The U.S. is reducing by 50% tariffs on certain prepared meals, certain crystal glassware, cigarette lighters and lighter parts, surface preparations and propellant powders, in exchange for the European Union ending tariffs on live and frozen lobster imports. Canada had been taking market share from Maine lobster exports since Canada and the EU signed a trade deal, and Canadian lobsters could enter duty free. The products from the EU have an “average annual trade value of $160 million,” while lobster exports to the EU topped $111 million in 2017, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a news release Aug. 21. All the tariff reductions are effective as of Aug. 1, 2020.
During the second of two hearings aimed at satisfying primarily Florida and Georgia farmers frustrated with lost market share to Mexican competitors, officials from the Commerce Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Aug. 20 heard vastly different views of how Mexican vegetable and fruit producers deserve to be treated (see 2008180034). Blueberry, zucchini, cucumber and bell pepper farmers from Georgia testified again and again that Mexicans can sell these items cheaper than they can, because of much lower labor prices, because of stricter environmental regulations in the U.S., and because Mexican producers have gotten government help to build shade houses, greenhouses and hoop houses.
While many expect a President Joe Biden to be less protectionist than President Donald Trump, Michael Smart, a managing director at Rock Creek Global Advisors and former international trade counsel for Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, wasn't ready to say that Biden would roll back tariffs on either China or Europe, though he did say that Biden wouldn't “go after the European Union” as Trump has. He said that a Trump or a Biden administration would have the same focus on expanding Buy American rules, which cover government procurement.
Several trade groups representing businesses would like the USMCA's rapid labor mechanism for dealing with Mexico labor violations to be far less rapid, according to their suggestions on how the process should go. The National Foreign Trade Council, the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National Retail Federation submitted nearly identical comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which posted them publicly late on Aug. 17. They said that those arguing that Mexicans' rights to collective bargaining and freedom of association are being abridged by an employer should “be required to exhaust all other avenues prior to filing petitions.”
The Aug. 28 meeting of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body in Geneva will include the European Union's arguments that with Airbus launch subsidies resolved, the billions of dollars in tariffs on French wine, Airbus planes, Scottish whisky and other products should be lifted. The U.S. will also weigh in.
The International Trade Commission is recommending that 2,695 petitions for tariff reductions be included in a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill, and 705 petitions be rejected, it said in a news release Aug. 10. Another 42 petitions were ineligible for a decision, either because they were incomplete, or because of the company that submitted them. The recommendations were within a final report to be considered by Congress as part of the MTB process. “The submission of today’s report marks the completion of the second and final petition cycle required by the law,” the ITC said.
The broader impact of CBP's ruling on unsold low-value goods imported under Section 321 exemptions may be somewhat limited, industry experts said in recent interviews. The ruling (see 2007310036) laid out how the agency determines what entities can be considered a “person” for unsold Section 321 shipments.
As Canadians consider which of 68 aluminum-containing products to put on a tariff retaliation list, U.S. industrial producers and buyers of aluminum reacted with dismay to the news that a large segment of Canadian aluminum imports will face a 10% tariff starting Aug. 16.
Amina Mohamed, Kenya's Sports, Culture and Heritage minister and its nominee to lead the World Trade Organization, said strengthening rules on industrial subsidies and reforming the Appellate Body are critical for the WTO's continued success.
President Donald Trump on Aug. 6 said he signed a proclamation earlier in the day that will be reimposing 10% tariffs on Canadian aluminum. "Canada was taking advantage of us, as usual," he said. "The aluminum industry was being decimated by Canada." He said Canada has been flooding the U.S. with imports, and the U.S. Trade Representative told him that the return of the 10% tariff was "absolutely necessary" to preserve the U.S. aluminum industry. He was speaking at a Whirlpool plant in Clyde, Ohio.