U.S.- E.U. Negotiations
A planned visit next week by European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan was canceled as the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak worsened around the world and the U.S. announced a plan to suspend travel from the E.U. beginning late tonight and lasting for at least 30 days. The two sides have struggled to gain momentum on a potential trade deal and this latest development is unlikely to improve the already strained talks.
Tariffs
In a strong, bipartisan showing, both the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee joined with other members of the committee which oversees international trade, in filing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit to force the Commerce Department to release its Section 232 report which found that imported autos and parts are a threat to U.S. national security. Despite an amendment which passed last year requiring the report's release, thus far Commerce has refused.
Show Congress the Vehicles on Your Lot Are Not a National Security Threat!
Quotes of the Week
"What concerns me the most is making sure that I provide a good value, and I think about my employee, and I think about our customer. That we provide a good enough value, invest in our facilities, make sure we have a safe place to buy, we're open the hours that they need us, we're open at night, we're open on the weekends for service and parts. That's when our employees count on us for making the good decisions so we can keep that going."
-Jason Courter, AIADA Chairman (CBT News)
"The Department of Commerce is willfully violating federal law by not making public its report on the supposed threat imported automobiles pose to American security."
-Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) (Inside U.S. Trade)
"I want to move 232 [reform]. A number of members of my Finance Committee have talked to me about doing it, so we're going to continue working together to get something moving."
-Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee (Inside U.S. Trade)
Must Watch
Check out AIADA Chairman Jason Courter on CBT News discussing the car business, his plans for his year as Chairman, and important issues confronting the industry.
ICYMI
AIADA has made available important Dealership Guidance for planning and responding to COVID-19.
Friday Funny
A Cow is on the Loose and Wanted by Police in South Florida
A cow is on the loose in South Florida. Not considered dangerous, but police have been trying to corral it for weeks.
The Pembroke Pines Police Department said Wednesday the animal has been spotted near Interstate 75 in southern Broward County. Somehow it has eluded capture since late January.
The police department put out a tweet: "Wanted: Unknown Cow."
Followed by this:
"Description: Female cow. Brown with a white head. Faster than it looks. Talented fence jumper. Enjoys pools."
Police spokeswoman Amanda Conwell said officers and wranglers have been unable to catch the animal and have backed off when it gets too close to heavily traveled roads.
"It jumps fences," she said. "It goes into pools."
Police also say the cow is guilty of "MOOving violations, uddering false checks, and fleeing and eluding police." These are direct quotes.
(Associated Press)
