The announcement comes after Beijing announced its first round of tariff exemptions for U.S. goods earlier in the day.

China’s Finance Ministry on Sept. 11 announced the first round of exemptions of U.S. goods from Chinese retaliatory tariffs. The exemptions will be effective from Sept. 17 to Sept. 16, 2020. Specifically, the exclusions will cover two lists — one comprising 12 items and another comprising four items.  For the first list, affected import enterprises […]

Almost all companies required to conduct due diligence to determine the countries of origin for conflict minerals used in their products did so last year, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Sept. 9. The relevant Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulation generally requires companies to disclose whether they sourced tin, tantalum, gold […]

A NAFTA binational antidumping and countervailing duty dispute panel on Sept. 4 issued a decision upholding the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC’s) finding that imports of softwood lumber from Canada are causing adverse impact to U.S. industry, according to a Sept. 5 note from the NAFTA Secretariat. “The panel found that the commission’s finding of […]

Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 5 in London made the case for a post-Brexit U.S.-United Kingdom trade agreement, asserting that such a deal could triple or quadruple bilateral trade. The U.K. was the seventh-largest U.S. trading partner in 2018, when the U.S. exported $66.3 billion worth of goods to the country and imported $60.8 […]

A white paper released Sept. 4 by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., raises concern with the ability of the federal government to combat trade-based money laundering (TBML) and suggests that a public distributed ledger system could be used to prevent such money laundering. “There needs to be real-time coordination and reviewable connections between the agency handling […]

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sept. 3 stated a shared commitment for their countries to work constructively on a solution to international taxation at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by early 2020, Treasury announced after the officials met in Washington, DC. The commitment comes after […]

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a 24-year-old woman on Sept. 2 at the Port of Lukeville, AZ, for attempting to smuggle 53 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to the U.S., CBP announced Sept. 3. The drugs have a street value of almost $48,000, the agency said. Officers referred the Mexican national for secondary […]

China will file a dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding U.S. tariffs across approximately $263 billion worth of goods from China in annual import value, China’s Commerce Ministry said Sept. 2. That $263 billion represents the latest round of U.S. Section 301 tariffs on China, the first phase of which took effect at […]

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is accepting comments through Oct. 31 on foreign barriers to exports of U.S. goods and services, U.S. direct foreign investment, and protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights for inclusion in USTR’s annual National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the agency said. USTR said […]

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released notices for publication in the Federal Register to increase tariffs across almost all imports from China. One notice would increase tariffs from 10% to 15% across approximately $263 billion worth of annual imports from China. The notice is scheduled to be officially published on Aug. […]

French President Emmanuel Macron on Aug. 26 claimed that the U.S. and France reached a deal regarding France’s digital tax framework, after the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative started a Section 301 investigation on the matter in July. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 provides for the imposition of trade remedies, including […]

The commission will publish a final rule in the Federal Register on Aug. 27 requiring more information from petitioners.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) Rapid Response Subcommittee on Aug. 21 proposed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) support a “Northern Triangle Trade and Job Promotion Act” to promote exports of apparel, agricultural products and other regional economic staples to the U.S. from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. COAC is proposing the legislation, […]

China will impose additional tariffs on U.S. imports worth about $75 billion in response to a forthcoming fourth tranche of U.S. tariffs across about $262 billion worth of goods from China in annual import value, China’s State Council announced Aug. 23. Additional tariffs of 5% or 10% will be imposed in two batches on 5,078 […]

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) on Aug. 21 approved a recommendation for Customs and Border Protection to allow carriers to assume liability for initial in-bond shipments, where the initial in-bond was applied in another mode. COAC also recommended to allow for confirmation of the appropriate arrival/export by the assuming carrier. Further, COAC recommended […]

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting written comments identifying online and physical markets to be considered for inclusion in USTR’s 2019 Notorious Markets List, the agency said. USTR will accept comments through September 30 and rebuttal comments and “other information USTR should consider during the review” through October 15, the agency said. […]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection systems at airports nationwide encountered an unexpected outage Friday afternoon, leaving passengers waiting in extremely long lines, according to multiple news outlets. “CBP is experiencing a temporary outage with its processing systems at various air ports of entry & is taking immediate action to address the technology disruption,” CBP Tweeted. […]

Customs and Border Protection late this month will start live testing for blockchain’s applicability to intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement, according to a document posted online in preparation for the August 21 Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) meeting in Buffalo, N.Y. The test is scheduled to last through late September, says the document posted […]

As the U.S.-China trade war intensified with the Trump administration announcing more tariffs, the two countries clashed in two disputes this week at the World Trade Organization (WTO). During a meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on August 15, the DSB agreed to China’s request to establish a dispute panel to rule on […]

