On Sunday April 19th, President Trump issued an Executive Order using the National Emergency Authority to temporarily extend deadlines for certain estimated payments of import tariffs. Simultaneously with the Presidential Proclamation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued instructions and guidelines in a CSMS bulletin titled “90 Day Postponement of Payment for
USTR Seeks Comments on Removal of Tariffs on Certain Chinese Imports that Assist the U.S. Coronavirus Response
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking comments to remove Section 301 tariffs on certain Chinese imported products that could help support the United States COVID-19 response. The USTR recently granted approximately 200 exclusions that covered personal protective equipment products, including medical masks, examination gloves, antiseptic wipes, and other medical-care related items
U.S. Agrees to Suspend List 4b Tariffs and Decrease List 4a Tariffs in a “Phase One” Trade Deal with China
On December 13, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a “Phase One” agreement with China that will cease the imposition of 15% tariffs on $160 billion worth of Chinese imports that were scheduled to be imposed on December 15. According to a statement published by USTR, the U.S. will maintain tariffs on approximately
Trump Reinstates Steel and Aluminum Tariffs on Brazil and Argentina in Response to Alleged Currency Manipulation
The Trump Administration’s trade policy took another unexpected turn following the President’s Monday morning tweets on December 2, 2019. President Trump announced his intention to re-impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Argentina and Brazil due to “massive devaluation of their currencies.” In March 2018, President Trump imposed 25% duties on all foreign steel imports and
USTR Considering Certain Section 301 List 1 Exclusion Extensions in November
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is considering possible extension requests for Section 301 List 1 exclusions granted in December 2018 and invites public comments on whether to extend exclusions granted in its December 2018 notice. These will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
USTR is focusing its analysis on whether
Trump WH Announces Changes/Reviews for Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program
The Trump Administration announced that it will suspend $1.3 billion in trade preferences for certain products from Thailand under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program citing Thailand’s “failure to adequately provide internationally-recognized worker rights.”
GSP provides reduced tariff rates for certain products from certain developing and least developed countries. Per the office of the
USTR Announces List 4 Exclusion Process for Section 301 Tariffs
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will soon publish a federal register notice outlining the process for submitting Section 301 exclusion requests for List 4. The USTR noted that if an exclusion is granted, it will effective from the day the first tranche of List 4 tariffs (i.e. “Annex A”) came to effect (i.e. from September
China Exempts 16 Types of U.S. Products from Retaliatory Tariffs ahead of Trade Talks with U.S.
On September 11, 2019, China’s Ministry of Finance announced exemptions for sixteen (16) U.S. product lines from its retaliatory tariffs against the United States. These exemptions may be viewed as a gesture of good will from China and an attempt to de-escalate the tariff and trade war between the two countries that has been waging
China Exempts 16 Types of U.S. Products from Retaliatory Tariffs ahead of Trade Talks
On September 11, China’s Ministry of Finance announced exemptions for 16 U.S. product lines from retaliatory tariffs. The exemptions are seen as a gesture of good will from China and an attempt to de-escalate the tariff war between the two sides that has been raging on for over a year. Deputy-level trade negotiators from Washington
Comment Period Announced for Section 301 Tariff Increase to 30% on Lists 1-3 Worth $250 Billion
According to a Federal Register Notice published on September 3, 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposes to increase additional duties from 25 percent to 30 percent on the products from China currently subject to Section 301 tariff actions first taken in June, August, and September 2018, with an aggregate annual trade value of