Billions in Chinese Imports Dodge Inspection & Taxes, Now What?
Rethink Trade
[{'start': '910.208', 'end': '912.544', 'text': "A GATEWAY FOR PURCHASED   ONLINE TO COME IN THAT ARE   COUNTERFEIT, THAT ARE UNSAFE   AND THE LACK OF INSPECTION OR   EVEN INFORMATION TO TRIGGER   INSPECTION RACES AND ALL OF   US OFTEN SAFETY ISSUES SO   IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE   CONGRESSWOMAN JAN SCHAKOWSKI.  THE CHAIRWOMAN HAS BEEN ON   TOP OF THESE THREATS AND HAS   BEEN A PARTNER WITH   CONGRESSMAN BLUMENHAUER ON   HOW TO RETHINK TRADE   >> TWO YEARS AGO ALMOST TO   THE DATE THE CONSUMER   PROTECTION AND COMMERCE   SUBCOMMITTEE HELD A HEARING   TITLE BUYER BEWARE: FAKE AND   UNSAFE PRODUCTS ONLINE   MARKETPLACES.  AND WHEN ... AND I ON YOU?  WHEN WE BEGAN PLANNING THIS   HEARING I HAD TO CLEAR GOALS   IN MIND.  ONE WAS TO STRENGTHEN THE   EXISTING CONSUMER PRODUCTS   SAFETY COMMISSION'S   RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US   CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION   IN ORDER TO KEEP COUNTERFEIT   AND UNSAFE PRODUCTS FROM   ENTERINGOUR COUNTRY .  AND THE SECOND WAS TO EXAMINE   WHAT TOOLS THE FEDERAL TRADE   COMMISSION NEEDS TO COMBAT   THE PROLIFERATION OF FAKE AND   COUNTERFEIT AND STOLEN GOODS   THAT ARE SOLD DIRECTLY TO   CONSUMERS ONLINE.  HOWEVER, THIS HEARING WAS   KIND OF BAD TIMING BECAUSE IT   WAS HELD JUST BEFORE THE   WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION   DECLARED COVID-19 A WORLDWIDE   PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING   REALLY CHANGED OVERNIGHT.  AMERICAN LIVES SHIFTED AND   THEY BEGAN EVEN MORE RELIANCE   ON COMMERCE, ON E-COMMERCE TO   KEEP THEIR LIVES AFLOAT AS   THIS DEADLY PANDEMIC RELIEF   DAMAGED THE WORLD.  REAL QUICKLY, TO PROTECT   AMERICANS IN THE 20/20 ON THE   BUS, WE ENACTED LEGISLATION   THAT REQUIRED PLACEMENT OF   CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY, THE   PUTTING PEOPLE FROM THE   CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY   COMMISSION INVESTIGATORS AT   PORTS OF ENTRY.  AND TO AUTHORIZE THEM TO THE   CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY   COMMISSION TO HIRE HOLD ON A   SECOND.  TO HIGHER OR FULL-TIME   INSPECTORS IN ORDER TO BE   ABLE TO YOU KNOW, TO MAN   THOSE SITES.  SO WE ACQUIRED THEM TO PLACE   THE STAFF AT TWO PORTS OF   ENTRY.  WITH THE MOST DIMINISHED,   THAT IS NOT THAT BACKWARD   NOW.  DIMINISHED SHIPMENTS THAT   KNOWING THAT WHAT WE CALL THE   AMAZON LOOPHOLE.  WAS POSITIONED BUT WAS REALLY   EMPLOYEES TO TAKE IT VANTAGE   OF WHAT AND TO EXPLOIT   CONSUMERS.  MORE OF THE THREAT TO   AMERICAN CONSUMERS.HOLD ON   ONE SECOND.  >> ALMOST GOT THIS ONE.  SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE AMERICAN   RESCUE, WE WERE ABLE TO   DRAMATICALLY BOOST THE   CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY   COMMISSION FUNDING WHICH WAS   REALLY IMPORTANT.  DIRECTING THEM TO TAKE   ADDITIONAL ACTION TO PROTECT   AMERICANS FROM DANGEROUS   COUNTERFEIT AND STOLEN GOODS   AND THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP   THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IS   CHAIRMAN BLUMENHAUER IS IN   FOR SECURITY AND FAIRNESS ACT   AND I AM SO PROUD OF THE   COSPONSOR OF YOUR   LEGISLATION.  IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND IN   COURT ACCORDING TO THE   DETRACTORS, MANY OF WHOM PLAN   TO BE TOUGH ON CHINA AND TOP   CONTACT THEY LIKE TO SAY THAT   THIS BILL IS RADICAL THE   TRUTH IS THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY   COMMON SENSE AND EVERY DAY   AMERICANS SUPPORTED.  SO WHY DID THE SENATE INSTEAD   LOOK TO FURTHER ENTRENCH BIG   TECH POWER?  THIS COUNTRY'S MANUFACTURING   AND TRADE POLICY FOR THE LAST   40 SOMETHING YEARS HAS   DISPROPORTIONATELY BENEFITED   THE CORPORATE SECTOR.  AND REALLY TO THE DETRIMENT   OF AMERICAN WORKERS.  SO THE AMERICAN COMPETES ACT   WHICH INCLUDES THE IMPORT   SECURITY AND FAIRNESS ACT,   REPRESENTATIVE LUMEN HOURS   BILL REJECTS THIS MISGUIDED   REGRESSIVE ACTION AND   ABSOLUTELY DOES WHAT WE NEED   TO DO TO PROTECT CONSUMERS,   TO PROTECT OUR ECONOMY.  I THINK THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY   THE GREATEST IDEA WE COULD   HAVE RIGHT NOW TO PASS THIS   LEGISLATION SO I AM PROUD TO   BE PART OF THAT EFFORT AND I   YELLED BACK.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH   CONGRESSWOMAN AND REPORTERS   WHO ARE ON THE LINE AND   EVERYONE ELSE WAS IN THE ZOO   QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK OF  THE ENTIRE PANEL .  WE'RE ABOUT TO TURN TO MORE   SPEAKERS.  THE QUESTIONS IN THE Q&A   SECTION PLEASE OF THE   COMMENTS AND I WILL CALL THEM   OUT ONCE IT GETS TO THE Q&A   PORTION OF OUR WEBINAR.  SO IT IS MY HONOR NOW.  >> CANNOT INTERJECT FOR A   MOMENT.  JAN IS NOT JUST THE   COSPONSOR.  SHE'S PART OF THE INSPIRATION   FOR THIS LEGISLATION.  SHE HAS JUST BEEN TIRELESS.  IT'S BEEN SUCH A DELIGHT TO   MAKE MISCHIEF WITH HER.  AND YOUR NEXT SPEAKER HAS   IDENTIFIED ONE OF MY NEXT   PROJECTS FOR THE NEW CONGRESS   IN TERMS OF DEMONSTRATING THE   POWER OF RESTORING.  I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED   THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY   HERE FOR US TO HEAR FROM BOB.  >> ACTUALLY BOB IS ONE PERSON   ON THE LIST.  IT'S FINE.  THE NEXT PERSON WE'RE GOING   TO INTRODUCE ACTUALLY IS TIM   BLAST WHO IS THE CEO AND THE   PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL   COUNCIL OF TEXTILE   ORGANIZATIONS.  THE PREVIOUS COMMERCE   DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL WHO'S   BEEN NEGOTIATOR ON A VARIETY   OF THESE TRADE FACILITATION   AND TEXTILE ISSUES.  KIM GLASS ALSO IS A LONG   TIME.  OR SO A TRIPLE THREAT AND HER   ACTUAL COMPANY IS THE COUNTRY   SHE REPRESENT DIRECTLY   IMPACTED BY THE DEMONESS   VISIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN   PROTECTIONS FOR IMPORTS THAT   ARE NOT THERE.  >> THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND   LORI WALLICK AND I WANT TO   TAKE A MOMENT HERE AND REALLY   THANK CHAIRMAN LUMEN HOW ARE   THE CHAIRWOMAN SHOULD COST   THE FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE   LEADERSHIP AND MY ESTEEMED   COLLEAGUES THAT ARE ACROSS   THE SPECTRUM ON THIS CALL   TODAY FROM RABURN INDUSTRY   GROUPS TO CONSUMER PRODUCT   GROUPS TO TALK ABOUT A REALLY   TIMELY AND IMPORTANT ISSUE.  AS CHAIRMAN BLUMENAUER NOTED   THE MINUTES AS EXEMPTIONS   WERE CREATED IN THE 1930S.  THAT WAS A TIME WHEN WE HAD   VIRTUALLY NO INTERNATIONAL   PURCHASES SENT THROUGH THE   MAIL AND YOU VISITED YOUR   GRANDMA IN CANADA AND YOU   BROUGHT BACK A TRINKET AND   YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR   DUTY.  THIS IS LONG BEFORE THE   ADVENT OF MASS MASS PRODUCT   DISTRIBUTION THROUGH   E-COMMERCE AND NOW NEARLY 100   YEARS LATER BY PRESSING A   COMPUTER BUTTON MILLIONS OF   E-COMMERCE PURCHASES ARE MADE   THEIR WAY TO OUR DOORSTEPS.  ON NUMEROUS COUNTRIES AROUND   THE WORLD NOT PAYING DUTY   WHATSOEVER.  THIS EXPLOSION OF E-COMMERCE   SHIPMENTS USING THE SECTION   321 DIMINISHED WAIVERS HAS   FOUND NEW COMPANIES LIKE SHE   HAD TINY, PLUMBER THAT BUILT   ITS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR   BUSINESS MOST ENTIRELY   EXPLOITING THE LEGAL   DIMINISHED LOOPHOLE AND MANY   OTHERS ARE UTILIZING THIS AS   WELL SO CBP OFFICIALS   ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DO NOT   HAVE THE MANPOWER TO TRACK OR   INSPECT EVEN A SMALL   PERCENTAGE OF THESE COUNTLESS   GROWING SHIPMENTS.  THEY COLLECT LITTLE DATA ON   WHAT'S COMING IN.  MAKE NO MISTAKE THESE   SHIPMENTS ARE EXPLODING AND   COVID HAS INCREASED THIS   SHOPPING DRAMATICALLY.  THINK OF THIS REAL-LIFE   SCENARIO.  THE ADMINISTRATION RIGHTLY   HAS MAINTAINED SECTION 301   TERRACE ON TEXTILE PRODUCTS   TO HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR   PERVASIVE TRADE PRACTICES.  YET IF YOU SHIP OUR PRODUCTS   FROM CHINA TO A US CONSUMER   OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH   DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MEXICO   OR CANADA TO THE US CONSUMER,   IT PAYS NO PENALTY DUTY AND   IN FACT IT PAYS NO DUTY   WHATSOEVER.  THE ADMINISTRATION AND   CONGRESS HAS RIGHTLY AND   VOCIFEROUSLY RESPONDED TO THE   CRISIS OF FORCED LABOR THAT   ARE MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS  OUR NEWS NETWORKS .  PARTICULARLY XINJIANG.  YET THESE PRODUCTS ARE MAKING   IT TO OUR CLOSETS WITH LITTLE   SCRUTINY ON WHERE IT CAME   FROM AND WHO NEEDS IT   UTILIZING THE BACK DOOR TO   MINIMUS ANDTHAT'S THE   PROBLEM.  WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHERE   THESE PRODUCTS ARE COMING   FROM, WHO IS MAKING THEM .  IF THERE MADE WITH FORCED   LABOR OR THE RESULT OF   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT.  WHAT'S THE POINT OF A FREE   TRADE AGREEMENT OR TRADE   PENALTIES IF YOU CAN SIMPLY   FIND A WORKAROUND WITH A   LEGAL TRADE LOOPHOLE?  FURTHER PROBLEM IS THE AMOUNT   OF MINIMUS IN THE UNITED  STATES WHICH IS 800 .  CHINA IS SEVEN DOLLARS THE   CHINESE RECOGNIZED THE   POTENTIAL DANGERS TO THEIR   DOMESTIC SECTORS AS FOREIGN   MANUFACTURERS CAN ACCESS   CONSUMERS FROM ZERO TARIFF   MINIMAL CUSTOMS REQUIREMENTS   BUT ARE ZEALOUSLY EXPLOITING   THE SAME LOOPHOLE TO PUSH   OTHER ALL OTHER COMPETITORS   FROM THE US MARKETPLACE.  THIS IS ESPECIALLY   DEVASTATING FOR US TEXTILE   MANUFACTURERS WHO ENDURED   CHINA'S EXPONENTIAL RISE,   IT'S IMPACTED OUR WESTERN   ATMOSPHERE TRADE PARTNERS AND   HAS ALSO SHUTTERED   MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS AND   LED TO JOB LOSSES.  OUR NATIONAL DEBT MINIMUS   POLICY IS ACTUALLY A   DETERRENT TO MANUFACTURING   CONSUMER GOODS ANYWHERE BUT   CHINA.  AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE SO   THANKFUL TO CHAIRMAN   BLUMENHAUER, TWO CHAIRWOMAN   SCHAKOWSKI.  WE ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF   THE PROVISION IN THE COMPANY   FACT THAT CLOSES THIS   LOOPHOLE FROM CHINA AND OTHER   ALL OTHER NONMARKET ECONOMIES   AND HELPS THE CVB ENFORCEMENT   TOOLS.  FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS   LOOPHOLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE   AN OPEN DOOR POLICY TO SHIP   DUTY-FREE TO THE UNITED   STATES ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE   PRODUCTS THAT UNDERMINE   AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND JOBS   BUT ALSO DILUTE ANY EFFORTS   TO REIGN IN THESETROUBLED   HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES .  