Source: http://law2.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1332&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 04:20:48+00:00

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It shall be the duty of the commission to investigate the administration and fiscal and industrial effects of the customs laws of this country, the relations between the rates of duty on raw materials and finished or partly finished products, the effects of ad valorem and specific duties and of compound specific and ad valorem duties, all questions relative to the arrangement of schedules and classification of articles in the several schedules of the customs law, and, in general, to investigate the operation of customs laws, including their relation to the Federal revenues, their effect upon the industries and labor of the country, and to submit reports of its investigations as hereafter provided.
The commission shall have power to investigate the tariff relations between the United States and foreign countries, commercial treaties, preferential provisions, economic alliances, the effect of export bounties and preferential transportation rates, the volume of importations compared with domestic production and consumption, and conditions, causes, and effects relating to competition of foreign industries with those of the United States, including dumping and cost of production.
The commission shall have power to investigate the Paris Economy Pact and similar organizations and arrangements in Europe.
(6) Ascertain all other facts which will show the differences in or which affect competition between articles of the United States and imported articles in the principal markets of the United States.
(2) The term "import cost" means the transaction value of the imported merchandise determined in accordance with section 1401a(b) of this title plus, when not included in the transaction value, all necessary expenses, exclusive of customs duties, of bringing such merchandise to the United States.
The commission shall put at the disposal of the President of the United States, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, whenever requested, all information at its command, and shall make such investigations and reports as may be requested by the President or by either of said committees or by either branch of the Congress. However, the Commission may not release information which the Commission considers to be confidential business information unless the party submitting the confidential business information had notice, at the time of submission, that such information would be released by the Commission, or such party subsequently consents to the release of the information. The Commission shall report to Congress on the first Monday of December of each year after June 17, 1930, a statement of the methods adopted and all expenses incurred, a summary of all reports made during the year, and a list of all votes taken by the commission during the year, showing those commissioners voting in the affirmative and the negative on each vote and those commissioners not voting on each vote and the reasons for not voting. Each such annual report shall include a list of all complaints filed under section 1337 of this title during the year for which such report is being made, the date on which each such complaint was filed, and the action taken thereon, and the status of all investigations conducted by the commission under such section during such year and the date on which each such investigation was commenced.
Subsec. (f) directed the Tariff Commission to ascertain the cost of crude petroleum during three years preceding 1930.
Provisions similar to subsecs. (a), (b), and (g) were contained in act Sept. 8, 1916, ch. 463, §§702 to 704, 39 Stat. 796 . Those sections were superseded by section 332 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section.
Provisions similar to those in subdiv. (c) were contained in act Sept. 8, 1916, ch. 463, §708, 39 Stat. 798 . That section was superseded by section 332 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section.
Provisions similar to subdivs. (d) and (e) were contained in act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title III, §318, 42 Stat. 947 . Section 318 of act 1922 was superseded by section 332 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of said 1930 act.
Act Oct. 3, 1913, ch. 16, §IV, R, 38 Stat. 201 , directed President to ascertain certain facts and report to Congress when imports amounted to less than 5 per centum of domestic consumption, prior to repeal by act Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title III, §321, 42 Stat. 947 .
1988-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–647 substituted "report to Congress on the first" for "report to Congress. on the first".
Pub. L. 100–418 substituted ". However, the Commission may not release information which the Commission considers to be confidential business information unless the party submitting the confidential business information had notice, at the time of submission, that such information would be released by the Commission, or such party subsequently consents to the release of the information. The Commission shall report to Congress." for ", and shall report to Congress".
1979-Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 96–39 substituted "the transaction value of the imported merchandise determined in accordance with section 1401a(b) of this title plus, when not included in the transaction value, all necessary expenses, exclusive of customs duties, of bringing such merchandise to the United States" for "the price at which an article is freely offered for sale in the ordinary course of trade in the usual wholesale quantities for exportation to the United States plus, when not included in such price, all necessary expenses, exclusive of customs duties, of bringing such imported article to the United States".
1975-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 93–618 substituted "a summary of all reports made during the year, and a list of all votes taken by the commission during the year, showing those commissioners voting in the affirmative and the negative on each vote and those commissioners not voting on each vote and the reasons for not voting" for "and a summary of all reports made during the year", and inserted last sentence relating to complaints included in annual reports.
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–39 effective July 1, 1980, see section 204(a) of Pub. L. 96–39, set out as a note under section 1401a of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 93–618 effective on 90th day after Jan. 3, 1975, see section 341(c) of Pub. L. 93–618, set out as a note under section 1337 of this title.
For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions in subsec. (g) relating to an annual report to Congress on the first Monday of December of each year, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and page 194 of House Document No. 103–7.
Functions of President under subsec. (g) of this section regarding reports by United States International Trade Commission to President delegated to United States Trade Representative, see section 5–301 of Ex. Ord. No. 12661, Dec. 27, 1988, 54 F.R. 779, set out as a note under section 2901 of this title.
"This Act may be cited as the 'American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016'.
"SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE NEED FOR A MISCELLANEOUS TARIFF BILL.
"(1) As of the date of the enactment of this Act [May 20, 2016], the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States [see Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of this title] imposes duties on imported goods for which there is no domestic availability or insufficient domestic availability.
"(2) The imposition of duties on such goods creates artificial distortions in the economy of the United States that negatively affect United States manufacturers and consumers.
"(3) The manufacturing competitiveness of the United States around the world will be enhanced if Congress regularly and predictably updates the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to suspend or reduce duties on such goods.
"(4) Creating and maintaining an open and transparent process for consideration of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions builds confidence that the process is fair, open to all, and free of abuse.
"(5) Complying with the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in particular with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, is essential to fostering and maintaining confidence in the process for considering a miscellaneous tariff bill.
"(B) congressionally directed spending items or limited tax benefits within the meaning of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
"(ii) the information identified in clause (i) has been available on a publicly accessible congressional website in a searchable format at least 48 hours before the vote on the motion to proceed to the miscellaneous tariff bill or the vote on the adoption of a report of a committee of conference in connection with the miscellaneous tariff bill, as the case may be.
"(8) When the process set forth under paragraph (7) is followed, it is consistent with the letter and intent of the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Senate and other related guidance.
"(b) Sense of Congress.-It is the sense of Congress that, to remove the competitive disadvantage to United States manufacturers and consumers and to promote the competitiveness of United States manufacturers, Congress should, not later than 90 days after the United States International Trade Commission issues a final report on petitions for duty suspensions and reductions under section 3(b)(3)(E), consider a miscellaneous tariff bill.
"SEC. 3. PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS FOR DUTY SUSPENSIONS AND REDUCTIONS.
"(a) Purpose.-It is the purpose of this section to establish a process for the submission and consideration of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions.
"(B) Commission disclosure forms with respect to such duty suspensions and reductions.
"(A) The name and address of the petitioner.
"(B) A statement as to whether the petition provides for an extension of an existing duty suspension or reduction or provides for a new duty suspension or reduction.
"(C) A certification that the petitioner is a likely beneficiary of the proposed duty suspension or reduction.
"(D) An article description for the proposed duty suspension or reduction to be included in the amendment to subchapter II of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
"(iii) a copy of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry summary indicating where the article is classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
"(F) A brief and general description of the article.
"(G) A brief description of the industry in the United States that uses the article.
"(H) An estimate of the total value, in United States dollars, of imports of the article for each of the 5 calendar years after the calendar year in which the petition is filed, including an estimate of the total value of such imports by the person who submits the petition and by any other importers, if available.
"(I) The name of each person that imports the article, if available.
"(J) A description of any domestic production of the article, if available.
"(K) Such other information as the Commission may require.
"(ii) the Commission disclosure forms with respect to such duty suspensions and reductions submitted under paragraph (1)(B).
"(II) the Commission disclosure forms with respect to such duty suspensions and reductions published by the Commission under subparagraph (A)(ii).
"(ii) Publication of comments.-The Commission shall publish a notice in the Federal Register directing members of the public to a publicly available Internet website of the Commission to view the comments of the members of the public received under clause (i).
