The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), which recently passed the Senate via bipartisan vote, includes provisions that may impact businesses that import in the promotional products industry.
In June, the U.S. Senate lent its support to USICA, which would support U.S. technological innovation and research to make the country more competitive on the world stage. The bill is now with the House of Representatives. Included within it are provisions of the Country Of Origin Labeling Online Act or the “COOL Online Act,” a bill introduced last year that would require prominent labeling of country-of-origin and seller location for all products sold on the internet. Current law only requires country-of-origin information to be included on a product’s external packaging.
The COOL Online Act’s requirements are problematic for importers, including some companies in the promotional products industry, because of practices such as dual sourcing and diversifying supply chains. PPAI is working to learn more about the bill and has joined discussions with staffers from two separate House Energy & Commerce subcommittees, as well as a Ways & Means subcommittee.
The COOL Online Act will also be on the agenda for the upcoming PPAI Product Responsibility Summit Direct-2-You, to be held virtually on August 16-19. Click here for more information.
