BJ Attao
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted House Joint Resolution 24-9, “respectfully urging” the U.S. Treasury, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Service, and other responsible federal agencies, “to immediately cease and desist” the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14324, which suspends duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries.
Co-sponsored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. John Paul Sablan, Rep. Joel Camacho, Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, Rep. Vincent Aldan, and Rep. Danny Aquino Jr., the resolution also urges the federal government to remit to the Commonwealth all revenues collected under E.O. 14324. Alternatively, it calls on the federal government to recognize the CNMI government’s authority to collect such revenues itself, consistent with the Covenant and applicable law.
The House acted on the resolution the same day it was introduced, citing community concerns about the EO’s potential impact on the cost of living in the CNMI.
In a press statement on Tuesday, U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds said the U.S. Postal Service has confirmed that airmail service from the CNMI and Guam to the U.S. mainland will no longer be disrupted by the suspension of the de minimis exemption.
She added that mail and packages sent from the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to U.S. territories remain unchanged and unaffected by President Trump’s EO.
