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Eric Schmutz

Eric Schmutz is NAIOP’s Senior Director of Federal Affairs.
Navigating Trade Winds: U.S.-China Tariffs and E-commerce
U.S. tariffs have been on the rise over the last several years, often targeting China and affecting global manufacturing with major implications for logistics. If tariffs continue to rise as expected, what will this shift mean for West Coast industrial real estate?  
Presidential Campaign Promises Lead to a Busy First 100 Days
It is normal for the first 100 days of a new administration to create a lot of activity in Washington, but the first six weeks of President Donald Trump’s administration are proving to be busier than normal – and with looming deadlines ahead, things do not appear to be slowing down.
An Action-packed Week in Washington
The quest to approve federal funding continued during another busy week in Washington, where lawmakers took up a $435 billion funding package that includes the FDA and a number of other departments. Also this week, 16 states and American Samoa held presidential primary elections, with 854 Republican and 1,420 Democratic delegates at stake.
Congress’ Full Plate and Election-year Politics Will Make 2024 a Busy Year
In any year with divided government, it is a challenge to achieve agreements on appropriations and tax policy, but this Congress is also faced with challenges of reaching agreements on border security, along with assistance to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine. Margins in both the House and the Senate are narrow and the presidential election year shortens the legislative timeline before congressional re-election campaigns start in earnest.
Congress Avoids Government Shutdown but Must-Pass Legislation Remains
For the first December in recent years, Congress is no longer facing a government shutdown deadline. Prior to the Thanksgiving recess, Congress approved a two-tiered appropriations package. This “laddered” approach primarily funds domestic programs (such as housing, agriculture, transportation and infrastructure) until Jan. 19, 2024, and the remaining programs, including defense and homeland security, until Feb. 2, 2024. Year-end 2023 is not without its share of must-pass legislation, however.
New House Speaker Johnson Faces Many Challenges
Following three weeks of negotiations and squabbling, House Republicans elected Louisiana Representative Mike Johnson to serve as the 56th Speaker of the House. This was a difficult time for House Republicans, who struggled to find a new speaker after eight of their members joined all House Democrats to abruptly oust McCarthy on Oct. 3.
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