THE TIME TO ADDRESS THIS IS   NOW AND WE ARE URGING   CONGRESS TO INCLUDE THIS   HOUSE FIXED IN THE FINAL   CHINA TRADE PACKAGE AS AN   IMPORTANT STEP.  IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANY KIND   OF BILL WITHOUT.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TIM   AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM   ANOTHER PERSON REPRESENTING   BUSINESS BECAUSE AS KIM SAID   OUR Q&A WILL BE JOINED BY   BRETT GIBSON FROM THE AFL-CIO   AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AS   OUR FINAL PANELIST BEFORE THE   Q&A, MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR   QUESTIONS INTO Q AND A TOM   PERIALO WHO WROTE AN OP-ED   POINTING OUT THERE'S A NEW   TRADE APPROACH SUPPORTED BY   LABOR AND BUSINESS.  SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS   REPRESENTING SPECIALIZED   BIKES AND IT IS BOB.  BOB MARJEVICUS WHO IS A   FRIEND OF CONGRESSMAN   BLUMENHAUER.  HE'S A STRONG SUPPORTER OF  BICYCLING .  WHATEVER I'M GETTING WINDED I   THINK OF CONGRESSMAN   BLUMENHAUER'S INSPIRATIONAL   PINS ON HIS BICYCLE AND KEEP   PUMPING MY WEIGHT OFF CAPITOL   HILL SOBOB, PLEASE .  IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THE   DIRE MINIMUS EXPERIENCES THAT   SPECIALIZE IN THAT.  >> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S AN   HONOR TO BE HERE AND THANKYOU   FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY .  I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A   LITTLE TOUR HERE SO I WANT   YOU TO IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT   THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN   XINJIANG CHINA AND YOU'RE   LOOKING FOR WORK.  YOU ATTEND SEVERAL CHINESE   SEMINARS THAT ARE CONDUCTED   BY AMERICAN E-COMMERCE   PLATFORMS FOR BECOMING A   MARKETPLACE SELLER.  THE PLATFORM SESSION SHARE   THE DEBT MINIMUS SECRET AS   WELL AS OFFERING COMPLETE   ASSISTANCE FOR ESTABLISHING   THE WESTERN APPEARANCE SITE,   TRANSLATIONS, PAYMENT   COLLECTION AND JUST A HOST OF   OTHER SERVICES YOU FIND LOCAL   PRODUCTS, SET UP AN ONLINE   AMERICAN E-COMMERCE STORE AND   YOU ARE IN THE DE MINIMUS   EXPORT BUSINESS.  QUICKLY YOU REALIZE THERE ARE  NO RESTRAINTS .  U RECOVER ALL OR PART OF   YOUR VAT THAT YOU PAY.  YOU BENEFIT FROM THE   GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED EXPRESS   SHIPPING.  AS TIME PASSES ON YOU BECOME   MORE GREEDY AND YOU WANT TO   GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND YOU   REALIZE THAT THERE ARE NO   LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR   SHIPPING DE MINIMIS ANYTHING   INTO THE USA.  THIS INCLUDES COUNTERFEITS,   DRUGS, DANGEROUS GOODS OR   ANYTHING TO BOTH EXISTING   CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL   CUSTOMERS.  IN ADDITION YOU DISCOVER FROM   OTHER PLATFORMS THAT ARE   PROMOTING CONNECTIONS THAT   YOU CAN EASILY UNDERVALUE   SHIPPING DOCUMENTATION OF MY   PURCHASE VALUE TRANSACTIONS   TO SATISFY DE MINIMIS   PROVISIONS.  YOU EVEN CAN INDICATE ON YOUR   SELLING SITE WILL MODIFY   DOCUMENTATION TO MEET LOCAL   IMPORT REQUIREMENTS.  YOU REALIZE THERE IS NO   ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ANY   TRANSACTION YOU DEFINED AS DE   MINIMIS.  JUST LIST, SHIP AND COLLECT.  YOU CAN EVEN SHIP MULTIPLE   PRODUCTS TO ONE CUSTOMER IF   YOU CLAIM THE VALUE IS LESS   THAN $800.  AS CUSTOMER ISSUES SURFACE,   INJURIES OCCUR FROM UNSAFE   PRODUCTS COUNTERFEITS ARE   DISCOVERED.  CUSTOMERS ARE CHEATED.  A WARNING FUELS CLOSING THE   SITE.  THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS IN   BEING AN ONLINE SELLER SO   JUST SETTING UP A NEW DE   MINIMIS SITE WITH A NEW NAME   CAN BE DONE PRETTY EASILY AND   REALLY QUICKLY.  SO THIS IS A REAL STORY AND   IT'S A REAL STORY FROM A   CHINESE INTERNET US   MARKETPLACE SELLER.  EDUCATED AND SUPPORTED BY   E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS, THEY   HAVE LEARNED HOW TO NAVIGATE   COVERING DAC, BENEFITING FROM   LOW-COST EXPRESS CARRIER  SERVICE .  CIRCUMVENTING TARIFF,   SHIPPING UNSAFE PRODUCTS,   EARLY LIABILITY, SELLING   COUNTERFEITS, OVERCOMING   TRADE BARRIERS AND PROVIDING   NO CUSTOMER CAREWARRANTY OR   SERVICE .  AND YOU MAY ASK HOW DO I KNOW   SO MUCH ABOUT DE MINIMIS?  I'M A GUY IN THE BIKE   BUSINESS.  AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT   FORSPECIALIZED I AM   RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MATTERS   RELATING TO PRODUCTS .  AND I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND   CHINESE COMPANIES FOR WRITING   ON DE MINIMIS.  I'VE BEEN LOCKED INTO A   GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE WHO   WAS BEARING AN ARM.  HE WAS RUNNING A COUNTERFEIT   OPERATION.  HIS OPERATION WAS PRODUCING   UNSAFE CARBON BICYCLE FRAMES,   FORKS, COMPONENTS.  FAKE HELMETS THAT CRUMBLED ON   IMPACT.  WHEELS AND TIRES THAT ARE NOT   IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY   STANDARDS.  AND THE INTERESTING THING IS   THEY WERE NOT ONLY PRODUCING   BYPRODUCTS, THEY WERE MAKING   SUNGLASSES AND SELLING TOYS,   HOUSEHOLD GOODS.  SPORTING GOODS AND ANY OTHER   PRODUCT THEY COULD SHIP DE   MINIMIS.  ALL ENABLED BY DE MINIMIS,   INTERNET MARKETPLACESELLERS   AND EXPRESS CARRIERS .  