West Coast Port Labor Contract Negotiations — Two Sides Issue Joint Statement

On June 14, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) broke their media blackout with a joint statement saying negotiations continue in good faith but will not be completed by the July 1 expiration of the current contract. However, “Cargo operations continue beyond the expiration of the contract. Neither party is […]

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TGA Victory! House Approves Shipping Reform, President Biden Expected to Sign into Law Today

On June 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the TGA-supported Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (S. 3580) by a vote of 369-42. The legislation now goes to President Biden, who is expected to sign the bill into law today, June 16. This bipartisan bill will strengthen the overseas supply chain and ensure fairness in the global […]

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U.S. Travel Goods Industry Faces More California Prop 65 Notices; TGA Prop 65 Best Practices Guidance

Over the last few months, dozens of new California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) “60-day” notices have been issued alleging that brands and retailers sold luggage (Notice 1), totes (Notice 1), backpacks (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4), handbags (Notice 1, Notice 2, Notice 3, Notice 4, Notice 5, Notice 6, Notice 7), fanny packs (Notice 1), smartphone case (Notice 1), wallets (Notice […]

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Capitol Beat: A Summer of Hope?

Every day, our industry faces a shipping crisis that has delivered us contract breaches, stubbornly high shipping rates, excessive and unjust fees, constant delays, and ongoing uncertainty on whether our product will ever arrive or even be moved. We are an industry of small companies who have no bargaining power with the big foreign-owned ocean […]

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TGA Urges Congressional Conferees to Include GSP Renewal, Shipping Reform, China Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Process in Competitiveness Legislation

On June 6, TGA urged Congressional conferees working to reconcile the House and Senate versions of competitiveness/anti-China legislation to ensure any final legislation includes key U.S. travel goods industry priorities, including renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, and restart of the China Section 301 tariff exclusion process. Congressional leaders hope […]

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TGA Urges President to Put Guardrails around West Coast Port Labor Contract Negotiations

On June 8, TGA urged President Biden to put guardrails on the ongoing West Coast port labor contract negotiations to ensure they do not lead to a work slowdown, strike, or lockout, and to encourage any resulting agreement to increase the productivity and efficiency of the ports. The two sides returned to the negotiating table on June […]

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West Coast Port Labor Contract — Labor Puts Negotiations on Hold Until June 1

On May 23, TGA confirmed press reports that the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) has left the negotiating table and put negotiations towards a West Coast port labor contract on hold until at least June 1. On May 13, Harold Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the dockworkers union at the East […]

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PLEASE REVIEW — Draft TGA Priorities Letter to Congressional Conferees on Competitiveness Legislation

TGA has drafted a letter to Congressional conferees working to reconcile the House and Senate versions of competitiveness/anti-China legislation. The draft letter urges the conferees to ensure any final legislation includes key U.S. travel goods industry priorities, including renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, and restart of the China Section 301 tariff exclusion […]

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TGA Urges Congress to Include Strong GSP Renewal in Any Final Competitiveness Legislation

On May 3, TGA and TGA members joined with other industry groups and companies to urge Congress to include a long and robust extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program in any final competitiveness/anti-China legislation approved by Congress. The House and Senate are moving to conference to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions […]

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Biden Administration Finally Starts Review of China Section 301 Tariffs

On May 3, in response to repeated calls from TGA and many others, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) finally launched a review of the China Section 301 tariffs. But it remains unclear whether the end result of the Biden administration’s review will lead to the removal of the 25% punitive tariffs on U.S. travel goods […]

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