Government Affairs

COVID Liability Protection and OSHA

For Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and congressional Republicans, the “COVID 4” bill that Congress and the White House hope to pass by early August must contain liability protection from frivolous lawsuits for businesses, medical workers, schools and other entities. According to the Daily Mail, more than 770 COVID-based lawsuits had been filed by May 4 against…

“COVID 4” Legislation

From March through early June, Congress passed five bills to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that became law. In order of passage they are: H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (“COVID 1”); H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“COVID 2”); H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security…

Covid-Related Business Tools – CARES Act

Employee Retention Credit (Section 2301 of the Act): Refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50% of up to $10,000 in wages per employee, including health benefits, if employer operations were fully/partially suspended due to a COVID-19 governmental shutdown, or if gross receipts declined more than 50% in a quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019. Credit applies…

Update to Special Reports on Coronavirus Assistance: Federal Legislation and Administrative Actions as of April 24, 2020

This special report is to update previous editions with information on the latest congressional legislation (“COVID 3.5”) and details concerning earlier bills and administrative actions. Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, H.R. 266, or (“COVID 3.5”): On April 24, the President signed H.R. 266 to appropriate some $484 billion in additional federal…

Administration Defers Duties on Certain Tariffs

On April 19, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order based on National Emergency authority declared March 13 to give the Treasury Secretary the ability to defer payments of certain import duties, taxes and fees for 90 days. This was followed by a Temporary Final Rule published April 20 by the DHS Customs and Border Patrol that states the 90-day deferral doesn’t…

Special Report (2nd Edition) on Coronavirus Assistance

Federal Legislation and Administrative Actions as of April 2, 2020 This special report is to provide basic information on federal legislation and administrative actions in place to help individuals and businesses deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) epidemic. Congress passed and the President signed a $2 trillion recovery bill (the CARES Act) on March 27, and…

Combatting Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

On July 24, 2019, IHA President Derek Miller submitted comments to a U.S. Dept. of Commerce notice seeking input on how to curb the importation and sale of counterfeit products. IHA’s comments noted that legitimate businesses like those belonging to IHA are victims of counterfeit goods that are sold by bad actors and often directly compete with goods produced by IHA…

Trade, Tariff and Postal Shifts

On Jan. 15, President Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed the Phase One trade agreement between the U.S. and China consisting of seven chapters on intellectual property rights, technology transfer, food and agricultural products, financial services, exchange rate matters and transparency, expanding trade, and bilateral evaluation and dispute resolution procedures. The…

Trade and Tariff Developments for 2020

Significant progress has been made with regard to the issue of tariffs in the trade dispute between the United States and China. The USTR announced on Dec. 13, 2019, the completion of a Phase One trade agreement with China. U.S. tariffs on List-4B products that were subject to 15% duties set to commence on Dec. 15, 2019, were cancelled, and tariffs on List 4A products…