Washington Newsline

Sep 04

1

Office Closed September 5th

By Lorrie Frost | Gemini News, Industry News, Member News, Public News, Washington Newsline | No Comments

We will be closed Monday September 5th in observance of Labor Day.

Aug 27

0

Administration Launches Focused Review of Travel Goods Eligibility for All Developing Countries

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

Following strong lobbying from Gemini Shippers Group and a number of other stakeholders in the business community, Congress, and the diplomatic community, the Administration has launched a focused review to determine if 28 categories of travel goods can be designated for duty free access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The review follows an earlier process, in which FASA/Gemini participated, that resulted the designation of these products for least developed developing countries under the GSP and African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programs. The process launched this week, if successful, could result in duty free treatment for the remaining GSP eligible countries. Under the process, the Administration will receive two sets of comments in October, and hold a hearing on October 18. The Administration has pledged to make a decision by January 2017. Gemini Shippers Group will participate in this process.

Aug 26

0

Administration Solicits Comments for Notorious Markets

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting assistance from the public in identifying Internet-based and physical counterfeit markets located outside the United States that should be included in the 2016 Notorious Markets List. This list, which the U.S. government has published since February 2011, identifies “select online and physical marketplaces that reportedly engage in or facilitate substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting.” FASA/Gemini companies who are combatting counterfeits in online or physical markets around the world should contact FASA/Gemini if they would like to report these problems to the USTR. Deadline for submission of comments is October 7.

Aug 23

0

Join Us for September 21-22 TPP Washington, DC Fly-In

By Ken Obrien | Public News, Washington Newsline | No Comments

FASA/Gemini will join the TPP Apparel Coalition to descend on Washington, DC September 21-22 to advocate for Congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. Please complete the fly-in registration form and return to FASA’s Nate Herman as soon as possible, but no later than August 26, 2016. Your participation is urgently needed to make sure Congress hears from our industry on why this agreement needs to be approved this year and how our industry – and its workers and customers – can benefit. The opponents of TPP and the opponents of trade are out in force, and are making their voices known. If they succeed, TPP won’t be considered for the foreseeable future. Members of Congress need to hear from you before they make a decision on the TPP bill, expected to be considered later this year. This will be the last opportunity to meet with members of Congress in Washington before they leave for the November elections. If approved, TPP will allow immediate duty-free access to the U.S. for fashion accessories from Vietnam, and the 10 other TPP member countries, under easy-to-use rules. This is our last and best chance – please join us!

TPP-Fly-In-Registration-Form

TPP Back to School Letter Dear MoC

Aug 12

0

Gemini Shippers Group Supports Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

Gemini Shippers Group joined nearly thirty other associations in a series of joint letters to U.S. trading partners urging them to quickly ratify and implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Letters were sent to free trade agreement (FTA) partners (see sample) and non-FTA (see sample here). The TFA – a groundbreaking agreement to cut red tape and bottlenecks at the borders – is expected to increase global merchandise exports by $1 trillion annually, creating more than 20 million jobs. The agreement can only enter into effect once 109 World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries have ratified it. Currently, only 90 countries have completed their domestic ratification requirements, although many more have initiated the process. It is our hope that the letter will signal strong support from the U.S. business community for countries, especially FTA partners, to pick up the pace.

Aug 12

0

International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Update

By Ken Obrien | Gemini News, Washington Newsline | No Comments

According to a Journal of Commerce article today, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has put a hold on early contract extension discussions with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The parties had started initial discussions late last year on the potential for a contract extension. According to a statement from ILA Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett, all of the issues with the current contract must be resolved before the ILA will begin discussions on a new contract. The current East Coast/Gulf Coast contract expires September 2018.

Aug 12

0

Administration Takes Next Step to Advance TPP

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

On Friday, August 12, the Obama Administration submitted a draft statement of administrative action (SAA) on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to the Congress. The move is the latest step that needs to be taken to comply with the terms and timeline of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which governs how Congress considers free trade agreements, like the TPP. At least 30 calendar days before submitting the actual implementing bill for the TPP, the Administration needs to provide a draft SAA, outlining the various significant administration actions that need to be taken to implement the TPP. The last formal step taken before today was the submission of the economic analysis in May by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). Today’s submission of the draft SAA means that the earliest the TPP Implementing Bill can be submitted to the Congress is Sunday, September 11. Conventional wisdom suggests, however, that no implementing bill will be submitted until there is more certainty that a vote can prevail.

