AFFTA Bi-Weekly D.C. Updates

March 30, 2025

Continuing Resolution

On Tuesday, March 11, the House of Representatives passed a 6-month "continuing resolution" (CR) to fund the government through September 30.

• Party Lines: The CR passed the House by a vote of 217-213, largely along party lines with just one Republican voting against and one Democrat voting for it.
• Senate Passage: After a week of uncertainty and facing a government shutdown deadline of midnight on Friday, March 14, the Senate passed the CR 54-46, averting a shutdown. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in support, while one Republican opposed.
• Not a "Clean" CR: Despite its name, this bill is not a straightforward extension of previous funding levels. It makes significant changes, including $13 billion in cuts to non-defense spending.
• Impact on Tariffs: The House also passed a procedural measure preventing Congress from voting to end emergency declarations this calendar year. This is significant because President Trump used emergency declarations (related to illegal immigration and fentanyl) to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico. This procedural move prevents House Democrats from forcing votes on resolutions that could have ended these declarations and voided the tariffs.

Steel & Aluminum Tariffs

The 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect on March 12, 2025. These are in addition to tariffs on specific countries:

• Canada: On March 4, 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods, meaning Canadian steel and aluminum products now face a 50% tariff. In response, Canada announced 25% tariffs on certain U.S. goods on March 4, and on March 12, added 25% tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum products, including fishing rods, reels, hooks, lines, nets, and tackle.
  • President Trump's March 17 statements suggest the U.S. may raise tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum by an additional 25% (to 50%) unless Canada reverses its retaliatory measures.
• European Union: The E.U. will impose retaliatory tariffs worth $28 billion on U.S. goods, including steel, aluminum, textiles, appliances, and agricultural products, to be announced in April.
• Mexico: Mexico is waiting until April 2 to decide whether to impose retaliatory tariffs.
• China: The U.S. increased tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 20% on March 4, 2025 (originally set at 10% on February 1).

Tariffs on aluminum fishing reels: The Presidential Proclamation "Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States" lists aluminum articles subject to tariffs, including:

• Fishing reels valued not over $2.70 each
• Fishing reels valued over $2.70 but not over $8.45 each
• Fishing reels valued over $8.45 each
• Fishing reel parts and accessories

Reciprocal Tariffs

Reciprocal tariffs are expected to take effect on April 2, 2025, potentially changing tariff percentages based on what other countries have imposed on U.S. goods.

EPA Deregulation

On March 12, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced 31 actions to advance President Trump's executive orders, calling it "the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history." These actions included "reconsideration of wastewater regulations for oil and gas development to help unleash American energy."

Relevant Bills

• Federally Integrated Species Health (FISH) Act (H.R. 1894) – Gives full management and regulation authority of anadromous species under the Endangered Species Act to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (removing authority from the National Marine Fisheries Service). (Rep. Ken Calvert, R-CA-41)
• Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897) – Reforms the ESA to streamline permitting, incentivize species recovery, and establish parameters for judicial review. (Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-AR-4)
• Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025 (H.R. 1917) – Establishes a program to assess hatchery effectiveness and support Great Lakes fisheries management. (Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-MI-6)
• Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies (ProTECT) Act of 2024 (H.R. 1934) – Amends the ESA to prohibit trophy hunting of endangered or threatened species in the U.S. and ban importation of such trophies. (Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA-36)
• Harmful Algal Bloom Disaster Relief Act (H.R. 1786) – Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a major disaster. (Rep. Byron Donalds, R-FL-19)