Nelson Cunningham, the administration's choice for deputy U.S. trade representative for the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, labor and the environment, has had his nomination withdrawn. The position has been empty for more than six months.
After House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., met with Kenyan President William Ruto, he joined the Senate Finance Committee chairman's call to negotiate a trade liberalizing free trade agreement with Kenya. Finance Committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., earlier in the week asked the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to upgrade its trade negotiations with Kenya so that it's working toward a goal of a comprehensive trade agreement (see 2405210051).
A Kelley Drye attorney, who used to be part of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force due to his role at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office of Labor Affairs, said the recent 26 additions to the FLETF's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list are significant because they are not companies directly employing Uyghurs harvesting cotton or in fabric mills or cut and sew operations.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative decided to extend 164 Section 301 tariff exclusions through May 31, and the other 265 exclusions will expire June 14.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative decided that 164 exclusions from Section 301 China tariffs -- including for fabrics, bras, electric motors, sterile drapes, hunting stands, bicycle trailers, auto rearview mirrors and more -- will continue to avoid the tariffs through May 31, 2025, while 265 exclusions will expire June 14.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, shortly after the administration chose to keep and expand the Section 301 tariffs (see 2405220072), grappled with what it should recommend to Congress on how to use trade policy to counteract trade distortions from China's communist-run economy.
Solar manufacturing equipment imported from China will automatically be exempt from 301 tariffs, but a notice published by the Office of U.S. Trade Representative is unclear on when those tariffs will be lifted. A spokesperson said they will be effective on the day the notice is published in the Federal Register.
Five products identified by the Biden administration as deserving 100% Section 301 tariffs for strategic reasons -- electric vans, buses, low-speed golf-cart like EVs, electric cars, and plug-in hybrids -- will see higher rates on Aug. 1.
The top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the U.S. trade representative to upgrade its trade negotiations with Kenya so that it's working toward a goal of a comprehensive trade agreement.
A Federal Register notice that will be made public this week will announce decisions on which of the current Section 301 tariff exclusions can continue, according to Brian Janovitz, chief counsel for China trade enforcement in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.