CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Less than two weeks before Canada will impose 10% tariffs on $2.7 billion in aluminum-containing goods, the Aluminum Association, and the much smaller American Primary Aluminum Association, squared off on a Sept. 3 Washington International Trade Association panel, with the Canadian Aluminum Association and aluminum customers complaining about being caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China conflict.
A recently announced reduction in quotas on Brazilian semi-finished steel results in a reduction in the annual quota amount of about 10%, according to an annex, released Sept. 1, to the president’s earlier proclamation. Originally implemented as part of a deal with Brazil for the country to avoid Section 232 steel tariffs, the adjustment for decreased U.S. steel demand causes the quota for subheading 9903.80.57, which covers steel blooms, billets and slabs, semi-finished, to fall on an annual basis to 3,155,137,048 kg, down 350,570,783 kg from the original deal. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has said that, in terms of remaining quota amounts for the year, the reduction amounts to a decline from 350,000 metric tons (350,000,000 kg) to 60,000 metric tons (60,000,000 kg) (see 2008310010). The annex also implements in new subheading 9903.80.62 an exemption from the decreased quota amounts for covered products already contracted for purchase, provided that the decrease would result in a disruption, among other conditions.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from Aug. 24-28 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Market access negotiations needed to return India to the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program may be mostly “sorted out,” India's Economy Minister Piyush Goyal said in a speech to the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Sept. 1. His office summarized some points about the deal, which was described as foundational, in a series of tweets. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “and I agreed that we can look finalising before the election, but otherwise soon after the election,” he said. “The entire package is nearly ready and can be finalised at any time. India is open to signing tomorrow on what we have agreed on.”
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Aug. 17-23:
The Trump administration's use of tariffs on steel and aluminum, China tensions and the threat of tariffs on French products in retaliation for digital taxes have prompted constituents to lobby on trade like never before, said Nasim Fussell, a Holland & Knight partner who recently left her position as chief international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. That constituent interest elevated trade for some senators who had not been hearing from constituents in the past.
CBP Issues Harmonized System Update With Recent Section 301 Exclusions, Tariffs on Canadian Aluminum
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2007 on Aug. 21, containing 416 Automated Broker Interface records and 77 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update covers recent Section 301 tariff exclusions and the Section 232 tariffs on aluminum from Canada. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov
The Aug. 28 meeting of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body in Geneva will include the European Union's arguments that with Airbus launch subsidies resolved, the billions of dollars in tariffs on French wine, Airbus planes, Scottish whisky and other products should be lifted. The U.S. will also weigh in.
The Section 232 tariffs on aluminum from Canada (see 2008060065) will return at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 16, CBP said in a CSMS message posted Aug. 13. Importers of goods subject to the tariffs should report the regular classification as well as “9903.85.21 (10% ad valorem duty rate for non-alloyed unwrought aluminum products of Canada, provided for in subheading 7601.10),” CBP said. Previously granted Section 232 tariff exclusions for aluminum articles from Canada that aren't expired will continue to be valid, it said.