The U.S. and the EU will consult each other on planned action, and "may develop joint or cooperative measures to address distortionary effects on the global supply chain for legacy semiconductors," a joint statement from the ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council said. Both regions are offering government incentives to produce semiconductors, but if Chinese semiconductors are still cheaper than their own, delayed projects in Ohio and Arizona could be canceled.
American and Chinese officials discussed tariffs, export controls and market access issues during the April 2-5 first meetings of the U.S.-China Commercial Issues Working Group, both countries said in readouts after the talks.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, during a visit to China to meet with U.S. businesses that produce there and with Vice Premier He Lifeng, said that China and the U.S. disagree on Chinese policy to grow its economy through exports.
Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., recently introduced a bill that would permanently end the 4.8% tariff on imported basketballs. This is the third time he has tried to change the tariff code for this item (see 2106020064). Russell Brands of Bowling Green, Kentucky, has gotten leather basketballs repeatedly covered by the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill, saving about $50,000 in tariffs annually; however, no MTB has been in effect for more than three years.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website April 4, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at CBP's ADCVD Search page.
CBP is asking for comments on a new forced labor portal and forced labor case management system that will centralize submissions related to forced labor allegations, as well as withhold release order revocation and modification requests and Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act applicability review submissions, the agency said. Comments are due by June 7, the agency said in a notice released April 5.
CBP announced a new Enforce and Protect Act investigation, saying it has reasonable suspicion that Guy & O’Neill evaded the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on xanthan gum from China and has enacted interim measures against the importer.
DHS announced that more companies in what it called "the high-priority textile sector" should be added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act's Entity List, joining the 10 already on that list -- just one item in what it's calling "a new comprehensive enforcement action plan" for textiles.
The Federal Maritime Commission will be conducting network maintenance April 6, and said some of its systems will “experience intermittent outages” from 9 a.m. to noon EDT. Those include the FMC’s common carrier tariff and marine terminal operator schedule registration form; its application for a license as an ocean transportation intermediary; its Foreign Based Unlicensed Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Registration; its Agreement Library; its eAgreements Filing System; and its List of FMC Licensed & Bonded OTIs. The FMC said its Service Contract Filing System, or SERVCON, will “remain available” throughout.