IN ADDITION, TRADE PROVISIONS   LIKE SECTION 301 TARIFF AND   THE XINJIANG TRADE BARRIERS   INTENT TO PUNISH BAD BEHAVIOR   ARE FURTHER EMBOLDENED BY DE   MINIMIS AS KIM HAD MENTIONED.  BAD MARKETPLACE SELLERS   DESTROYED BRANDS WHILE AT THE   SAME TIME KILL TRADITIONAL   RETAILERS.  IT IS THESE HARD-WORKING   AMERICAN BRICK AND MORTAR   RETAILERS SELLING AUTHENTIC   PRODUCTS WHICH ARE TARIFF   PAID AND IN FULL COMPLIANCE   WITH ALL USA HEALTH AND   SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WHO ARE   REALLY NOT SURVIVING IN THIS   COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT.  YOU ONLY NEED TO LOOK AROUND   TO SEE THAT.  THEY ARE THE REAL AMERICAN   BUSINESSES THAT HAVE   INTEGRITY.  THEY PROVIDE JOBS.  THEY DELIVER CUSTOMER CARE,   WARRANTY SERVICES.  THEY PAY SALES TAXES, AND PAY   INCOME TAXES ON ALL  TRANSACTIONS .  SO AS LORI SAID, DE MINIMIS   WHICH WAS ONCE A SLEEPY WAY   TO SIMPLIFY PERSONAL   TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN   COUNTRIES HAS BECOME A   MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BIG TECH   COMMERCIAL LOOPHOLE.  THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT   OF COMMERCE AND USTR AND   GOVERNMENT LEADERS ALL TALK   ABOUT FAIR TRADE BUT IN   TALKING ABOUT FAIR TRADE IT   SEEMS THERE TURNING A BLIND   EYE ON THE MILLIONS OF DE   MINIMIS SHIPMENTS THAT ARE   BEING MADE DAILY.  OTHER COUNTRIES ARE EXTREMELY   PROTECTIVE ABOUT DE MINIMIS.  YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO LOOK   FURTHER THAN HOW CONTENTIOUS   THIS SUBJECT WAS FOR CANADA   AND MEXICO IN THE US AND CA   AND OTHER FREE-TRADE   AGREEMENTS.  AS WAS ALREADY MENTIONED,   CHINA'S DE MINIMIS IS SEVEN   DOLLARS.  VIETNAM'S IS $40, THE   EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IS b,150.  THE US HAS THE SECOND-HIGHEST   DE MINIMIS ALLOWANCE IN THE   WORLD.  AND FRANKLY, I'M MINDFUL   SIMPLIFYING TRANSACTIONS IS   ESSENTIAL FOR TRADE  FACILITATION .  OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE THE EU   HAVE DEVELOPED WAYS ON LOW   VALUE TRANSACTION TO NOT ONLY   COLLECT TARIFF'S BUT ALSO   COLLECT DAT.  THEY'VE ALSO REQUIRED   REGISTERING THE OVERSEAS   SELLER, ASSIGNING A EU   REPRESENTATIVE.  THEY HOLD THE SELLER   ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE INTEGRITY   OF THE TRANSACTION AND OF THE   PRODUCT THEY'RE SELLING.  >> BOB, IF I CAN HOP IN.  WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE INTO   THE DETAILS OF HOW WE CAN FIX   IT AND ASK YOU GUYS FOR A   LAST FEW WORDS.  >> LAST THING AND MY REQUEST   IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE   RESPONSIBLE AND I'D LIKE TO   SEE SHIPMENTS LOWERED TO 200   OR LESS.  IN ADDITION, THE COUNTRY OF   ORIGIN CLEARLY MARKED AN HTS   CODE SPECIFIED CUSTOMS AND   COMMERCIAL INVOICES THAT ARE   ACCURATE.  CONTENT PRECISELY IDENTIFIED   AND FORMAL BUSINESS   REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR   ANY IMPORTATION AND I THINK   THAT THOSE ARE ON MY REQUEST   AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR   THIS OPPORTUNITY.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH BOB.  IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE   TOM.  HELLO I FIRST MET AS A   CONGRESSMAN FOR WEST   VIRGINIA.  HE IS NOW THE EXECUTIVE   DIRECTOR OF THE OPEN SOCIETY   PROGRAMS OF THE US AND IS THE   AUTHOR OF AN OP-ED THAT   BASICALLY SAID IT ALL.  A BIPARTISAN TRADE DEAL IN   CONGRESS THAT HELPS WORKERS   SO OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION   EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOM   PERIALO, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  >> WE ONLY MET WHEN I WAS IN   CONGRESS I WAS CONSUMING YOUR   IDEAS GOING BACK TO SEATTLE   AND BEFORE.  IT'S AWESOME TO BE ON WITH   TWO OF THE MOST BADASS AND   BRILLIANT CONGRESSPEOPLE WE   KNOW AND JAN SCHAKOWSKI AND   MARTINBLUMENHAUER.  THEY KNOW THESE ISSUES ARE   FUNDAMENTALLY SEXY.  WE DON'T THINK OF DE MINIMIS   THAT SET THE WORLD ON FIRE   BUT IT DOES .  AND I THINK NOTHING IS BETTER   THAN SEEING PUBLIC SERVANTS   WHO ARE WILLING TO STICK WITH   AN ISSUE WAY BEFORE IT'S COOL   AND FIGHT FOR IT AND FIGHT   FOR IT WORKING WITH ADVOCATES   LIKE WE HAVE ON THIS CALL.  IN ORDER TO RAISE THIS ALARM.  SINCE PEOPLE HAVE COVERED THE   POLICY DETAILS SO WELL, I   REALLY WANT TO BRING   ADVENTURE BACK TO FIRST   PRINCIPLES HERE.  AND I WANT TO CONNECT THIS TO   THE TRAGEDY WE SEE IN UKRAINE   TODAY.  THE REASON THE WORLD IS SO   UNITED AGAINST PUTIN IS   BECAUSE THERE WAS A MOMENT IN   1945 AFTER TWO WORLD WARS AND   THE GREAT DEPRESSION WHERE   PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER NOT OUT   OF WIDE-EYED IDEALISM BUT OUT   OF PRETTY HARD REALISM AND   SAID WE GOT TO DO BETTER.  GOT TO SEE IF THERE ARE   CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE JUST   NO LONGER OKAY AND ONE OF   THOSE IS THE CRIME OF   AGGRESSION AND WE'VE SEEN   VERY CLEARLY WHEN PUTIN IN AN   UNPROVOKED WAY ATTACKED   ANOTHER COUNTRY AND INVADED   IT HE DIDN'T JUST SEE THE   WEST RESPOND, YOU SAW   COUNTRIES ACROSS LATIN   AMERICA, ASIAWITHOUT RATE .  THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT   WERE NOT SUPPOSEDTO HAPPEN .  