Bipartisan Senate Bill Encouraging More Self-Initiated AD Cases Reintroduced

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. reintroduced a bill that would establish a task force in the Commerce Department to investigate potential trade abuses, with the goal of helping small and medium-sized businesses that lack the resources to bring antidumping cases to the department. "Michigan’s cherry industry and our state’s manufacturers in particular have faced these challenges, and they often lack the legal teams needed to elevate these issues," Peters said in announcing the S.B. 564, which was introduced Feb. 26. The press release also quoted cherry farmers like Isaiah Wunsch, who said, "Farmers and other small business owners currently have few administrative options when we are faced with dumping or other unfair trade practices, because the cost and complexity associated with investigating and litigating these issues can present major financial and technical barriers to small family businesses." The same bill was introduced in February 2018, and was later joined by Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Angus King, I-Maine, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla.