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Baby formula shortage tariff suspension bill overview:
- Who: The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill which will suspend tariffs placed on imported baby formula.
- Why: The bill, which now heads to the senate, was passed to help make baby formula more affordable to consumers in the U.S. in the wake of a nationwide shortage.
- Where: The baby formula shortage has affected consumers nationwide.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to suspend tariffs placed on imported baby formula in order to make it more affordable for consumers during the nationwide formula shortage.
The decision to suspend duties on imported baby formula was the result of a nearly unanimous vote and will remain in place through the end of the year, Law360 reports.
Known as the Formula Act, the bill passed in a vote of 421-2, with only a pair of Republican representatives from Georgia and Texas expressing opposition to it.
Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia has said his vote against the bill was accidental and that he is currently in the process of changing his vote so it will reflect his support, Law360 reports.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., co-sponsored the bill with a fellow Democratic representative and called the suspending of tariffs a “critical step.”
Rep. calls suspending tariffs on imported baby formula ‘critical step’
“Suspending tariffs on the importation of infant formula and relieving parents of steep price increases is a critical step to ending the infant formula shortage,” Blumenauer said in a statement.
The bill will now go to the Senate — which has unanimously backed a similar bill previously.
The new bill proposal is the latest step taken by the government to help alleviate an ongoing nationwide shortage of baby formula, with Congress previously passing a bill aimed at addressing low inventory levels, Law360 reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also encouraged the importing of baby formula as a way to increase the amount of baby formula available to U.S. consumers during the shortage.
The FDA has previously said it is exploring options that would allow baby formula manufacturers from outside the U.S. to be able to continue importing their products even after the nationwide shortage subsides.
The baby formula shortage followed Abbott Nutrition being forced to close a production plant in Sturgis, Michigan, earlier this year after it was linked to the death of two babies who had consumed Similac PM 60/40 baby formula.
Have you been affected by the nationwide formula shortage? Let us know in the comments!
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