Miscellaneous Tariff Bills
The Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives has initial jurisdiction over legislation to amend the U.S. tariff schedule and to make corrections to trade legislation. Miscellaneous tariff bills (MTBs) request the temporary reduction or suspension of duties on certain U.S. imports or request other technical corrections to the U.S. Harmonized Tariff System.
The primary purpose of such bills is to help U.S. manufacturers compete at home and abroad by temporarily suspending or reducing duties on intermediate products or materials that are not made domestically, or where there is no domestic opposition. Such reductions or suspensions reduce costs for U.S. businesses and ultimately increase the competitiveness of their products.
The Committee on Ways and Means issues a public notice inviting Members of Congress to introduce bills by a set deadline. After collecting and reviewing bills introduced by this deadline, the Subcommittee on Trade issues an advisory requesting public comment on the bills. In addition, the Subcommittee requests a review and analysis of each bill from the Department of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the International Trade Commission (ITC). USTR reviews each bill for trade policy considerations.
As a general rule, MTB requests should be "non-controversial," meaning there should be no domestic production of a competing product (or opposition from domestic U.S. producers) and a bill should not operate retroactively or create excess revenue losses. The Committee can weigh other factors on a case-by-case basis as can the administration during its review.
Once the House passes a final package of MTBs, it enters the Senate and is referred to the Finance Committee. When the package passes the Senate and differences are worked out between the both legislative chambers, a final bill then goes to the President for signature.
Status
The last package of MTBs was enacted into law in December 2006. Products covered under that legislation are set to expire on December 31, 2009. During the 110th Congress, the Committee on Ways and Means solicited new tariff suspension legislation and miscellaneous corrections to the trade laws. While more than 800 tariff suspension bills were offered, no final action was taken during the 110th Congress. The Committee on Ways and Means has not yet initiated the process for requesting tariff suspension legislation under the 111th Congress.
Questions regarding the MTB process should be addressed to your Representative of Congress or the House Committee on Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. Questions may also be addressed to your Senator and the Senate Finance Committee.
Related documents:
2008 House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee MTB Advisory
MTBs introduced in the 110th Congress