WHAT THAT SAME PERIOD, THE   WORLD MADE A SANE SET OF   DECISIONS ABOUT WORKER   CONDITIONS, ABOUT BASICALLY   RAISING THE FLOOR, ABOUT NOT   HAVING SLAVE LABOR AND ALSO   EVEN ABOUT ANTITRUST AND TOO   MUCH CONCENTRATION OF POWER   IN A FEW HANDS BECAUSE WE HAD   SEEN WHAT THAT COULD DO IN   WORLD WAR II.  SADLY IN THE SAME WAY THAT   FOR MOST OF THE 20TH CENTURY   WE DIDN'T SEE THE CRIME OF   AGGRESSION RESPECTED.  YOU SAW THE SOVIETS AND   UNITED STATES FRANKLY LABELED   WORLD AS PONDS AND WE HOW   IMPORTANT THAT WAS UNTIL WE   SAW THAT BORDER BREAKDOWN   MORE FORMALLY AND IN THE SAME   WAY WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY   SUPPOSED TO BE AN   INTERNATIONAL TRADE SYSTEM   THAT WAS NOT ABOUT MAKING THE   STRONGEST CORPORATIONS   STRONGER, IT WAS ABOUT TRYING   TO SAY WE WOULD WANT WORKERS   AROUND THE WORLD TO FACE   BETTER CONDITIONS.  WE WANT TO CREATE A RACE TO   THE TOP, NOT A RACE TO THE   BOTTOM AND WE UNDERSTAND THE   WAY THE GLOBAL ECONOMY WORKS  THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THESE   BASIC RULES , WE WILL SEE AN   INCENTIVE FOR SLAVE LABOR, TO   REPRESSIVE LATER, FOR   DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT.  FOR CREATING A SITUATION   WHERE COUNTRIES TRY TO   COMPETE BY ABUSING THEIR   PEOPLE AND ABUSING THEIR   RESOURCES.  WHAT THESE CONGRESSPEOPLE AND   THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE   FIGHTING FOR IS THAT SAME   IDEAL.  WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE   BASIC WISDOM OF THE GREATEST   GENERATION THAT SAID WE ARE   GOING TO SAY NO LONGER ARE   THINGS OKAY.  WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SYSTEM   OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY AND A   SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE ECONOMIC   STANDARDS AND WORKFORCE  STANDARDS .  WHAT WE SEE WITH THIS DE   MINIMIS RULE IS THE ABILITY   OF SAYING THERE'S ABSOLUTELY   NO STANDARD IN THE WORLD WE   ARE GOING TO BOTHER BECAUSE   WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS   LOOPHOLE.  IT'S THE SAME THING AS HAVING   A MINIMUM WAGE AND SAY SOME   OF THE MOST VULNERABLE   WORKERS IN THE ECONOMY,   ANOTHER ISSUE JAN SCHAKOWSKI   HAS WORKED ON.  YOU EITHER BELIEVE THAT ALL   HUMAN BEINGS HAVE THE DIGNITY   TO BE TREATED IN A CERTAIN   WAY WITH RESPECT, WITH THE   ABILITY TO UNIONIZE AND THE   ABILITY TO MAKE THEM WAGE OR   YOU DON'T AND IN A SYSTEM   WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE   THE CHINA'S OF THE WORLD AND   AMAZONS OF THE WORLD OF USE   THAT SYSTEM TO MAXIMUM EFFECT  , MAXIMUM REPRESSION, MAXIMUM   CONCENTRATION OF THEIR OWN   CORPORATE AND REPRESSIVE   POWER.  THAT'S THE CHOICE WE HAVE   HERE AND THE STAND THIS GROUP   IS TAKING AND IS ACTUALLY ON   THE VERGE OF SUCCEEDING   AGAINST THE ODDS IS TO SAY   WERE GOING TO GO BACK NOT   JUST TO THE DIVISION OF 1945   BUT EVEN BETTER ONE BECAUSE   THAT ONE WAS SO ROOTED IN THE   WESTERN POWERS AND ASYMMETRIC   POWER OF THAT TIME.  WE'RE NOW GOING TO SEE MUCH   MORE UNITY AROUND THE WORLD   TO WHAT IT MEANS TO BUILD AN   ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT RESPECTS   WORKERS AND WE KNOW WHAT WE   DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A NEW  COLD WAR WITH CHINA , THE   REALITY IS THEY ARE THE WORST   ACTORS IN THE SPACE AND WE   HAVE WAY TOO MANY AMERICAN   CORPORATIONS WHO ARE HAPPY TO   COLLUDE WITH THEM TO DRIVE   THAT DISTINCTION SO I THINK   THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING BILL   BECAUSE IT'S BIPARTISAN.  IT BRINGS TOGETHER BUSINESS   BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S   REAL IN TERMS OF IMPACTS ON   THE WORKING MIDDLE CLASS BUT   THIS IS PART OF A BROADER   AGGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND IT'S   AN INFLECTION POINT ON THE   KIND OF WORLD WHERE TRYING TO   BUILD AND JUST FOR THAT I   COULDN'T APPRECIATE MORE THE   WORK YOU ARE DOING ANDBEING   PART OF THIS CONVERSATION   TODAY .  >> AMEN TOM PERIALO.  WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR   FOR QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE A   COUPLE OF THEM THAT HAVE COME   IN.  IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE   BRETT GIBSON WHO IS A   LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE ON   AFL-CIO.  HE'S GOING TO JOIN US IN THE   AFL CIO HAS, IN SUPPORT OF   CONGRESSMAN BLUMENHAUER IS   BILL AND I'M GOING TO START   WITH A FIRST QUESTION THAT   GETS TO SOMETHING I WANT TO   GET A LITTLE CONTEXT TO FOR   SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE   YOU TUBERS HAVE NOT GOTTEN   WAY DEEP INTO THE WEEDS BUT   IT'S APROPOS OF WHAT TOM JUST   SAID WHICH IS THERE ARE RIGHT   NOW 2 VISIONSOF WHAT TO DO IN   TRADE POLICY .  THIS HOUSE BILL INCLUDES   CONGRESSMAN BLUMENHAUER'S   INNOVATIVE FIX AND OTHER   PROGRESSIVE INTERESTING   PRO-WORKER, PRO-US   MANUFACTURING RESILIENCE   IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE VERY   CREATIVE AND IT IN A   FORWARD-LOOKING WAY TO BUILD   ON SAY THAT VISION THAT TOM   WAS SPEAKING ABOUT WHICH IS A   VERY DIFFERENT TRADE REGIME   THAT NEVER HAPPENED CALLED   THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE   ORGANIZATION OF 1948 WHICH   HAVE LABOR STANDARDS AND   ANTITRUST STANDARDS ANDALL   THIS STUFF THAT SHOULD BE   GLOBAL ECONOMIC POLICY .  