On February 10, 2025, the White House released an executive order (“EO” or “Order”) titled “Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States” that reinstates a 25% tariff on imports of steel and steel derivative products into the United States. The administration has also previewed a parallel executive order on aluminum and aluminum derivative product
Moolenaar Heads Reintroduction of Bill to Strip China of PNTR Status
Yesterday, Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, along with House Ways & Means Committee member Tom Suozzi (D-NY), reintroduced a bill in the House of Representatives to revoke Permanent Normal Trade Relations (“PNTR”) with the People’s Republic of China. When reintroducing the bill, Molenaar cited to Trump’s
Trump Sets Stage for Future Tariffs and Trade Actions
On his first day in office, President Trump rolled out a sprawling set of directives to the heads of numerous government agencies charged with shaping U.S. trade policy. While stopping short of enacting new tariffs, the Presidential Memorandum defining an “America First Trade Policy” lays the investigative groundwork for potentially sweeping changes to tariffs and
Client Alert: New Legislation Introduced in Congress Proposes Ending Normal Trade Relations with China and More
On November 14, 2024, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, introduced the Restoring Trade Fairness Act, seeking to suspend China’s Permanent Normal Trade Relations (“PNTR”) status.
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Retractable Technologies, Inc. Contests Section 301 Tariff Increase, Files Complaint
On September 26, 2024, Texas-based syringe importer Retractable Technologies, Inc. (“Retractable”) filed a complaint before the United States Court of International Trade contesting the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) 100 percent tariff rate on imported needles and syringes from China. The tariff increase became effective on September 27, 2024. In conjunction with
Biden Administration Proposes New Section 301 Tariffs
This week, President Biden has directed the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) to take further action against Chinese unfair trading practices following the release of the statutory four-year review of Section 301 tariffs against the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). Per Biden’s direction, Ambassador Katherine Tai announced that she will be proposing modifications to existing
PRC Firm Files to Contest WRO Against Silica Products in Court of International Trade
Last week, Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. (“Hoshine”) filed a complaint at the Court of International Trade contesting a withhold release order (“WRO”) issued against it by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”).
The withhold release order prohibits Hoshine and its subsidiaries from importing silica-based products into the United States due to allegations of forced labor
Cassidy, Whitehouse Propose Customs Modernization Act to Enhance CBP Authority, Strengthen Enforcement
On December 8, Senate Finance Committee members Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the “Customs Modernization Act of 2023.” The act, which would amend the Tariff Act of 1930 “to strengthen the authorities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to enforce the customs and trade laws of the United States,” enhances CBP’s
Customs Ruling of the Week – Classification and Subheading Applicability of a Rotation Cushion
Main Idea: HTSUS Chapter 98, Subchapter 17, U.S. Note 4(b) exclusions are determined based on weighing all criteria. Although a product may meet the definition outlined in U.S. Note 4(a), they may fit the criteria outlined in U.S. Note 4(b) and therefore be excluded.
In ruling N330488 (Feb. 9, 2023), Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Customs Ruling of the Week- Classification, Country of Origin, Marking and Eligibility of the USMCA for a Sucrose, Lactose and Cocoa Powder Blend (SLCB)
Main Idea: When making multiple determinations in a single ruling, the totality of evidence based on each determination contributes to the final decisions.
In ruling N330744 (Feb. 28, 2023), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a decision on the classification, country of origin, marking and eligibility of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) for a