"(I) The heading or subheading of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States in which each article that is the subject of the petition for the duty suspension or reduction is classified, as identified by documentation supplied to the Commission, and any supporting information obtained by the Commission.
"(II) A determination of whether or not domestic production of the article that is the subject of the petition for the duty suspension or reduction exists, taking into account the report of the Secretary of Commerce under subsection (c)(1), and, if such production exists, whether or not a domestic producer of the article objects to the duty suspension or reduction.
"(III) Any technical changes to the article description of the article that is the subject of the petition for the duty suspension or reduction that are necessary for purposes of administration when the article is presented for importation, taking into account the report of the Secretary of Commerce under subsection (c)(2).
"(IV) An estimate of the amount of loss in revenue to the United States that would no longer be collected if the duty suspension or reduction takes effect.
"(V) A determination of whether or not the duty suspension or reduction is available to any person that imports the article that is the subject of the duty suspension or reduction.
"(VI) The likely beneficiaries of each duty suspension or reduction, including whether the petitioner is a likely beneficiary.
"(I) A list of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions that meet the requirements of this Act without modifications.
"(II) A list of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions for which the Commission recommends technical corrections in order to meet the requirements of this Act, with the correction specified.
"(III) A list of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions for which the Commission recommends modifications to the amount of the duty suspension or reduction that is the subject of the petition to comply with the requirements of this Act, with the modification specified.
"(IV) A list of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions for which the Commission recommends modifications to the scope of the articles that are the subject of such petitions to address objections by domestic producers to such petitions, with the modifications specified.
"(aa) Petitions for duty suspensions and reductions that the Commission has determined do not contain the information required under paragraph (2).
"(bb) Petitions for duty suspensions and reductions with respect to which the Commission has determined the petitioner is not a likely beneficiary.
"(VI) A list of petitions for duty suspensions and reductions that the Commission does not recommend for inclusion in a miscellaneous tariff bill, other than petitions specified in subclause (V).
"(D) Additional information.-The Commission shall consider any information submitted by the appropriate congressional committees to the Commission relating to moving a petition that is contained in the list referred to in subclause (VI) of subparagraph (C)(ii) of the preliminary report submitted under subparagraph (C) to a list referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV) of subparagraph (C)(ii).
"(III) the duty suspension or reduction is available to any person importing the article that is the subject of the duty suspension or reduction.
"(iii) is for an article for which there is domestic production.
"(G) Estimates by the congressional budget office.-For purposes of reflecting the estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, the appropriate congressional committees shall adjust the amount of a duty suspension or reduction in a miscellaneous tariff bill only to assure that the estimated loss in revenue to the United States from that duty suspension or reduction, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office, does not exceed $500,000 in a calendar year during which the duty suspension or reduction would be in effect.
"(H) Prohibitions.-Any petitions for duty suspensions or reductions that are contained in any list referred to in subclause (V) or (VI) of subparagraph (C)(ii), as updated as appropriate under subparagraph (E)(i), or have not otherwise undergone the processes required by this Act shall not be included in a miscellaneous tariff bill.
"(4) Confidential business information.-The procedures concerning the release of confidential business information set forth in section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) shall apply with respect to information received by the Commission in posting petitions on a publicly available website of the Commission and in preparing reports under this subsection.
"(5) Procedures.-The Commission shall prescribe and publish in the Federal Register and on a publicly available Internet website of the Commission procedures to be complied with by members of the public submitting petitions for duty suspensions and reductions under subsection (b)(1)(A).
"(1) A determination of whether or not domestic production of the article that is the subject of the petition for the duty suspension or reduction exists and, if such production exists, whether or not a domestic producer of the article objects to the petition for the duty suspension or reduction.
"(2) Any technical changes to the article description that are necessary for purposes of administration when articles are presented for importation.
"SEC. 4. REPORT ON EFFECTS OF DUTY SUSPENSIONS AND REDUCTIONS ON UNITED STATES ECONOMY.