THE VISION OF WORKERS   CENTERED PRO- HEALTH AND   SAFETY TRADE IS IN THE HOUSE   COMPETES BUILT IN MANY   DIFFERENT PROVISIONS   INCLUDINGCONGRESSMAN   BLUMENHAUER IS .  THERE'S A SENATE VERSION OF   THE BILL, THEY BOTH HAVE IN   COMMON A LOT OF MONEY AND   SUPPORT FOR HAVING MITRAL   MICROCHIPS BUILT IN THE US   AND MORECUTTING-EDGE   RESEARCH, BOTH BILLS THAT   HAVE THAT BUT THE TRADE   PROVISIONS OF THE SENATE BILL   THAT'S COME IN , THE SENATE   BILL WHICH IS CALLED USICA   REPRESENTS THAT BACKWARDS   WORKING TRADE AGENDA THAT HAS   NOT WORKED OUT SO WELL AND   THAT THE HOUSE STILL   BASICALLY BREAKS AND SUPPORTS   PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TRADE   CENTER, SORRY, WORKERS   CENTERED TRADE AGENDA.  HERE'S THE QUESTION AND IS   DIRECTED TO MEMBERS OF   CONGRESS AND I'M SURE   EVERYONE IS INTERESTED CAN   THIS.  IT STARTS CHAIRMAN   BLUMENHAUER.  YOU SAID YESTERDAY OF VIRTUAL   CONFERENCE HAS BEGUN FOR   RECONCILING AMERICA COMPETES   ACT, THE HOSPITAL FOR YOU   TUBERS AND YOU AND USICA THE   SENATE BILL.  HAS THIS ISSUE DE MINIMIS   COME UP YET AS YOUR TEAM   TALKS WITH THOSE FROM THE   SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND   IF SO COULD YOU SHARE   ANYTHING ABOUT THE TENOR OF   THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND   RELATED IS THE QUESTION FOR   BOTH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS   WHICH IS IF ONE WANTED TO TRY   AND FIX THIS DE MINIMIS   PROBLEM WITH RESPECT TO ALL   IMPORTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR   COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, ARE THERE   SOLUTIONS TO BUILD ON THE   INNOVATIVE SOLUTION THAT   CONGRESS BLUMENHAUER IS   PROPOSING IN THIS PARTICULAR   PIECE OF LEGISLATION SO 2   QUESTIONS AND WE CANSTART   WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS   PLEASE .  >> WELL, THE VIRTUAL   CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS   SOMETHING THAT IS TAKING   PLACE WITH THE TOP LEADERSHIP   IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.  I HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO BE PART   OF SOME OF THESE   CONVERSATIONS.  I'VE RAISEDIT WITH SOME OF MY   SENATE FRIENDS .  BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME VERY   SERIOUS DIFFERENCES.  YOU MENTIONED THERE'S LOTS OF   COMMON POSITIVE ELEMENTS BUT   THE SENATE BILL ALLOWS THE   TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE   TO EXPIRE.  WE REINSTITUTED AND IMPROVE   IT.  IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DE   MINIMIS FIX AS WE'VE BEEN   TALKING ABOUT.  IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH ISSUES   THAT RELATE TO FINISHED GOODS  .  PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS   TRYING TO RESTRICT FINISHED   GOODS AND MORE IN TERMS OF   ITS HISTORY CONCEPT RATHER   THAN HAVING IMPORTED   THOUSANDS OF ITEMS THAT ARE   ALREADY FULLY MANUFACTURED.  FINISHED GOODS.  THIS WAS NOT THE PURPOSE OF   THAT PROVISION AND IT'S   ANOTHER ONE THAT'S BEEN   DISTORTED.  WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VERY   SPECIFIC ELEMENTS THAT WE ARE   FIGHTING FOR.  WE'VE MADE THE POINT TO OUR   FRIENDS IN THE SENATE AND   WE'RE WORKING TO TRY AND   RAISE THE PROFILE OF THESE   ITEMS.  TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL   PROTECTIONS WHERE WE'RE   TALKING ABOUT TSP.  THESE ARE ELEMENTS THAT WERE   IN THE HOUSE BILL AND I'M   HOPEFUL THAT OUR FRIENDS AND   ALLIES WILL CONTINUE TO   SPOTLIGHT THESE SO THAT IT   WILL BE PART OF THIS INFORMAL   CONFERENCING PROCESS.  I'M GLAD IT'S TAKING PLACE.  I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT   WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO   ACTUALLY ACCESS THE PROCESS   AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,   CONGRESSMAN TRAN FIVE DID YOU   HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD  ?  >> HE'S MADE IT CLEAR HE   WANTS A WORKER FIRST AGENDA   AND THAT HAS TO BE PROMOTED   AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE   WHITE AND USICA EFFORT TO   ENTRENCH BIG TECH INTO USICA   IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO   REACH OUT AND I THINK WE NEED   TO PROMOTE THE WAY THAT   REPRESENTATIVE BLUMENHAUER IS   TAKING THE LEGISLATION AND I   CERTAINLY THE HOPEFUL THAT WE   COULD MOVE BROADER IN HIS   DIRECTION.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH   CONGRESSWOMAN AND NOT TO SELF   PROMOTE FOR FOLKS WHO WANT A   GUIDED TOUR BETWEEN THE TWO   BILLS GO TO RETHINK TRADES   MEDIUM PAGE WHERE JUST ON   FRIDAY WE POSTED CHINA TRADE   BILLS WAR.  NOT TRYING TO TRADE MORE BUT   CHINA TRADE BILLS ONE THAT IS   A SIDE-BY-SIDE OF THE HOUSE   AND SENATE BILLS THAT LAYSOUT   PRECISELY THE DIFFERENCES ,   JUST TO UPDATE.  WHAT CONGRESSMAN CZAJKOWSKI   IS TALKING ABOUT THERE WAS A   PROVISION ADDED TO THE SENATE   BILL THAT GIVES NEW RIGHTS   FOR BIG TECH FIRMS READ IT'S   TOTALLY UNRELATED TO CHINA OR   TRADE TO BASICALLY ATTACK THE   VAST ANTI-MONOPOLY PROVISIONS  , THE MASS DIGITAL GOVERNANCE   PRIVACY PROVISIONS AROUND THE   WORLD AND MAKE THE US   GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR   BASICALLY DOING THE OPPOSITE   OF WHAT THE BIDEN   ADMINISTRATION SAID THEY WANT   TO DO GOING FORWARD AS FAR AS   COMPETITION OVERSIGHT OF BIG   TECH.  