The U.S. Trade Representative released the tariff lines that won't face additional tariffs until December, and the list is far broader than electronics, clothes and toys. Chemicals, food, camping gear, blankets, baby items, sports equipment, watches, clocks, small appliances, wooden hangers and fireworks all are spared, along with a wide variety of clothes and electronics. The list covers more than 650 tariff lines.

The U.S. Trade Representative announced that some goods included on the upcoming list four of Section 301 tariffs, including laptops, computer monitors, cell phones, video game consoles, certain toys and certain items of footwear and clothing, will not face additional 10 percent tariffs until Dec. 15. The announcement said the tariff lines in question would be published on the USTR.gov website later on Aug. 13. The agency also said there will be some products excluded entirely from the new set of tariffs for health, safety, national security or "other factors," and that those tariff lines will also be published later in the day.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued its first set of product exclusions from the third group of Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. The new exclusions from the tariffs include "10 specially prepared product descriptions" and cover 15 separate requests, according to the notice. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Sept. 24, 2018, the date the third set of tariffs took effect at 10 percent. The tariffs were subsequently increased to 25 percent. The exclusions will remain in effect until one year after the notice is published.

President Donald Trump said a 10 percent tariff on imported goods from China on List 4 -- nearly all the remaining imports that have not been hit in Section 301 -- will start on Sept. 1. He linked the punishment to a lack of agriculture purchases and the fact that "my friend President Xi" did not stop the sale of fentanyl to the U.S.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued its first set of product exclusions from the second group of Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. Newly exempt from the tariffs are "69 specially prepared product descriptions." The exclusions cover 292 separate requests, according to the notice. The product exclusions apply retroactively to Aug. 23, 2018, the date the second set of tariffs took effect, and will remain in effect until one year after the notice is published.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will begin a Section 301 investigation of France's proposed digital services tax, which is expected to pass the French Senate tomorrow, the USTR said in a news release. "The structure of the proposed new tax as well as statements by officials suggest that France is unfairly targeting the tax at certain U.S.-based technology companies," the release said. A Federal Register notice will follow with instructions on how to comment on or testify in front of the investigation.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued a sixth list of product exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on goods from China. Newly exempt from the tariffs are "110 specially prepared product descriptions," the agency said. The exclusions cover 362 separate requests, according to the notice, which is scheduled for publication in the July 9 Federal Register. The product exclusions apply retroactively to July 6, 2018, the date the first set of tariffs took effect, and will remain in effect until one year after the notice is published.

President Donald Trump said he won't lift current U.S. tariffs, but also won't add tariffs on any more Chinese imports "for at least the time being." He said during a press conference at the G20 Summit in Japan that negotiations will resume "where we left off to see if we can make a deal."

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will begin accepting exclusion requests for the third tranche of Section 301 tariffs through a new portal on June 30 at noon, the agency said in a notice. The exclusion requests will be due through the portal at exclusions.ustr.gov/ by Sept. 30, with responses due 14 days after the request is posted on the portal, USTR said. Exclusions will be effective going back to Sept. 24, 2018, when the tariffs on $200 billion in goods from China were implemented with a 10 percent tariff.

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on June 7 reversed a lower court decision that found Ford’s use of tariff engineering legitimate to secure a lower duty rate on its imported cargo vans. CAFC held that, while post-importation activities such as the removal of passenger seats are irrelevant to classification, the relevant tariff subheading for “vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons” suggests some consideration of use. The van’s design features, including shoddy passenger seats, suggest they are intended for use as cargo vans of heading 8704, and subject to a higher duty rate, the Federal Circuit said.