Grassley, Neal Call on U.S. International Trade Commission to Identify Imported Goods Related to COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) called for an expedited investigation to identify the products that may be needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission Chairman David Johanson, the lawmakers requested the Commission produce a report by April 30 detailing the tariff classifications and applicable rates of duty associated with the products to assist the Committees in their work to combat the coronavirus emergency.

 

“As we grapple with the challenges presented by the novel coronavirus, we are keenly aware that our challenges are being severely exacerbated by disruptions and deficiencies in our supply of equipment, inputs, and substances needed for treating and otherwise responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Grassley and Neal wrote. “We ask that the Commission provide a report to the Committees and the USTR that identifies imported goods related to the response to COVID-19, including their source countries, tariff classifications, and applicable rates of duty so as to assist the Committees and USTR in proposing or taking appropriate and responsive actions.”

 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.