Shippers Seek Sharper Regulatory Review

The American Association of Exporters and Importers is looking for a sharper pencil in the federal regulatory process. With the economy struggling, business doesn’t need to shoulder extra burdens without stricter cost-benefit analysis, the trade group said.

AAEI filed comments last week with the Office of Management and Budget which included several measures intended to assist federal agencies with achieving their regulatory goals without adding financial burdens on importers and exporters during the nation’s economic recovery. OMB is currently developing a new Executive Order on Federal Regulatory Review for the Obama Administration.

“The government has a history of passing and enforcing regulations which impact companies in ways that hurt business and the economy as a whole,” said Marianne Rowden, AAEI General Counsel (Interim Executive). “The trade industry needs to see more transparency, cost-benefit analysis, and a more sophisticated approach to regulating imported and exported products.”

“Some of the regulations we have in place now serve no apparent national interest, yet they cost companies time and money. Now more than ever, we need a better regulatory process,” Rowden said.