The Court of International Trade on Aug. 28 denied both the government's and importer HyAxiom's motions for judgment in a customs classification case on PC50 supermodules, which are a part of a stationary hydrogen fuel cell generator known as the PureCell Model 400. Judge Timothy Stanceu said a factual determination is needed on whether the PC50's "principal function" is gas generation.
CBP has released its Aug. 28 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 58, No. 34). The bulletin includes two decisions, one on the extension of import restrictions imposed on certain archaeological material of Algeria and the other on the tuna tariff-rate quota for calendar year 2024.
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.