The U.S. and the other 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership parties as expected locked down several flexibilities to the yarn forward rule of origin in the final text of the pact, including an exemption for travel goods and an earned income allowance program for Vietnamese trouser trade. But the outcome on textiles and apparel reflects a genuine compromise between the interests of U.S. domestic producers and importers, and all sides have tentatively applauded the deal, according to interviews with a number of textile and apparel lobbyists.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative appointed Bill Jackson, the current deputy assistant USTR for the Generalized System of Preferences, as acting assistant USTR for textiles, the National Council of Textile Organizations said on Oct. 30. USTR didn't respond for comment. Jackson's appointment follows the departure of former assistant USTR for textiles, Gail Strickler, earlier in October (see 1510130013).
Customs Reauthorization negotiations would be one of the top priorities of the House Ways and Means under the leadership of Trade Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi, R-Ohio, should lawmakers elect him as full committee chair, Tiberi told Ways and Means lawmakers in a letter released on Oct. 29. Tiberi is vying for the top committee spot alongside Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas (see 1510270004). The House Republican Steering Committee (here), which includes Tiberi and other heavy-weights in the Republican conference, elects the new chairman and the full conference then must give its ratification.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Oct. 19-23 in case they were missed.
The U.S. and Pakistan launched a joint action plan on Oct. 22 to boost trade and investment ties. The announcement of the plan coincides with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the White House on the same day.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Oct. 13-16 in case they were missed.
Nearly two dozen customs broker and importer associations and retail organizations banded together in recent days to press U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to support the addition of travel goods to the Generalized System of Preferences. Industry petitions for those additions were due by Oct. 16 as part of USTR’s 2015 annual review for GSP (see 1508180027).
Protests claiming duty-free treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences during the recent lapse in the program should be denied, said CBP in a ruling that granted a protest from IAMGOLD on classification issues, but denied its GSP claims. Instead, importers seeking retroactive GSP treatment must request it during the 180-day period outlined by CBP in July (see 1507210023), said CBP in ruling HQ 264880.
The International Trade Commission recently posted the new version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to its website (here). Revision 2 to the 2015 HTS reflects the results of the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2014 Generalized System of Preferences Review (see 1510010030), as implemented by Presidential Proclamation 9333 (here). The ITC also made several technical corrections to the HTS, including a restoration of duty-free entry for refined copper cathodes from Chile and a clarification of subheadings covering organic surfactants. All changes made in Revision 2 to the 2015 HTS took effect Oct. 1, said the ITC in its change record (here).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Oct. 7 issued a Federal Register notice (here) announcing the results of its 2014 Generalized System of Preferences review. A Presidential Proclamation that took effect Oct. 1 implemented the results of the review (here), including the removal of the Seychelles, Uruguay and Venezuela from GSP eligibility, the addition of five upland cotton products to the program, and new and revoked competitive need limitations (CNL) waivers (see 1510010030). USTR detailed the results of its review in a document posted to its website (here).