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Industry Group Applauds Introduction of ENFORCE Act of 2010
Aug. 6, 2010 Members of the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) and its Customs Task Force applauded the introduction this week of the ENFORCE Act of 2010 — legislation to end the circumvention and evasion of customs duties — by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
The ENFORCE Act of 2010 is designed to combat the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duty orders while enforcing the existing trade remedy laws. In their introductory remarks, the Senators explained that continued customs fraud activities undermine the effectiveness of existing orders in which the imports have injured U.S. companies and workers. The newly introduced Act is designed to allow both the Commerce Department and Customs Service to take appropriate actions within their jurisdiction to end these practices.
“All of us in the manufacturing sector and especially those of us in the steel pipe and tube industry recognize that there is a serious problem with customs fraud and duty evasion,” said Dave Seeger, President of John Maneely Co. (Atlas Tube and Wheatland Tube) and Chairman of the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports. “The introduction of the ENFORCE Act of 2010 is an important first step and sends a strong message that the Congress is committed to enforcement of the trade laws. We applaud Senator Wyden and Senator Snowe on their leadership and look forward to working with them to enact this legislation.”
Formed in early 2010, CPTI’s Customs Task Force has continued its work with the Congress to ensure that action is taken to end customs fraud. “Our task force commends Senator Wyden and Senator Snowe for their vision and leadership on this issue and we are committed to working with them to ensure that this legislation is given prompt attention,” said Roger B. Schagrin, Executive Director and General Counsel of the CPTI.
CPTI’s Customs Task Force estimates that due to duty evasion and fraud an estimated $6-7 million in duties have been lost in the collection process on imports of certain pipe and tube products from China. While these imports have arrived at the major U.S. seaports, an overwhelming amount of imports have entered at West Coast seaports, including ports in California.
The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) has members in 28 states with over 25,000 employees nationwide.