THAT IS NOT ONLY THE   DOMESTICS NOT IN BUT   UNFORTUNATE IN THE BIG TECH   PROVISION IS IN.  THE NEXT QUESTION ACTUALLY IS   ABOUT ONLINE RETAILERS AND   THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN   ONLINE RETAILERS LIKE AMAZON   USE THIS LOOPHOLE TO THE   BRICK AND MORTAR STORES.  IS THERE SOME INHERENT   UNFAIRNESS IN THIS BUSINESS   ESPECIALLY IF THE GOODS NOT   ONLY DODGE TARIFFS BUT EVEN   TAXES.  DID YOU MEAN TO SAY NO TAXES   ARE PAID?  AND MAYBE ANYONE FROM THE   PRIVATE SECTOR GROUPS AND.  >> HOW JUMP IN.  THIS ENTIRE CONCEPT OF DE   MINIMIS DOES PROVIDE A TOOL   OR A WAY FOR FOREIGN   OPERATIONS TO IMPORT PRODUCTS   INTO THE UNITED STATES   DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS.  THEREFORE AS WE INDICATED, IT   CIRCUMVENTS IMPORTS TARIFFS.  A REAL ONE TARIFFS EDITION IT   CIRCUMVENTS SALES TAXES AND   ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE   SELLER ON EITHER WARRANTY OR   CUSTOMER CARE OR SAFETY   PROVISION AND YOU KNOW, WHAT   WOULD REALLY BE GOOD FOR THE   ONE LINE PORTALS TO SUPPORT   IS THAT THE SELLER IS EITHER   REGISTERED IN THE UNITED   STATES FOR THERE IS AN EXCESS   OF SOMEONE IN THE UNITED   STATES THAT THEY, THAT IS   RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IT IS   THAT THEY'RE SELLING THE   INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCT AND   INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE  TRANSACTION .  AND IN ADDITION AS WE'RE   TALKING ABOUT HERE THAT THERE   ARE IMPORTS TARIFFS THAT ARE   APPLIED PARTICULARLY ON   HIGHER VALUE IMPORTS PRODUCTS   WHICH TRADITIONALLY DE   MINIMIS ACTUALLY ENCOURAGES   IMPORTATION OF HIGH IMPORTS   TARIFF PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE   SHIPPED INTO THE UNITEDSTATES   WITHOUT ANY .  >> ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY   LIKE TO ADD.  >> LORI, I WOULD SIMPLY SAY   IF YOU'RE A RETAIL OPERATION   IS MORE BRICKS AND MORTAR   IMPACTED BY THIS LOOPHOLE.  IF YOUR AMAZON ORSOME OF   THESE ONLINE PLATFORMS , YOUR   UTILIZING MORE E-COMMERCE   SHIPMENTS AND TAKING   ADVANTAGE OF THIS DE MINIMIS   TARIFF PROVISION SO I THINK   ABOUT THOSE MAIN STREET SHOPS  AND SOME OF THE BRICK AND   MORTAR RETAILERS WHO BEEN IN   THE UNITED STATES FOR A LONG   TIME .  AND THIS IS DIMINISHING THEIR   BUSINESS AND THOSE   OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS   THOSE OF US MANUFACTURERS  PICKING THESE PRODUCTS .  >> JUST PICKING UP ON THAT I   THINK THERE'S AN ALMOST   LIBERTARIAN ARGUMENT.  WHEN PEOPLE ABUSE PREVENTION   LIKE THIS THATORIGINALLY HAD   A GOODINTENTION , YOU   ACTUALLY FORCE GOVERNMENT TO   REGULATE MORE .  AND THERE IS A LOT TO THE   IDEA THAT THERE SHOULD BE   SOMETHING FOR THE EVERYDAY   PERSON WHO'S GOT A SMALL  AMOUNT OF THINGS THEY'RE   RUNNING BACK AND IS DESIGNED   PROVISION THAT WAS MEANT TO   PROTECT THE SMALL AND IN FACT   , AS KIMBERLY NOTED BECOMES   ABUSED BY THE STRONG SO THAT   WE HAVE TO ADVANTAGE IN A WAY   THAT COULD HURT THE MORE   MAINSTREAM FAULTS BUT IT'S   WHEN THE AMAZONS TAKE   SOMETHING THAT'S MEANT TO BE   SMALL BUSINESS AND MUSIC,   THIS IS THE DIRECTION YOU GO   SO I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY   SOMETHING THAT ABOUT   ACCOUNTABILITY OR CHINA.  I THINK IT'S ALSO FOR THE   AMAZONS AND BIGGEST   CORPORATIONS AND IT'S WHY WHY   FRANKLY WE NEED TO SEE IN MY   MIND SOME ANTITRUST POSITIONS   WITH SOME OF THESE COMPANIES   AS WELL AND THERE SHOULD BE   PENALTIES WHERE THAT NEEDS TO   HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE ARE A   LOT OF BUSINESSES TRYING TO   DO IT RIGHT AND WE WANT TO   HELP PROMOTE BUSINESSES   WHETHERHERE OR ABROAD THAT   ARE TREATING THEIR WORKERS   WELL .>> IF I COULD SAY   ALSO A PART OF THE THING THAT   WOULD INCLUDE MY INFORMED   CONSUMER COMMENTS.  AMAZON TAKES NO   RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE   DANGEROUS PRODUCTS THAT COME  INTO THE COUNTRY.  THEY SAY THAT'S NOT OUR   BUSINESS .  WE'RE JUST POSTING THESE   ONLINE SELLERS.  AND LEGISLATION I HAVE WOULD   SAY I'M SORRY, BUT THE   AMAZONS OF THE WORLD WOULD   HAVE TO THAT AND VERIFY AND   PROVIDE BASIC INFORMATION   ABOUT THE SELLERS THAT ARE   ONLINE SO THE EXPLOITATION   THAT WE'RE SEEING AND THAT   PROFIT-MAKING THAT WE SEE   THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THERE   ARE NO ROADBLOCKS.  >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND   THE NEXT QUESTION I HOPE IT'S  OKAY .  I WAS JUST TEXTING HIM TO   GIVE A HEADS UP BUT BRETT   GIBSON WITH THE AFL-CIO.  YOU PROBABLY WANT TO COMMENT   ON THE PREVIOUS THING BUT   THERE'S A QUESTION DIRECTLY   UP YOUR ALLEY WHICH IS CAN   SOMEONE EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW   THAT DIMINISH THIS LOOPHOLE   HELPS IMPORTS START THE BAN   ON FORCED LABOR GOODS.  >> I KNOW THAT WAS BROUGHT UP   AND I HAVE TO SAY HELLO TO   CHAIRMAN SCHAKOWSKY AND   CONGRESSMAN BLUMENAUER.  THANKS FOR INCLUDING ME.  I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT IN   THE XINJIANG REASON THE   UYGHURS ARE EXPLOITED FOR   PRODUCTS WHETHER IT'S   TEXTILES OR ELECTRONICS AND   ANY PRODUCT THAT COMES FROM   THE XINJIANG REGION THAT IS   PRODUCED WITH FORCED LABOR   FROM THE THOSE PEOPLE CAN BE   SHIPPED IN ITS UNDER $800   WHETHER IT'S ELECTRONICS OR   PROBABLY NOT COMMERCIAL SOLAR   PANELS BUT RESIDENTIAL SOLAR   PANELS.  