American Trucking Associations (ATA) praised the fact that 53-foot intermodal containers won’t be subject to the next round of Section 301 tariffs on China. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative deleted the goods from the next planned tranches of trade measures to take effect September 1 and December 15. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheading […]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a proposed rule to establish new required health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements, which would apply to imports, the agency said. The proposed rule would implement a provision of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requiring FDA to issue regulations requiring color graphics depicting […]

Customs and Border Protection and the Treasury Department on August 15 issued a final rule to impose import restrictions on certain archaeological material from Algeria. Effective immediately, the rule amends CBP regulations to add Algeria to the list of countries that have a bilateral agreement with the U.S. to impose cultural property import restrictions. A […]

The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is accepting comments and will hold a hearing to help inform the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) annual report to Congress on China’s compliance with its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, USTR announced in a Federal Register notice published August 14. The public hearing will be […]

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public comment on the commercial impacts of the proposed addition of five chemical families to Schedule 1 of the “Annex on Chemicals” to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), BIS said in a Federal Register notice published August 13. The CWC is an international arms control treaty […]

Customs and Border Protection is publishing a proposed rule to require customs brokers to collect certain information from importers to enable the brokers to verify the identity of importers, including nonresident importers, CBP said. Only a limited amount of information currently is required for customs brokers to receive power of attorney (POA), according to CBP. […]

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to update standards for hydrochlorofluorocarbons, including import requirements. EPA announced that its proposed updates include requiring electronic reporting for importers and exporters; improving the process for petitioning to import used substances for reuse; creating a certification process for importing used and virgin — or newly produced — substances for […]

Some tech goods, including cellphones, laptops and video game consoles, won’t be subject to Section 301 tariffs when a new round takes effect September 1.

Customs and Border Protection will conduct a test to examine new functionalities for de minimis entry filings in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) beginning no earlier than September 28, CBP announced. The ACE Entry Type 86 Test “will allow CBP to address the growing volume of Section 321 low-valued shipments resulting from the global shift […]

The Defense Department (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to support the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) policy of including overseas contracts in agency small business contracting goals, the agencies announced in a proposed rule. The proposed FAR changes are consistent […]

The 183 parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will adopt decisions and resolutions to expand and strengthen the global wildlife trade regime during the organization’s triennial World Wildlife Conference in Geneva Aug. 17-28.  Governments have submitted 56 new proposals to change levels of protection that […]

DHS concurred with the four recommendations made by the congressional watchdog agency.

Plastic containers, polyester yarn, steel pet cages and lawn care equipment are among the goods excluded.

The U.S. will engage with the IMF to eliminate the cited unfair advantage created by the alleged devaluation of China’s currency.

Most industry representatives testified against tariffs proposed against the EU in retaliation for subsidies provided to Airbus.

Goods like clothes and toys are on the proposed tariff list.

The deal reached in Washington on Friday will allow the U.S. to nearly triple its beef exports to Europe.

Updated CPSC policies on stroller safety and refrigerator certificates are expected to be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

Tariffs and USMCA were among the topics discussed during Tuesday night’s presidential debate.

A small business exporter highlighted the benefits she has reaped from de minimis exemptions during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday.

The action directed by USTR follows discovery of harvested timber in the company’s supply chain.

The working group laid out specific proposals in the areas of labor, the environment, enforcement and pharmaceuticals.

Among the Democrats voting against the bill were Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, as well as House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon.

Morocco expects to export 200 to 500 metric tons of fresh raspberries to the continental U.S. yearly.

The congressional delegation trip caps off an active week on Capitol Hill regarding consideration of the new NAFTA.

A multilateral steel group mandate was not renewed in Japan, says the deputy director of the National Economic Council during a think tank discussion Wednesday.

Sherrod Brown and Ron Wyden urge Customs and Border Protection to issue a withhold release order to prevent such imports from entering U.S. commerce.

A House subcommittee told Tuesday CBP fentanyl seizures thus far in FY19 equal all of FY18.

The World Trade Organization Appellate Body finds against prior U.S. CV duties on China.

The president’s executive order sets the stage for higher domestic content requirements for federal procurements and a threshold for iron and steel products.

The president opted instead to direct the establishment of a working group to examine the U.S. nuclear fuel supply.

Trade experts tackled the bilateral trade war, which has lasted for more than a year, during a panel discussion Wednesday.

The action could result in trade remedies, including tariffs, if the U.S. finds that France is engaging in unfair commercial practices.

Planned for this fall, submission of the report will follow an April presidential memorandum requiring the departments of Commerce and Homeland Security to send a report focusing on the extent to which third parties facilitate or work to combat trafficking in counterfeits.

Several stakeholders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, had called for a vote before the August recess.

