Washington – On December 9, the House of Representatives and the Senate announced a final bipartisan Conference Report on the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 to modernize U.S. customs procedures. Among other provisions, the legislation improves the ability of small businesses to participate in the global economy by lifting the threshold at which small businesses are subjected to customs duties from $200 to $800.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has long supported measures to streamline international trade facilitation for small and medium sized enterprises. By making it easier for businesses to send small-value shipments, the legislation will help small online businesses access international customers and improve their ability to benefit from international trade.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“We applaud the conference committee’s recognition of this important issue. Internet commerce and online retailers have been hugely beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to access worldwide markets more easily and efficiently. Increasing the threshold will allow more of those businesses to participate in vital international trade.”
“This provision recognizes the great importance of Internet-facilitated physical trade. While trade in digital services is an important component of our Internet exports, there are great economic gains to be achieved from promoting cross-border trade in goods. When global digital platforms allow small businesses to reach consumers worldwide, everyone wins.”