The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is amending two exclusions from Section 301 tariffs to conform the tariff numbers in the descriptions of the exclusions to recent tariff schedule changes, it said in an Aug. 6 notice. The affected exclusions are found at U.S. Notes 20(vvv)(iv)(10) and 20(vvv)(iv)(11) to subchapter III of Chapter 99. The conforming amendments are effective July 1.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on how China and Russia are complying with their World Trade Organization commitments, including in its import regulation, export regulation, subsidies, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights enforcement, rule of law issues, and trade facilitation, or other issues.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative seeks comments by Sept. 9 on how it should impose Section 201 safeguards on imports of polyester staple fiber, after the International Trade Commission in July found imports of the product are injuring U.S. industry. USTR said it may recommend tariffs or a tariff rate quota, export quota agreements, import licensing or other actions as part of the potential safeguard. Responses to comments are due Sept. 16. USTR will hold a public hearing Sept. 30, with requests to appear also due Sept. 9.
Ecuador on Aug. 1 hosted the first in-person meeting of trade ministers of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, at which Western Hemisphere countries adopted a “Declaration on Good Practices for Pre-Arrival Processing” and made other trade commitments.
Eight former Volkswagen factory workers who were union representatives will be reinstated with back pay, and one fired worker will receive severance pay, according to a remediation plan for Volkswagen de México, the largest auto manufacturing plant in Mexico, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced July 30.
At the opening of the 2024 African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum, U.S. and African trade leaders emphasized the importance of reauthorizing AGOA before its expiration in 2025 and discussed changes they would like to see to it to increase utilization, strengthen supply chains and support economic growth.
The U.S. has suspended liquidation for goods from the Impro Industries Mexico facility in San Luis Potosi, a Chinese-owned factory that makes parts used in automotive, energy, medical and agricultural sectors.
A request South Korea made in 2018 to be able to export yarns (5403.39 or 5108), viscose rayon staple fibers (5504.10 or 5507.00), and knitted or crocheted parts of garments or accessories (6117) under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement that aren't originating under the rules of origin will be fulfilled Aug. 1. The comment period (see 1810160047), International Trade Commission study (see 1903130033) and U.S. consultation and layover process took two years. Then it took South Korea nearly four years to modify its own rules of origin so that U.S. producers could also export the same goods under the same rules. The changes were made because there is no commercial availability of these products in South Korea.
The U.S. has filed a rapid response labor mechanism complaint against Industrias Tecnos in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and has asked CBP to suspend liquidation on the ammunition made at the plant.
A joint statement of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Kazakhstan's president, released almost a week after USTR Katherine Tai's visit to Kazakhstan, noted that Kazakhstan values the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program as a way to diversify the destinations of its exports. The GSP has been expired for more than three years, but Tai said she generally supports Congress' efforts to "revitalize and renew the Generalize System of Preferences program." The statement also noted that Kazakhstan would like permanent normal trading relations with the U.S.; it's still subject to the Jackson-Vanik amendment, as are other former Soviet Union republics Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports PNTR for Kazakhstan (see 2001090055).