Weekly Advocacy Recap—November 4, 2019

Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Weekly Recap! This is ISSA’s regular roundup of the latest public policy-related issues impacting the cleaning industry.

US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Says China Deal Is Likely to Be Signed in November

According to the New York Times, “The two countries are putting the finishing touches on a pact that would address issues such as China’s treatment of foreign intellectual property, forced technology transfer, currency transparency, improved access for American financial services firms to China’s market and, eventually, a commitment by China to buy as much as $50 billion a year of farm products from the United States.” The China tariffs have impacted the cleaning industry and ISSA has continued to weigh in urging an agreement to be reached.

October Job Creation Comes in at 128,000

According to CNBC, “Even with a decline of 42,000 [jobs] in the motor vehicles and parts industry, the pace of new jobs well exceeded the estimate of 75,000 from economists surveyed by Dow Jones. The loss of jobs came due to the General Motors strike that has since been settled. That 42,000 job loss itself was less than the 50,000 or more than many economists had been anticipating.” Additionally, average hourly earnings increased 0.1% bringing the year-over-year increase up to 3%.

Federal Procurement of Commercial Products

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors legislative issue brief explains matters related to federal procurement policies. The Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization (NDAA) bill “restructured the process by which federal agencies acquire more than $50 billion in commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products annually. The General Services Administration (GSA) is directed to establish a program for their procurement through commercial online e-commerce portals.”

Other links:

EPA’s Ethylene Oxide Proposal Clears White House Review

Save the Date! Antimicrobial Workshop Set for May 12-13, 2020

United States–Mexico–Canada Trade Agreement Approval Process to Begin Soon

Time Is Running Out! Are You Ready for Ingredient Disclosure?

A Titanic Battle Over Work in California Looms