[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAFEE:
  S. 1537. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Benzoic acid, 2-{{1-{{(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidozal-5-yl) amino}; 
to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1539. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on N-{4-
(Aminocarbonyl)phenyl}4-{{(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-5-
yl)amino) carbonyl}-2-oxopropyl}azo}benzamide; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  S. 1540. A bill to suspend until December 21, 2002, the duty on 
Butanamide, N-(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-3-oxo-2-{{-
(trifluoro-methyl)phenyl}azo}-; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1541. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 1,4-
Benzenedicarboxylic acid,2-{{1-{{(2,3-di-hydro - 2 - oxo - 1H - 
benzimidazol - 5-yl)amino carbonyl}-2-oxopropyl}azo}-, dimethyl ester; 
to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1542. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Butanamide, 2,2'- { 1-2,-ethanediylbis ( oxy-2,1-phenyleneazo) }bis{N-
(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-3-oxo-; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  S. 1543. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Benzenesulfonic acid, 4-chloro-2-{{5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1- ( 3-
sulfophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl}azo}-5-methyl-.calcium salt (1:1); to the 
Committee on Finance.
  S. 1544. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 4 - 
{{5-{{{4-(Aminocarbonyl)phenyl } amino } carbonyl } -2-
methoxyphenyl}azo}-N-(5-chloro-2, 4-dimethozyphenyl) -3-
hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxamide; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1545. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Benzenesulfonic acid, 4-{{3-{{2-hydroxy-3-{{4-methoxyphenyl ) amino } 
carbonyl } -1-naphtha-lenyl}azo} -4-methylbenzoyl}amino}-, calcium salt 
(2:1); to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1546. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Butanamide, 2,2'-{3,3'-dichloro{1,1'-biphenyl} -4,4'-diyl)bis(azo) 
}bis{N-(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-5yl)-3-oxo; to the Committee 
on Finance.
  S. 1547. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Butanamide, N,N'-(3,3'dimethyl{1,1'-byphenyl } -4,4' -diyl ) bis { 2,4-
dichlorophenyl)azo}-3-oxo-; to the Committee on Finance.
  S. 1548. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on N-
(2,3-Dihydro-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-5-yl)-5-methyl-4-
{(methylamino)sulphonyl}phenyl}azo}naphthalene-2-carboxaminde; to the 
Committee on Finance.
  S. 1549. A bill to suspend until December 31, 2002, the duty on 
Benzoic acid, 2-{{3-{{(2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-1H-benzimidazol-5-
yl)amino}carbonyl}-2-hydroxyl-1-naphthalenyl}azo}-, butyl ester; to the 
Committee on Finance.
  S. 1550. A bill to suspend until December 31. 2002, the duty on 
Benzoic acid, 4-{{(2,5-dichlorophenyl ) amino}carbonyl}-2{{2-hydroxy-3-
{{(2-methoxypheny)amino}carbonyl}-1-naphthalenyl}-, methyl ester; to 
the Committee on Finance.


                      duty suspension legislation

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, today I am introducing 13 bills to suspend 
the duty on the importation of certain products that are used by 
manufacturers in my home state of Rhode Island.
  The products in question are organic replacements for colorants that 
use heavy metals--such as lead, molybdenum, chrome, and cadmium--in the 
plastics and coatings industries. Heavy metal colorants traditionally 
have been used in the coloration of plastics and coatings, especially 
where the applications are subjected to high heat, or where high 
weatherfastness or lightfastness are required. Until recently, finding 
substitutes for these heavy metal-based products was difficult. 
However, thanks to new formulations, a number of organic products have 
proved themselves to be satisfactory substitutes.
  Reducing our reliance on heavy metal colorants makes sense 
environmentally. However, none of the organic substitutes in question 
are produced in the United States. Thus, our producers have no choice 
but to import the substitutes and pay the requisite import taxes, which 
range from 6.6 to 14.6 percent. The total price tag associated with 
these duties, while relatively small in the context of our federal 
budget, translates into a considerable business cost to the importing 
manufacturers. The added cost hurts their ability to compete, and thus 
their ability to maintain their workforce. Yet, given that there is no 
domestic industry producing these substitutes, the duties serve little 
purpose.
  The package of bills I am introducing today would remedy this 
situation by suspending the duty on these thirteen products. As I say, 
none of these organic substitutes are produced in the United States, 
and therefore lifting the current duties will not result in harm to any 
domestic industry. Rather, suspending the duties will allow our 
domestic manufacturers to reduce costs, thus maintaining U.S. 
competitiveness and safeguarding Rhode Island jobs.
  This is a critical point. I feel strongly that we in Rhode Island 
should do all we can to keep the state's economy going by creating 
jobs, encouraging business activity, and spurring new growth. These 
bills will help contribute to a productive manufacturing sector in 
Rhode Island, and aid our employers in keeping their costs down and 
their sales--and employment--up.
  It is my hope that by introducing this package of legislation now, 
there will be ample time for review and comment on each bill, and that 
as a result, should the Senate take up comprehensive duty suspension 
legislation next year, these provisions will be ready for inclusion.
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