WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Agriculture today notified
Senator Susan Collins that the department will delay its planned collection of
inspection fees at the U.S.-Canada border while the issue of implementation is
more closely examined. Earlier this month, Senator Collins, who chairs the
Senate Homeland Security Committee, contacted DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff
and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to express concerns
with the proposed plan to levy new user fees on all commercial shipments that
enter the United States from Canada.
Upon learning of the delay, Senator Collins said, “This is welcome news.
It is crucial that the Department of Agriculture take all relevant factors
into consideration before implementing these user fees, which could have an
effect on the flow of trade over the U.S-Canada border.”
At issue is a proposal by the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to collect user fees at the U.S.-
Canada border.
In a letter to the Secretaries on November 6th, Senator Collins wrote,
“The security of our borders, which includes protecting the United States from
agricultural pests and diseases originating in other countries, must be a
national priority.” But concerned about the delays that could be caused during
the process of collecting these new fees, Senator Collins further wrote, “This
security concern must be balanced against the unique trading relationship with
Canada. There is a long history of close cooperation with the Canadians on
the management of the border and addressing our mutual border concerns. Last
year, $3.9 billion in products crossed the border between my state of Maine
and Canada. Many Maine businesses depend for their survival on the timely
importation of products from Canada. Delays in receiving inventories and
supplies through a poorly managed inspection regime could do serious harm to
these businesses.”
Senator Collins is particularly concerned that the Department’s proposed
policy may be burdensome at single lane ports of entry, such as in Calais,
Maine, where traffic is already often delayed.
Senator Collins requested that the Administration take into account her
concerns regarding this new fee. As a result, she was notified today that the
Department of Agriculture has delayed until March 1, 2007 implementation of
the collection of user fees at U.S ports of entry. According to the
Department’s notification, this delay will “allow for additional time for
affected entities to make necessary preparations to comply with the inspection
and collection procedures that we will be instituting as a result of the
interim rule.”