WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), who leads the Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign in the Senate, praised President Obama’s issuance of an executive order on Wednesday streamlining the export/import process for America’s businesses. The executive order cuts processing and approval times from days to minutes for small businesses that export American-made goods and services by completing the International Trade Data System (ITDS) by December 2016.
“The efficient movement of goods is critical to a strong economy,” Senator Coons said. “Duplicative paperwork and processing delays cost American businesses time and money and are particularly burdensome for small and medium-sized manufacturers. The ITDS will help small businesses navigate trade processes quickly and easily so they can focus their energies on effectively delivering American-made goods. This is exactly the sort of action we should be taking to cut red tape for American manufacturers and create the conditions necessary for growth. I applaud the President’s announcement today and look forward to working together to ensure timely implementation of the ITDS.”
Businesses must currently submit information to dozens of government agencies — often on paper forms — sometimes waiting days for approval to move goods across the border. The ITDS will allow businesses to electronically transmit the data required by the U.S. government to import or export cargo through a “single window.” Once fully implemented, the ITDS will dramatically reduce the time and expense for businesses to move the more than 50 million containers and $3.8 trillion worth of goods that cross our borders each year.
The President’s executive order establishes a deadline for completion of the ITDS, requires relevant agencies to transition from paper-based to electronic data collection, and calls for enhanced transparency by requiring public posting of implementation plans and schedules. The order also expands the Border Interagency Executive Council to improve coordination among the dozens of agencies with import and export requirements and with outside stakeholders.
Read the President’s executive order here: http://1.usa.gov/1cqLwQO
Since its debut in October, Manufacturing Jobs for America has grown to include 46 bills from 26 senators. Thirty-two of the bills have already been introduced — 14 with bipartisan support — around four principles: strengthening America’s 21st century workforce; opening markets abroad; creating the conditions necessary for growth; and expanding access to capital.
More on Manufacturing Jobs for America can be found here: http://coons.senate.gov/manufacturing