The International Trade Commission recently issued Revision 2 to the basic edition of the 2021 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The only changes in Revision 2, released March 30, relate to the extension of Section 301 exclusions for certain COVID-19 treatment goods announced in early March (see 2103050052). The terms of subheadings 9903.88.62, 9903.88.63, 9903.88.64 and 9903.88.65 are amended so they now say they expire Sept. 30.

The U.S. and Japan plan to set up a working group on securing supply chains for strategic technologies, including semiconductors, Nikkei Asia reported April 1. The two sides will likely agree to terms on the project -- including cooperation on research and development and production of strategic technology components -- when Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Joe Biden meet in Washington later this month, the report said. Both countries hope to address a global shortage of semiconductors and want to create a system wherein production doesn’t rely on specific regions that may present geopolitical risks, such as Taiwan and China, the Nikkei report said. The working group will reportedly include representatives from Japan’s trade and national security agencies and the U.S. National Security Council and Commerce Department. The report comes as the U.S. looks for ways to boost the competitiveness and capacity of its semiconductor industry (see 2103290004). The White House didn’t comment.

President Joe Biden tapped Daniel Maffei to be the new chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, the FMC announced March 30. Maffei, a sitting commissioner, replaces Michael Khouri, who was designated to head the FMC by President Donald Trump in 2019. Maffei takes over during a pivotal time for the commission, which is investigating unfair detention and demurrage practices by ocean carriers and other port issues caused by the pandemic (see 2102250039). “Due to the effects of COVID-19 and an unprecedented import boom, we are dealing with serious challenges to America’s international ocean transportation system -- challenges that the FMC has a vital role in addressing, both on its own as an independent agency and in cooperation with other agencies,” Maffei said in a statement. He is a former House member, representing New York.

The International Trade Commission on March 17 published Revision 1 to the Basic Edition of the 2021 Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This latest edition implements the four-month suspension of Section 301 tariffs on goods from the European Union imposed as part of the Airbus subsidy dispute at the World Trade Organization (see 2103050036).

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list four fentanyl-related substances -- fentanyl carbamate, ortho-fluoroacryl fentanyl, ortho-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl and para-fluoro furanyl fentanyl -- under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released March 17. The four substances are already temporarily controlled under a 2018 order that expires May 6 (see 2004090045). “If finalized, this action would make permanent the existing regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle” these four substances, DEA said. Comments are due April 19.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will use his upcoming meeting with Chinese officials to outline U.S. concerns over Chinese human rights abuses and illegal trade practices, Blinken told lawmakers. The March 18 meeting in Alaska, which was announced March 10, will include National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese foreign affairs officials Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi. “This is an important opportunity for us to lay out in very frank terms the many concerns that we have with Beijing's actions and behavior that are challenging the security, prosperity and the values of the United States and our partners and allies,” Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee March 10.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing Bradshaw's lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii, also known as Bradshaw's desert parsley), a plant found in western Oregon and southwestern Washington, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule published March 8. Threats to the species have been “eliminated or reduced to the point where it no longer meets the definition of an endangered or a threatened species,” FWS said. The delisting takes effect April 7.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list 10 fentanyl-related substances under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released March 2. The 10 substances are e 2′-fluoro ortho-fluorofentanyl, 4′-methyl acetyl fentanyl, β′-phenyl fentanyl, β-methyl fentanyl, ortho-fluorobutyryl fentanyl, ortho-methyl acetylfentanyl, ortho-methyl methoxyacetyl fentanyl, para-methylfentanyl, phenyl fentanyl and thiofuranyl fentanyl. “If finalized, this action would make permanent the existing regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess), or propose to handle” para-Methoxymethamphetamine, DEA said. Comments are due April 2.

The Fish and Wildlife Service seeks input on issues it should raise at the 19th Conference of the Parties meeting (CoP19) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, set for March 2022 in Costa Rica, FWS said in a notice released March 1. “With this notice we are soliciting recommendations for amending Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19 as well as recommendations for resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP19,” the agency said. Two subsequent notices will seek further input, including on specific proposals FWS will release for comment, it said. FWS will also hold a hearing on an as yet undetermined date before CoP19. Comments are due May 3.

West Virginia signed an economic memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade to bolster trade between the two parties. The MOU will establish a working group to promote economic ties and provide a framework to deepen industry ties on energy and other sectors.