A bipartisan group of senators, led by Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., have introduced a bill that would prohibit entry into the U.S. of both cargo and passenger ships that call on a port that was expropriated. Passenger ships are described as those that carry at least 149 people, with sleeping quarters. It also requires the U.S. trade representative to report to Congress on what the U.S. position will be during USMCA review on such expropriations.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative asked Peru to verify that five timber shipments exported from Peru to the U.S. complied with Peruvian law and regulations. "[D]espite improvements in some areas, there are still serious concerns about illegal logging in Peru," it said, explaining the action.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will open a docket for comments on Sept. 23 for views on proposed new Section 301 tariffs on 8101.94.00 (Tungsten, unwrought); 8101.99.10 (Tungsten bars, rods, plates, sheets, strip and foil); 8101.99.80 (Tungsten, articles nesoi); 2804.61.00, Silicon; and 3818.00.00 (Chemical elements doped for use in electronics.
A Department of Treasury official acknowledged Sept. 18 that “personnel changes in the Treasury Security Department” are creating a backlog in the process of appointing additional members to the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee.
A former Trump administration trade official said he can't predict whether a global 10% or 20% tariff will be imposed early under a potential new Trump administration, or exactly how tariffs on Chinese goods might be hiked, but Akin partner Clete Willems said he's telling business people to take these ideas seriously, even if every proposed change doesn't come true.
CBP is setting new requirements for imports of ship-to-shore cranes pursuant to upcoming changes to Section 301 tariffs on the cranes recently announced by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, according to a Sept. 18 cargo systems message from the agency.
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.
Tariffs on imports from China of electric vehicles, EV batteries, solar cells and wafers, face masks, needles and syringes, critical minerals and steel and aluminum will go up Sept. 27, with more Section 301 tariff hikes planned for Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026.
Imports from China of electric vehicles, EV batteries, solar cells and wafers, face masks, needles and syringes, critical minerals and steel and aluminum will all be hiked Sept. 27, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Sept. 13, as part of a longer-term modification of Section 301 duties.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told podcast hosts at Bloomberg News that the U.S. and other countries that lost manufacturing jobs as China ramped up its exports from 2000 to 2019 are saying: "We will not tolerate, we cannot tolerate a China Shock 2.0."