For decades, Congress has maintained a clear policy that informational materials should not be restricted or burdened by the exercise of executive economic authorities. Even the Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) includes a specific exemption for products covered by the First Amendment and the administration extended this in the Section 122 duties currently in force.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 which is currently being used to develop a broad tariff regime that could be implemented as early as this July does not have a specific exemption for informational products.
Representatives Tracey Mann and Emanuel Cleaver are seeking signatures on a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jameison Greer to urge that this exemption be applied to any Section 301 duties in a manner consistent with existing law and trade practices. With new Section 301 duties likely, it is important to gain as much support a possible to secure this exemption.
Taking action is easy. Simply click here (or below) to send a message to your representative in just a few minutes.
Please urge your Representative to sign on to the Mann/Cleaver letter to USTR to exempt Information Products from Section 301 Duties. NNA is fighting every day to preserve the protections of the First Amendment, but we need everyone’s help to make it happen.