Aug 10

0

Gemini Shippers Group Urges Full Designation of Travel Goods for GSP Program

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

Gemini Shippers Group sent a letter on August 4 to President Barack Obama urging the designation of 28 categories of travel goods to be eligible for duty free access to the United States from all Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligible countries. The letter follows on to a proclamation issued by the Obama Administration in late June designated these travel goods as eligible for duty free status, but only when imported from countries in Africa or a handful of least developed developing countries. The early decision precludes countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and India from exporting travel goods duty free to the United States. More than 100 other companies, associations, organizations and brands signed on to the August 4 letter. Gemini signed a similar letter in March following testimony delivered earlier in the year.

Aug 10

0

Gemini Backs Early Talks to Extend the West Coast Port Contract

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

On August 8th, Gemini Shippers Group joined more than 100 other trade associations and organizations in urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Alliance to begin discussions soon to extend the current management/labor contract or to negotiate a new long-term contract. The letter emphasizes continuous dialogue as a way to avoid the disastrous port congestion during the last negotiations.

August 8, 2016

Mr. James McKenna

Chairman and CEO

Pacific Maritime Association

Mr. Robert McEllrath

President

International Longshore and Warehouse Union

Dear Mr. McEllrath and Mr. McKenna:

The undersigned organizations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders are writing to follow up on our March 15th letter encouraging the ILWU and PMA to begin early discussions on either a contract extension or a new contract. We strongly believe a contract extension is critical to ensure stability and predictability at West Coast ports.

You have both recognized the negative economic impact of disruptions and slowdowns that occurred during the last negotiations. We believe starting negotiations early will help avoid a repeat of that experience. As we have previously stated, we believe a new model for future negotiations needs to be developed, one which stresses early and continuous dialogue. This should include a pledge by both parties to ensure there are no disruptions to cargo movement during negotiations. Maintaining the arbitration mechanisms in the existing contract for the duration of the negotiations, even if the contract expires before a final agreement is reached, is critical to that process.

We applaud your organizations for considering an extension of the current contract. However, we now call upon you to agree to the requests and begin the negotiations. We fully believe that agreeing early to a contract extension or a new long-term contract will provide the stability and predictability that is needed for global competitiveness that will benefit all stakeholders (labor, terminal operators, cargo owners, etc.) who rely on West Coast ports.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Jun 22

0

New California Proposition 65 Notices Issued

By Ken Obrien | Washington Newsline | No Comments

Professional California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) litigants – the Consumer Advocacy Group, MultiCraft Imports, Anthony Ferreiro, Susan Davia, Sara Hammond, and John Moore – issued new “60-day” notices in the past few weeks alleging that brands and retailers sold Travel Accessories (Notice 1), ID Holders (Notices 1 & 2), Key Chains (Notices 1 & 2), Apparel Hangers (Notices 1 & 2), Aprons (Notice 1), Performance Gear (Notice 1), Rainwear (Notices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6), Jackets (Notice 1), and Women’s Sandals (Notice 1) in California that contained lead, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP), Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and/or di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in violation of California’s Prop 65. The notices serve as intent to bring lawsuits against the recipients that sold these products. FASA/Gemini has included these notices in the FASA/Gemini Prop 65 “60 Day Notice” running list. FASA/Gemini will continue to update this list on a regular basis to help catalog the effects of this law on the travel goods industry. For more information on Prop 65, please contact FASA/Gemini’s Nate Herman at 202-853-9351.

Washington Newsline

Office Closed September 5th

Administration Launches Focused Review of Travel Goods Eligibility for All Developing Countries

Administration Solicits Comments for Notorious Markets

Join Us for September 21-22 TPP Washington, DC Fly-In

Gemini Shippers Group Supports Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)

International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Update

Administration Takes Next Step to Advance TPP

Gemini Shippers Group Urges Full Designation of Travel Goods for GSP Program

Gemini Backs Early Talks to Extend the West Coast Port Contract

New California Proposition 65 Notices Issued

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