World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman that she had a meeting with USTR Jamieson Greer "yesterday that was a little bit comforting," but that the current 10% U.S. tariff on most countries, plus 25% tariffs on cars, steel and aluminum and some products from Canada and Mexico, and 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, if it lasts, will result in global merchandise trade falling by 0.2%. Before the actions, the WTO forecast a 2.7% growth in goods trade this year.
The International Trade Commission seeks comments by May 2 on a Section 337 complaint alleging that imports of integrated circuits and electronic devices infringe patents held by Onesta IP, it said in a notice set for April 24 publication. According to the complaint, Onesta, whose domestic licensee is Advanced Micro Devices, is seeking a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against NVIDIA, Qualcomm, OnePlus Technology and Nothing Technology Limited to bar from entry "certain integrated circuits, electronic devices containing the same, and components thereof," that violate the complainant's patents. The complainant said that the patents "generally relate to integrated circuits, processors, and systems comprising a central processing unit and/or a graphics processing unit supporting various advanced computing, graphics processing, power management, memory operation, and chip design features."
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The International Trade Commission is beginning a Section 337 investigation on electrical cables (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1446) after receiving allegations filed by Credo Semiconductor that Amphenol, Molex and TE Connectivity are importing products that infringe its patents, the agency said in a April 14 fact sheet.
President Donald Trump on April 15 ordered a Section 232 investigation that could result in the imposition of tariffs on processed critical minerals and their derivatives.
The Commerce Department is launching Section 232 investigations on imports of semiconductors and pharmaceuticals as a possible precursor to levying duties on these products, according to Federal Register notices released April 14.
The U.S. is excluding certain smartphones, computers, chips and other items from President Donald Trump's executive order on reciprocal tariffs, CBP said in a CSMS message released late April 11. The products are being added to the list of exempt Harmonized Tariff Schedule headings and subheadings under Trump's April 2 executive order and won't be subject to the additional duties if they're entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 5.
Two members of the Blackfeet Nation tribe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana against various tariff actions by President Donald Trump, arguing that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is an "unconstitutional exercise of congressional authority." The individuals, Montana state Sen. Susan Webber and rancher Jonathan St. Goddard, also claimed that Trump's tariff orders unconstitutionally deprived them of procedural due process and are "void for vagueness."
China’s State Council this week released a white paper on economic and trade relations with the U.S., criticizing the U.S. government’s imposition of tariffs and export controls and saying that the two sides should strive toward “mutually beneficial cooperation.” The white paper seeks to “clarify the facts about China-US economic and trade relations and illustrate China's policy stance on relevant issues,” it says, according to an unofficial translation.
A “major” tariff on pharmaceuticals will be announced “very shortly,” President Donald Trump said April 8.