I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5513 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2012 Mr. Tipton (for himself, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Hinojosa, and Mr. Mulvaney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To require the collection of up-to-date information on tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices of foreign countries affecting exports of United States goods and services, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Transparent Rules Allow Direct Exporting for Small Businesses and Jobs Act or TRADE for Small Businesses and Jobs Act.
2.
Foreign tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices affecting exports of United States goods and services
(a)
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to assist exporters of United States goods and services to access new markets in foreign countries. (b)
Collection of information
(1)
By Secretary of Commerce
The Secretary of Commerce shall, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of State, collect information on tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices of foreign countries affecting exports of United States goods and services other than United States agricultural commodities. (2)
By Secretary of Agriculture
The Secretary of Agriculture shall, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of State, collect information on tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices of foreign countries affecting exports of United States agricultural commodities. (c)
Availability of information
(1)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall make available the information collected under subsection (b)(1) and the Secretary of Agriculture shall make available the information collected under subsection (b)(2) to United States exporters on the website Export.gov or a successor website. (2)
Format
The information collected under subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) shall be presented in a clear and easy-to-understand format to allow United States exporters to better understand and comply with tariff and non-tariff laws, regulations, and practices of foreign countries described in subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2), respectively. (3)
Update
The Secretary of Commerce shall update the information collected under subsection (b)(1) and the Secretary of Agriculture shall update the information collected under subsection (b)(2) on the website Export.gov or a successor website not less than once every 60 days after the date on which the Secretary of Commerce makes available the information collected under subsection (b)(1) and the Secretary of Agriculture makes available the information collected under subsection (b)(2), respectively.