The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said that negotiators from its office and those from Kenya had a productive round of talks Sept. 16-30, with discussion of text covering "administrative matters; agriculture; customs, trade facilitation, and enforcement; environment; good regulatory practices; inclusivity; and workers’ rights and protections."

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked Peru to verify that five timber shipments exported from Peru to the U.S. complied with Peruvian law and regulations. "[D]espite improvements in some areas, there are still serious concerns about illegal logging in Peru," it said, explaining the action.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will open a docket for comments on Sept. 23 for views on proposed new Section 301 tariffs on 8101.94.00 (Tungsten, unwrought); 8101.99.10 (Tungsten bars, rods, plates, sheets, strip and foil); 8101.99.80 (Tungsten, articles nesoi); 2804.61.00, Silicon; and 3818.00.00 (Chemical elements doped for use in electronics.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told podcast hosts at Bloomberg News that the U.S. and other countries that lost manufacturing jobs as China ramped up its exports from 2000 to 2019 are saying: "We will not tolerate, we cannot tolerate a China Shock 2.0."

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for advice on how the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council's Global Trade Challenges Working Group can enhance sustainable bilateral trade, coordinate to confront non-market policies in other countries, and more effectively counter those policies and practices.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments for its annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, which can cover goods, services, foreign direct investment and e-commerce access. Comments are due by Oct. 17, and should be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2024-0015.

The U.S. has suspended liquidation for goods exported from Minera Camino Rojo, a mine in Zacatecas, after deciding a petition from Mineros, a mining union, had merit. The petition said that managers undermined worker support for Mineros and promoted the idea of joining a different mining union. This is the 27th time the U.S. has invoked the USMCA rapid response labor mechanism; all cases have been settled without a removal of tariff benefits.

The U.S. said that U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng talked dairy market access, trade in softwood lumber, and cooperation in USMCA. "Tai welcomed Canada’s recent announcement concerning electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum. The two ministers also discussed their shared commitment to strengthening North American supply chain resilience, especially for electric vehicles, and stressed the importance of collaboration on issues related to non-market policies and practices of other countries," the U.S. readout said. Canada's readout said: "Minister Ng raised the issue of U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber products and discussed the need to move forward in a mutually beneficial manner that would create greater predictability and stability in the forestry sectors of both countries."

With a dispute panel about to form at the World Trade Organization over China's complaints that Inflation Reduction Act tax provisions violate nondiscrimination principles (see 2403260036), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for comments on either the policies or China's assertions.

Tires made at Pirelli Neumaticos in Guanajuato, Mexico, will be subject to suspended liquidation, as the U.S. asks Mexico to investigate whether workers at that factory are being denied their labor rights.