute-over-student-athlete

June 10, 2021 Washington, DC — The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued updated guidelines for employers to protect worker health as the U.S. emerges from COVID. Under the revised guidelines, vaccinated workers can return to normal work routines without the use of the additional measures to protect them from the virus. Unvaccinated employees should continue to follow the previous workplace guidelines and states can have stricter standards for the workplace.

Please find the detailed OSHA release here

On June 9th, the U.S. Senate approved the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S.1260), legislation addressing trade with China that focused on human rights, aggressive Chinese trade policies, U.S. competitiveness and national security threats. The bill re-instates expired exclusions from China tariffs and re-opens the China tariff exclusion process; renews the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) and reauthorizes the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program; combined these tariff relief opportunities provide more than $100 million in tariff relief to the industry annually. Attention now moves to the House of Representatives, where several bills are under consideration with votes expected on individual…