Proclamations ending exemptions from Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum for the European Union, Mexico and Canada, and setting new quotas on the products from Argentina and Brazil, were published June 5. Presidential Proclamation 9758, issued May 31 includes an annex detailing new quotas on Argentina aluminum, part of that country’s agreement with the U.S. to avoid the 10 percent tariff. Presidential Proclamation 9759, also issued May 31, sets new quotas on iron and steel products from Argentina and Brazil, with many quota amounts set from the beginning at zero, as well as other changes to Section 232 provisions for steel in the tariff schedule (see 1806010034). The tariff changes took effect June 1.

The Fish and Wildlife Service recently clarified inspection requirements for shipments that include both plants and wildlife listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, whether or not CITES-listed. The April 16 policy bulletin, posted to the FWS website on May 31, clarifies the application of a 2016 agreement between FWS and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that allows FWS inspectors to validate such shipments, which has “led to some confusion as to which agency provides inspection,” FWS said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Hidden Lake bluecurls (Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum), a member of the mint family found in California, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule. Threats to the species have been "eliminated or reduced to the point where it no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species," FWS said. The delisting takes effect July 2.

The Drug Enforcement Administration intends to temporarily list five synthetic cannabinoids in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice. If the agency finalizes its determination, NM2201, 5F-AB-PINACA, 4-CN-CUMYL-BUTINACA, MMB-CHMICA and 5F-CUMYL-P7AICA will be subject to import and export restrictions for schedule I substances. DEA must wait at least 30 days before finalizing the listing. The agency can temporarily list controlled substances for up to three years before a permanent listing is required.

Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Mike O'Rielly asked the CEOs of Amazon and eBay for those companies' help in cracking down on video set-top boxes that fraudulently carry the FCC's logo indicating they comply with the agency's equipment authorization or boxes that don't comply with those authorization requirements. In a letter to Amazon's Jeff Bezos and eBay's Devin Wenig dated May 25, O'Rielly said the FCC doesn't have an obligation to crack down on unauthorized set-tops, but many such boxes are being used in pirating of video content. He asked that the online retailers commit to removing from their sites any devices with fraudulent FCC logos or devices that haven't been certified if the agency brings those devices to the companies' attention, with supporting evidence. He also asked the companies to give the FCC names of device manufacturers, distributors and suppliers "if the situation arises."

The Energy Department is issuing a final rule to delay the compliance date for amended energy efficiency standards for ceiling fan light kits until Jan. 21, 2020. Compliance with the amended standards had originally been required for all ceiling light kits manufactured or imported into the U.S. beginning Jan. 7, 2019 (see 1601050027), but Congress in April enacted legislation directing DOE to grant a delay. Compliance with the amended standard on ceiling fan light kits will now be required at the same time as compliance with amended standards on ceiling fans (see 1701180039).

The Fish and Wildlife Service is reclassifying the Tobusch fishhook cactus, Sclerocactus brevihamatus ssp. tobuschii (currently listed as Ancistrocactus tobuschii) from an endangered species to a threatened species, in a final rule. It is endemic to the Edwards Plateau of central Texas. The reclassification takes effect June 14.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is reclassifying the Kuenzler hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri, from an endangered species to a threatened species, in a final rule. The reclassification takes effect June 10.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for one more year the temporary listing of beta-hydroxythiofentanyl in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said. The synthetic opioid, first temporarily listed in 2016, will now remain listed in schedule I until May 12, 2019. DEA also issued a proposed rule to permanently list beta-hydroxythiofentanyl in schedule I, with comments due June 11. Substances may only be temporarily listed under the CSA for three years.

Agencies involved in wildlife trafficking enforcement should improve their use of rewards for tips that lead to fines or convictions, the Government Accountability Office said in a report issued May 8. The Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should improve their tracking of rewards and guidance on reward amounts for information on Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act violations, and better advertise to the public the availability of rewards, GAO said.