Cheese Importers Lobbying President-Elect on Airbus Tariffs

The Cheese Importers Association of America, in a Nov. 16 update on its political activities, told members it is working on a joint letter with the European Dairy Association that will go to the Biden Transition Team and the European Commission on the Airbus-Boeing dispute, calling for an end to tariffs on both sides. The CIAA also said it was asked to join the Coalition Against the Restaurant Tariffs, a group of suppliers and restaurants, to lobby Congress about these tariffs.

The CIAA said it has been told that some members of the House of Representatives would like to see the FAIR TARIFF Act -- which would refund Airbus duties paid for goods that were on the water at the time of the announcement -- move on must-pass legislation this year (see 2002130048). The press release that Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., publicized about the bill in February said he had bipartisan cosponsors, but it was ultimately introduced as private legislation -- benefiting those who imported under subheadings 9903.89.05, 9903.89.10, 9903.89.13, 9903.89.16, 9903.89.19, 9903.89.22, 9903.89.25, 9903.89.28, 9903.89.31, 9903.89.34, 9903.89.37, 9903.89.40, 9903.89.43, 9903.89.46 or 9903.89.49. Those goods could have exited a bonded warehouse up to six months after Oct. 18, 2019, as long as they left Europe before Oct. 9. Private legislation doesn't generally move on broader bills, but has its own review process.