Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Union's trade commissioner, told an audience at the Atlantic Council Jan. 10 that if U.S. tariffs on imported autos were to be implemented, the EU would not accept a quota system as Canada and Mexico have done. Malmstrom has been in Washington meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week on both World Trade Organization reform and the bilateral trade relationship.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 31 - Jan. 4 in case they were missed.
CBP will not be penalizing carriers that are unable to file Section 321 manifests for truck shipments due to "CBP system limitations," the agency said in a Dec. 31 CSMS message. CBP announced plans in November to require advance electronic manifest filing for all commercial trucks with Section 321 shipments starting Jan. 1 (see 1811050010). Technical issues within ACE limit "number of Section 321 shipments that can be manifested to 5,000 or less when transported by truck," CBP said. A correction will be in place by April 1, but "absent the technical correction within ACE, carriers transporting more than 5,000 shipments of Section 321 merchandise are unable to file an electronic manifest," CBP said. CBP may still pursue enforcement action "for truck carriers with 5,000 or less shipments if the manifest was not submitted electronically," it said.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative copied most of the NAFTA priorities' language on customs and trade facilitation for its U.S.-Japan negotiating priorities, with one major exception. The USTR raised the idea of matching de minimis value thresholds as part of a trade deal. Specifically, it wrote that an agreement should "provide for simplified customs procedures for low-value goods and a more reciprocal de minimis shipment value."
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 10-14 in case they were missed.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Dec. 3-7 in case they were missed.
The two excluded sectors from planned Europe trade talks -- agriculture and autos -- both want to be included, according to comments filed with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ahead of the Dec. 14 public hearing on negotiation priorities. More than 150 organizations and individuals shared their views in the USTR docket ahead of the Dec. 10 deadline for comments.
Express Association of America, which represents DHL, FedEx and UPS, said Japan has not lived up to its postal privatization commitments, and asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to make sure that Japan Post is no longer advantaged compared to private shippers. Michael Mullen, executive director of EAA, testified on Dec. 10 in front of a trade panel that's seeking public views on how to shape negotiations for a U.S.-Japan free trade agreement.
The United Automobile Workers union would like to see vehicles left out of trade negotiations entirely when Japan and the U.S. sit down to craft a free-trade deal. Josh Nassar, UAW legislative director, told the International Trade Commission that Japan has no tariffs on imported cars, yet its imports are just 7 percent of sales. From all countries, Japan imported 11.1 billion in vehicles in 2017, according to World's Top Exports. In 2017, the Commerce Department said the U.S. imported $51 billion in Japanese-built vehicles. The ITC also heard from the milk lobby, the American Chemistry Council and the American Apparel and Footwear Association during its hearing Dec. 6.