A HOST OF THINGS.  AND WE ARE, WE SUPPORT   WORKERS, AT LEAST WE ARE   HUMAN RIGHTS AND I THINK IN   SOLIDARITY NOT JUST AS   WORKERS BUT AS A HUMAN RIGHTS   ISSUE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE   THAT WE ARE RAISING THE BAR   FOR HOW DOES COME IN.  WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW FORCED   LABOR.  YOU HAVE THE UYGHURS LABOR   PREVENTION ACT AND AS OTHER   SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED GOODS CAN   BE, ARE NOT INSPECTED.  CDP DOESN'T HAVE TO RESOURCES   TO DO SO.  SO IT'S JUST DONE.  I WANT TO REACH BACK TO THE   LAST QUESTION AND SAY IN AN   ODD WAY HOW THIS AFFECTS US   TAX BASE IS THAT WHEN YOU   HAVE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE   WHETHER IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS   OR A MEDIUM-SIZE BUSINESS OR   LARGE BUSINESS JUST SAY   J.CREW OR EXPRESS, THEY HAVE   BRICK-AND-MORTAR THEY PAY   TAXES AND THEY SUPPORT THE   TAX BASE.  THEY'RE IN YOUR SMALL   BUSINESSES.  WE SAW THIS WITH FACTORIES   WHEN OFFERING WAS A BIG THING   WITH CHINA.  NOW WE MIGHT SEE IT MORE   COMMERCIAL SPACE WHETHER IT'S   LIKE I SAID, EXPRESS, J.CREW,   EDDIE BAUER DOWN TO THE SMALL   BUSINESS PERSON AND I KNOW   WERE EVEN SPOKES BICYCLES   WHICH IS A SPECIALIZED DEALER   IN MY IN VIRGINIA HERE.  >> OUR FINAL QUESTION CAN   SLEEP AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF   CONGRESS THAT ANYONE WHAT   INSIGHTS CAN ADD WHICH IS   WHAT YOU THINK IS THE   TIMELINE FOR MOVEMENTS ON THE   2 BILLS.  HIS MEMORIAL DAY FEASIBLE FOR   SOME RECONCILIATION INTO A   FINAL BILL AND PASSAGE AND IF   AND HOW MIDTERM ELECTIONS   IMPACT THAT TIMELINE.  >> I THINK MEMORIAL DAY IS   ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE CAN   ACHIEVE.  THE ISSUES ARE CLEARLY   DEFINED AND LAURA, YOU'VE   BEEN WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE   UNDERSTAND THEM VERY   EXPLICITLY.  WE'VE IDENTIFIED A HANDFUL OF   ISSUES WHERE WE HAVE MAJOR   DISAGREEMENTS THESE ARE NOT   NEW PATIENTS.  THIS IS PART OF LEGISLATION   INJURIES LAST YEAR AND THEY   BEEN PERCOLATING ALONG A   SOMEWHAT WEEK ON THE HEARINGS   DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE   FORCED LABOR AND GSP AND   GENDER JUSTICEAND EQUALITY IN   THE WORKPLACE .  WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD WITH   OUR FRIEND DAN WILL BE ON THE   TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE   AND SO THIS IS HAPPENING.  THERE AREN'T ANY NEW ISSUES   THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED.  I THINK THE DIFFERENCES ARE   PRETTY STARK SO MY HOPE IS   THAT WE ALL FOCUS ON THESE.  THAT WE MAKE THIS PART OF THE   DISCUSSION THAT TAKES PLACE   OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.  THERE'S SO MUCH THATHAPPENS   IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS   THAT'S DISENGAGED .  IT'S DISCONNECTED FROM REAL   LIFE.  THESE AREREAL-LIFE PROVISIONS   THAT AFFECT AMERICAN   MANUFACTURING .  AFFECT AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT   AFFECT BRICK-AND-MORTAR   BUSINESSES AND PRODUCT   INTEGRITY AND SAFETY.  SO I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED   THAT IF WE'RE DONE AND   RELATIVE SHORT ORDER.  >> LET ME JUST SAY I KNOW   SPEAKER PELOSI WANTS TO MOVE   THIS LEGISLATION, MOVE THIS   AGENDA AND MY RECOMMENDATION   TO EVERYONE IS AGAINST NANCY   PELOSI.  >> IQ.  WE SEE IT HERE, WE SEE A   FUTURE OF A WORKER CENTERED   TRADE AGENDA.  WHERE A BIKE IS EITHER MADE   IN THE US WITH US PARTS AND   FOLKS ARE PAID A DECENT   AMOUNT.  IT'S SOLD AT YOUR LOCALLY   OWNED SMALL BRICK AND MORTAR   BIKE SHOP WHICH PAYS TAXES   AND HAS PEOPLE PICKING A   DECENT WAGE OR ALTERNATIVELY   YOU HAVE A BIG CONCERT THE   FLOOD OF DANGEROUS SPIKES   THAT ARE SNEAKING IN FROM   CHINA, MAYBE WITH FORCED   LABOR AND AS YOU BRING MONEY   TO THE CONSUMER AT $7900 BY   NOT ONLY DOES THE BRICK AND   MORTAR STORE HAVE TO PAY   TAXES AND TARIFFS SO THAT   DISADVANTAGE BUT THEY COME IN   UNEXPECTED, MAYBE IT'S YOUR   YOU CAN'T SUE ANYONE IF AN   ACCIDENT HAPPENS AND THERE IS   NO TAX BASE AND THE WORKERS   HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WELL.  LATEST GENTLEMAN, TWO VISIONS   OF THE FUTURE.  I HOPE THE COMPETES ACT IN   THE HOUSE AND ITS EXCELLENT   TRADE PROVISIONS INCLUDING   CLOSING THIS LOOPHOLE IS OUR   FUTURE, NOT THE USICA WAY   BACKWARDS INTO A TRADE AGENDA   WHICH IS NOT WORK.  THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL.  IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING   DISCUSSION OF ALL THE ANGLES,   AND AGAIN IT'S A GREAT HONOR   TO BE ON WITH OUR TWO   CONGRESSIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE   CHAIRS DONE AN AMAZING JOB   BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP AND   WITH THE HOUSE OF LABOR AND   BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES TOM   FROM OSF.  THANK YOU AND REPORTERS AND   EVERYONE WHO'S ATTENDED,   THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND   ATTENTION.  A RECORDING WILL BE AVAILABLE   ON WE THINK TRADE.ORG AND   AGAINTHANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR   YOUR TIME AND INTEREST .  >>"}]