The latest U.S. foreign aid bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan enacted on April 24, 2024 enhances U.S. sanctions and export controls including expanding (1) the statute of limitations for sanctions violations; (2) the President’s authority to coordinate sanctions efforts with the European Union and the United Kingdom; (3) sanctions and export controls on Iran
House Panel Set to Introduce GSP Renewal
The House Ways & Means Committee is set to review a slate of bills addressing trade with China, among which is a bill to renew the Generalized System of Preferences (“GSP”)—which expired in 2020—until 2030. The “Generalized System of Preferences Reform Act” proposes the “largest reforms to the GSP program since inception,” including permanently banning…
Withhold Release Order Issued on Shanghai Select Safety Products and Subsidiaries
17 months since it’s last issuance of a Withhold Release Order (WRO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revives its enforcement mechanism to target a Chinese importer and its affiliates operating in the safety products industry.
Effective Wednesday, April 10, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will detain work gloves manufactured by Shanghai Select…
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…
Luxury automobiles from China detained by CBP over forced labor violations
“Several thousands” of vehicles from German luxury brands including Porsche, Bentley, and Audi have been detained at U.S. ports following the discovery of a Chinese subcomponent violating U.S. anti-forced labor laws. The parent company, Volkswagen Group, had sourced a key electronic component through a supplier further down the company’s supply chain and was unaware of…
USTR Further Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions to Allow More Time for Four-Year Review
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced on September 6, 2023 the further extension of 352 reinstated exclusions and 77 COVID-related exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China. These exclusions, which cover a variety of products ranging from machinery components to medical equipment, constitute the only remaining active exclusions…
Mandatory Notifications (and Potential Prohibitions) on Outbound Investment in China Ahead?
On July 25, 2023, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure to add mandatory notifications of certain investments in China to the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”). The Outbound Investment Transparency Act, authored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Casey (D-PA), would require U.S. companies to notify the government of investments in certain Chinese sectors…
Section 301 Tariffs: USTR Four-Year Review
On May 5, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a Notice requesting comments from domestic industry members benefitting from the Section 301 tariffs as to whether the USTR should continue to impose Section 301 tariffs for lists 1, 2, 3, and 4A. USTR is required to review the necessity of Section 301 actions four…