"(a) In General.-Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of a miscellaneous tariff bill, the Commission shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the effects on the United States economy of duty suspensions and reductions enacted pursuant to this Act, including a broad assessment of the economic effects of such duty suspensions and reductions on producers, purchasers, and consumers in the United States, using case studies describing such effects on selected industries or by type of article as available data permit.
"(b) Recommendations.-The Commission shall also solicit and append to the report required under subsection (a) recommendations with respect to those domestic industry sectors or specific domestic industries that might benefit from permanent duty suspensions and reductions, either through a unilateral action of the United States or though [sic] negotiations for reciprocal tariff agreements, with a particular focus on inequities created by tariff inversions.
"(c) Form of Report.-Each report required by this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
"SEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE.
"(1) In general.-The chair of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives shall include a list of limited tariff benefits contained in a miscellaneous tariff bill in the report to accompany such a bill or, in a case where a miscellaneous tariff bill is not reported by the committee, shall cause such a list to be printed in the appropriate section of the Congressional Record.
"(2) Limited tariff benefit defined.-For purposes of this subsection and consistent with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, as in effect during the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, the term 'limited tariff benefit' means a provision modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States [see Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of this title] in a manner that benefits 10 or fewer entities.
"(B) the information identified in subparagraph (A) has been available on a publicly accessible congressional website in a searchable format at least 48 hours before the vote on the motion to proceed to the miscellaneous tariff bill or the vote on the adoption of a report of a committee of conference in connection with the miscellaneous tariff bill, as the case may be.
"(2) Satisfaction of senate rules.-Publication of a certification in the Congressional Record under paragraph (1) satisfies the certification requirements of paragraphs 1(a), 2(a), and 3(a) of rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
"(3) Limited tariff benefit defined.-For purposes of this subsection and consistent with rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as in effect during the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, the term 'limited tariff benefit' means a provision modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States in a manner that benefits 10 or fewer entities.
"(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.
"SEC. 6. JUDICIAL REVIEW PRECLUDED.
"The exercise of functions under this Act shall not be subject to judicial review.
"(1) Appropriate congressional committees.-The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
"(2) Commission.-The term 'Commission' means the United States International Trade Commission.
"(A) The contact information for any known importers of the article to which the proposed duty suspension or reduction would apply.
"(B) A certification by the petitioner that the proposed duty suspension or reduction is available to any person importing the article to which the proposed duty suspension or reduction would apply.
"(4) Domestic producer.-The term 'domestic producer' means a person that demonstrates production, or imminent production, in the United States of an article that is identical to, or like or directly competitive with, an article to which a petition for a duty suspension or reduction would apply.
"(5) Domestic production.-The term 'domestic production' means the production of an article that is identical to, or like or directly competitive with, an article to which a petition for a duty suspension or reduction would apply, for which a domestic producer has demonstrated production, or imminent production, in the United States.
"(B) provides for a new temporary duty suspension or reduction on an article under that subchapter.
"(7) Likely beneficiary.-The term 'likely beneficiary' means an individual or entity likely to utilize, or benefit directly from the utilization of, an article that is the subject of a petition for a duty suspension or reduction.
"(8) Member of congress.-The term 'Member of Congress' means a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, Congress.
"(C) otherwise meet the applicable requirements of this Act."
Pub. L. 95–106, §5, Aug. 17, 1977, 91 Stat. 869 , directed International Trade Commission to make, for each calendar year ending before Jan. 1, 1981, reports with respect to synthetic organic chemicals similar in scope to reports made with respect to such chemicals for calendar year 1976.
Act Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1213, title I, §101, 68 Stat. 1136 , as amended Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 894, 70 Stat. 955 ; May 19, 1958, Pub. L. 85–418, §3, 72 Stat. 120 , provided for a complete study by the Tariff Commission for the purpose of clarifying and simplifying the tariff classification, with a report to go to the President and to the chairmen of the appropriate committees of Congress no later than Jan. 1, 1959. See section 1332 of this title.

References: §708
 §318
 §321
 §5
 §101
 §3