Capital Report will not be published for the next two weeks due to AAPEX. The next issue will be distributed on Nov. 17.
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This Week in Congress
Congress is still in recess as legislators enter the final lap in their race to get reelected. Read more... |
Senator Urges FTC to Take Action Against Carmakers’ Misleading Warranty Tactics
In response to language from auto manufacturers that could mislead consumers into wrongfully believing that servicing cars outside dealerships might void warranties, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Oct. 21 sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging action to make clear such claims are against the law, and to affirm consumers’ rights to choose any brand of parts or services without risk of voiding a warranty. Read more... |
Former Head of NHTSA to Speak at AAPEX
David Strickland, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be featured at a seminar titled, “NHTSA Safety and Regulatory Plans: What is Coming Down the Pike,” as part of the AAPEX Education Sessions (AAPEXedu). Strickland will provide an insider's view into the agency's priorities and initiatives, and will also provide tips to attendees on how to work with NHTSA to insure a proper hearing for their issues. Read more... |
Senators Seek to Protect LIFO
A bipartisan group of 14 senators, led by Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., signed a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew requesting that the last-in, first-out (LIFO) accounting method be preserved in any future comprehensive tax reform proposals. Read more... |
Auto Care Association Joins Coalition in Urging Conclusion to West-Coast Port Negotiations
A group of 105 trade organizations, including the Auto Care Association, has asked the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to quickly conclude a new labor agreement. Congestion problems at key West Coast ports in both the U.S. and Canada are getting worse each day, and the absence of a new signed contract between the ILWU and PMA is a significant contributing factor. Larger industry forces have also contributed to the delays, including carriers withdrawing from providing chassis, bigger ships in the trans-Pacific trade and faster growing volumes this year because of the improving U.S. economy. Read more... |
EU Regulators Raise Concerns over Antitrust Issues Surrounding R-1234yf
On Oct. 21, the antitrust arm of the European Union sent a formal statement of objections to DuPont Co. and Honeywell International that raises concerns over their joint venture to develop R-1234yf, a vehicle refrigerant that meets EU greenhouse gas emissions standards and is already in use in 2 million cars worldwide. Read more... |
EPA Updates List of Chemicals for Review under TSCA
On Oct. 23, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2014 update to the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan chemicals, with 23 new chemicals or chemical groups included and 13 removed. Many of the newly listed chemicals are currently being manufactured for potential automotive uses like adhesives, plastics, flame retardants, rubber compounds and others. All of the newly added chemicals will enter into the Work Plan process beginning in 2017. Read more... |
U.S., Mexico Agree to Greater Collaboration on Trusted Trader Programs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Mexico's Tax Administration Service (SAT) have signed a mutual recognition arrangement that allows stronger collaboration between CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and SAT's New Certified Companies Scheme (NEEC). Under the arrangement, which is aimed at facilitating trade, program members shipping cargo will benefit from fewer exams, a faster validation process, common standards, greater efficiency, transparency between Customs administrations and front-of-the-line processing, among other benefits. Read more... |
New Blog Post: AAPEX Education Sessions to Focus on Telematics
The Auto Care Association government affairs team publishes a blog to offer some additional insight into what is happening in Washington, D.C., the states and internationally, and how that relates to the auto care industry. Read our most recent post here: http://tiny.cc/blog102714 Read more... |
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