USTR has called for South Korea to improve its procedures for competition hearings held by the Korea Fair Trade Commission.

The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled on Wednesday to mark up a bill that would establish a blockchain working group aimed at determining potential applications for blockchain, including in federal agencies. The working group would include representatives from various federal agencies, private sector firms, academic institutions and blockchain-focused advocacy groups, among other members, according to […]

Sanctions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and Section 232 will be among the topics covered.

The agreement provides for information exchange and better enforcement of customs laws in both countries.

The West African country will join a list of countries eligible to trade in rough diamonds under the Clean Diamond Trade Act.

Customs and Border Protection will refund all cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties collected on those shipments.

Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau published separate notices of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on Monday.

The imposition of any tariffs depends on whether a WTO arbitrator determines the U.S. may take countermeasures.

Customs is using the pilots to get more information on nontraditional supply chain actors, a senior CBP official said during a conference last week.

There have been positive signs from both Democrats and Republicans regarding the trade pact’s prospects of passage, attorneys said during a conference on Thursday.

A coalition of interest groups held a “day of action” on the trade pact as lawmakers heard testimony regarding Mexico’s recently passed labor reform legislation.

The ship-to-shore cranes had been removed from List 3 of Section 301 tariffs on China but were later added to proposed List 4.

Tariffs on steel will remain in place after the court declined to review an American Institute for International Steel case challenging the president’s constitutional authority.

Starting Sunday the electronic portal will be available to seek exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on $200 billion worth of goods from China.

Bonuses help attract officers in hard-to-fill locations, senior official says.

State-to-state dispute settlement issue potentially could be solved through an exchange of letters, says executive of Mexican business association.

“We should work collaboratively for … passage of a trade agreement that creates jobs, protects workers and consumers,” said Rep. Mike Thompson of California.

The U.S. trade representative appeared before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday on the first day of congressional hearings on the Trump administration’s trade agenda.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials on Monday said several factors indicate that the effort to secure U.S. approval of the pact recently has gained momentum.

The agency anticipates submitting the report to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative by March 31.

The National Economic Council director said at an event in Washington Thursday that the ongoing bilateral tit for tat will have minimal economic impacts on U.S. consumers.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative grants a second round of exclusions from Section 201 global safeguard duties on solar cells covering three products.

The committee’s favorable reporting of the nominees clears the way for the full Senate to consider confirmation of Amy Karpel and Randolph Stayin.

A House Agriculture Committee panel heard testimony from Trump administration ag officials during a hearing that widely touched on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

President Trump agreed to indefinitely suspend threatened tariffs against Mexico after a deal aimed at stemming the flow of illegal migration to the United States was reached.

Thursday will be the last day the current Regulations.gov system will accept totally new requests for exclusions from Section 232 measures on steel and aluminum.

The federal agency announces the names of 168 individuals and entities banned from exporting defense articles that require a State Department license.

The federal agency announces the names of 23 individuals and entities banned from exporting defense articles that require a State Department license.

As the administration ratchets up Section 301 tariffs on China, it appears it is directing less attention to the overarching goal of balancing the trade relationship, a witness said.

Effective Wednesday, the rule will amend the Export Administration Regulations’ aircraft, vessels and spacecraft license exception.

The action was taken after the Trump administration determined that India failed to provide the U.S. with fair market access.

The exclusions on such products as oil pumps, forklifts, garage door openers and medical equipment will be retroactive to July 6 and extend through June 4, 2020.

There was a significant outcry among customs brokers at the southern border after President Trump tweeted last week that he plans to impose tariffs on all goods from Mexico to pressure the United States’ southern neighbor to curb illegal migration flows, one representative of brokers told American Shipper.

The administration sent to Congress a draft statement to propel USMCA implementing legislation Thursday, the same day Trump tweeted he plans to impose tariffs on Mexico.

Japan, Germany and Malaysia among the countries that met two of three criteria to be designated by the Treasury as a currency manipulator, but no country met all three.

‘Qualitative’ retaliation could take the form of increased inspections, difficulty in getting licenses, and delays and investigations for environmental compliance.

The AB has four vacancies, with two current members on the seven-position panel expected to depart in December, which would render it inoperative.

The most recent and announced potential future duties will reduce global GDP, the intergovernmental group stated in a report released Thursday.

Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., says the agreement won’t be “jammed through” his panel or the House Ways and Means Committee.

Kansas Republican Jerry Moran says tariffs threaten long-term damage to U.S. agriculture.

Brenda Smith, Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade executive assistant commissioner, said her agency will develop modernization projects that will result in pilots.

The agreement doesn’t involve quotas, and the tariffs will be gone in 48 hours, according to reports.

President Trump directed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to lead talks as the administration seeks to mitigate the “threatened impairment of national security.”