Hatch Applauds Signing of Tariff Bill

Utah Senator Says, MTB Bill, “…A great example of how both parties feel about relieving Americans from the burdens of job-killing tariffs.”

Hatch Speaks on Senate Floor on Signing of Legislation to Support American Manufacturers

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) applauded the recent signing of H.R. 4318, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) Act of 2017. Hatch introduced this legislation along with Ranking Member Wyden (D-Ore.), House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-Mass.) earlier this year.

“The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill was designed to help both importers and producers by suspending or reducing burdensome tariffs that unnecessarily increase manufacturing and operating costs for American companies,” Hatch said on the Senate floor. “The passage of the MTB, in conjunction with the successful implementation of tax reform, will continue to expand the American workforce, improve the American economy, and keep America competitive.”

Hatch’s full remarks are below:

Senator Wyden and I introduced this bill on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, and it passed unanimously—a great example of how both parties feel about relieving Americans from the burdens of job-killing tariffs.

The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill was designed to help both importers and producers by suspending or reducing burdensome tariffs that unnecessarily increase manufacturing and operating costs for American companies.

A miscellaneous tariff bill has not been enacted since 2010, and our businesses and manufacturers have been forced to wait too long for Congress to act. I am pleased that we were finally able to end that wait. I am also pleased to report that this is the first MTB to have been enacted under the new process set out in the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016.

This new process was crafted to provide a robust consultation that is consistent with both House and Senate rules, that would be transparent and open to all. The International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce vetted each petition to determine eligibility based on this new criteria. Each of these agencies made great efforts to evaluate each one of the thousands of petitions against the high standards set out in the AMCA, and I would like to thank all of the staff that worked diligently to do so.

Senator Wyden and I also worked closely with our colleagues throughout this entire process to resolve any concerns that they may have had with any of the included products. In the end, I think we crafted a bill that we can all be proud of because it will help American businesses compete around the world.

The passage of the MTB, in conjunction with the successful implementation of tax reform, will continue to expand the American workforce, improve the American economy, and keep America competitive.

###

Next Article Previous Article