EU ministers and Parliament members this week urged the bloc to respond forcefully to China’s rare earth export restrictions if Beijing doesn’t repeal them or swiftly grant export licenses to European companies. Some also said they’re skeptical Beijing’s one-year suspension for some of its export controls will last.
The U.K. on Nov. 26 opened a public comment period for its planned elimination of duty exemptions for low-value imports. The country for several months had been reviewing whether to remove the tariff exemption for imports costing under 135 pounds, and the finance ministry said it expects to eliminate the exemption by March 2029 "at the latest."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Nov. 26 that it will extend the 178 currently existing exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on China until Nov. 10, 2026, as expected (see 2511030005). The exclusions had been set to expire Nov. 29, but the Trump administration agreed to extend them as part of a deal that also cut tariffs on China by 10% and halted ship-docking fees in return for China pausing export controls on rare earths, lowering retaliatory tariffs and stopping its own retaliatory ship fees.
Former trade negotiators said the removal of reciprocal tariffs on agricultural goods not grown at scale in the U.S. is a harbinger of things to come, as the administration starts to recognize that tariffs are politically unpopular.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said Nov. 21 that he plans to file a discharge petition to force a House vote on a bill to impose additional sanctions on Russia and new tariffs on countries that buy its oil and gas.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Nov. 17-23:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., introduced a bill called the No Tariffs on Groceries Act, which would require the assent of Congress before tariff hikes on food or agricultural products.
As CBP ramps up enforcement, the agency often seems to be heading straight for penalties, as witnessed anecdotally by the trend to send out more notices of action, or CF-29 forms, instead of informing importers of possible errors, according to trade experts speaking on a Nov. 20 webinar hosted by logistics company Expeditors.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Nov. 20 exempting 238 tariff schedule subheadings covering agricultural products from the 40% additional International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff on Brazil. The new exemptions take retroactive effect Nov. 13 at 12:01 a.m ET.