Jamaica keenly monitoring US border wall funding proposal
THE GOVERNMENT has indicated that it is keeping a close eye on a draft bill in the United States that is proposing to tax remittances sent to countries like Jamaica, the funds from which would be used to fund President Donald Trump’s US border wall with Mexico, intended to curb illegal migration.
At the same time, stating that if enacted, it would have a “devastating effect on Jamaica’s economy”, the Opposition is also urging the Government to “act expeditiously” on the matter, with the aim of having the US reconsider the proposal.
The Draft Bill, titled ‘H.R. 1813 – Border Wall Funding Act of 2017’, is seeking to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to impose an additional fee of two per cent of the US dollar amount for remittance transfers to a list of countries.
The draft is now before several committees for consideration.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
It is important to note that hundreds of drafts bills are introduced by congressional representatives every year, but many of them fail to make it through to extensive legislative process.
Foreign Trade said that it was fully aware of the situation, however, according to portfolio minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, “It should be noted that this was a first step in the process of getting legislation through Congress.”
She continued, “It is important to note that hundreds of drafts bills are introduced by congressional representatives every year, but many of them fail to make it through to extensive legislative process.”