China’s Foreign Ministry this week criticized Canada’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports (see 2408260033), saying the measure “ignores facts” and “disrespects” World Trade Organization rules. “This typical protectionist move disrupts China-Canada trade relations, harms the interests of Canadian companies and consumers, and does little good to Canada’s green transition process and global effort for climate response,” a ministry spokesperson said during an Aug. 27 press conference in response to a question from a wire service reporter. “China will take all measures necessary to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told China's foreign minister that the U.S. is still concerned about the Chinese government's "unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices," according to a White House readout that focused more on military and law enforcement issues than trade.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is extending a public comment period for an information collection involving Section 232 investigation requests. BIS said that, after receiving a request, it investigates the “effects of imports of specific commodities” on U.S. national security, including by distributing surveys, and may provide those findings to the president for possible adjustments to import tariffs. The collection helps BIS “account for the public burden associated with the surveys distributed to determine the impact on national security.” The agency had requested public comments in April and is now allowing for another 30 days of comments.
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CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP will grant Lorte Technologies, Inc.'s protest on the tariff classification of its pulse oximeters from China, according to a June 18 decision posted by CBP on Aug. 19. The agency ruled that, even though part of the pulse oximeters could fall under the classification for tachometers, considering the whole instrument would place the oximeters under a different classification category for medical instruments.
The Federal Maritime Commission is asking for public comments on an information collection related to ocean common carriers that are subject to the FMC’s regulations. The notice said controlled carriers must ensure that they don’t maintain rates or charges in their tariffs and service contracts “that are below a level that is just and reasonable; nor establish, maintain, or enforce unjust or unreasonable classifications, rules, or regulations in those tariffs or service contracts that result or are likely to result in the carriage or handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and reasonable level.” Public comments are due Oct. 22.
Imposing tariffs of 20% on all imports and a 60% tariff on Chinese goods would cost middle-class households more than $2,600 a year -- $900 more annually than a 10% tariff on imports, what former President Donald Trump floated earlier in his current presidential campaign, according to a new analysis from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies "Trade Guys" said that while there is some pressure on Congress to get the Generalized Systems of Preferences benefits program renewed, and restrict de minimis, competing pressures make it unlikely bills will become law this year.
CBP has released its Aug. 21 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 58, No. 33), which includes the following ruling action: