The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 5:
Judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit pressed counsel for importer Blue Sky the Color of Imagination and the government during oral argument on Oct. 7 in the importer's customs classification suit on its notebooks with calendars. During the argument, Judges Alan Lourie, Raymond Chen and William Bryson grappled with whether the court is bound by its 2010 ruling in Mead v. U.S. and whether the goods are properly classified as calendars or diaries (Blue Sky The Color of Imagination v. U.S., Fed. Cir. # 24-1710).
The Bureau of Industry and Security posted more requests for new products to be included as derivatives subject to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products. The release of the requests starts a two-week comment period for the potential inclusions, with comments on each due Oct. 21.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security posted 95 requests for inclusions of new tariff subheadings under 50% Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives. Comments on the inclusion requests are due in 14 days, on Oct. 21, and the postings also kick off a 60-day period for BIS to consider the requests.
In the Oct. 1 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 59, No. 40), CBP published proposals to modify or revoke ruling letters concerning the tariff classification of men’s outerwear jackets from China.
A sterling silver bracelet that underwent production in the U.S. before being shipped to India to undergo additional processing is still considered as having U.S. origin and is thus exempt from duties, CBP recently ruled in NY N350026.
CBP expects to continue to implement new Section 232 tariffs should the government shutdown persist past the effective date of any new tariffs, officials said on an Oct. 1 call with the trade to discuss the government shutdown. CBP also plans to implement expected tariffs, such as the ones for lumber and furniture that take effect Oct. 14, without delays.
A domestic producer recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting antidumping and countervailing duties be imposed on chromic acid imported from Turkey and India. Commerce now will decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CVD orders and the assessment of AD and CVD on importers. American Chrome & Chemicals, Inc. requested the investigation.
Section 232 tariffs on timber, lumber and their derivatives will take effect Oct. 14, under a proclamation issued by President Donald Trump. Tariffs will be set at 10% for timber and lumber, 25% for upholstered furniture and 25% on wooden cabinets and vanities.
Days after President Donald Trump said 30% tariffs on upholstered furniture were starting Oct. 1, he wrote on social media, "In order to make North Carolina, which has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries, GREAT again, I will be imposing substantial Tariffs on any Country that does not make its furniture in the United States. Details to follow!!! President DJT"