August 13,2020

Grassley, Neal, Brady Request USITC Further Investigate COVID-Related Products and Supply Chains

WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), House Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Chairman Jason E. Kearns requesting that the Commission conduct a follow-on investigation to provide more detailed information on industry sectors producing COVID-related goods and key products within those sectors. The lawmakers’ new request reflects the active interest among members of Congress to address U.S. supply chain resilience, especially for medical products, and follows a report the Committees asked the USITC to produce earlier this year to identify imports of medical supplies and products relevant to the response to COVID-19.

 

“In light of the Commission’s recent investigation and report, the ongoing pandemic, and the persistent challenges in meeting supply for these critical products, we are writing today to request that the Commission conduct a follow-on investigation and prepare a report under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930,” Grassley, Brady and Neal wrote. “The report should build on the earlier investigation and report by providing more detailed information on COVID-related industry sectors and particular products identified in the Commission’s previous report.”

 

Specifically, the lawmakers requested: a brief overview of key U.S. industry sectors producing COVID-related goods; more detailed case studies on key products within each relevant industry sector, such as N95 respirators, ventilators, vaccines, and COVID-19 test kits; additional details regarding U.S. industry, market, and trade; and more information on supply chain challenges and constraints.

 

“We request that the Commission deliver its report no later than December 15, 2020,” the lawmakers concluded. “As we intend to make the report available to the public, the report should not include confidential business information.”

 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.