Implementation of the USMCA isn't the level of change that's expected to add costs to Toyota, according to Leila Afas, director of international policy for Toyota North America. “We fortunately are in a very good position,” she said in response to a question from International Trade Today during a Nov. 19 webinar hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics. She said Toyota sources a lot of its engines and transmissions in the U.S.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Nov. 16. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Nov. 2-6 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Nov. 5. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
The mistrust by the current administration of the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments may provide an opportunity to revise the law and address some inconsistent approaches, Bryan Wolfe, vice president-international trade at Ascena Retail Group, said during the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones virtual conference on Nov. 6. Ascena, the parent company of Ann Taylor, Loft and other brands, is a leading member of Ship Safe Coalition, which advocates for policy changes around de minimis. The coalition expects that some coming changes to the de minimis entry process could be a time for “compromise between eliminating de minimis altogether and keeping it as is,” Wolfe said in his presentation.
There are no imminent plans to continue a “restrained enforcement” period after Jan. 1 for some USMCA requirements, said Queena Fan, director of the CBP USMCA Center. Fan, who said she began in that role about two weeks ago, spoke Nov. 4 during National Association for Foreign-Trade Zones virtual conference. “As of right now, plan still is Jan. 1,” she said. Still, “I'm not saying it's set in stone” if other issues come up and industry concerns should be brought to CBP. The agency is using a period of enforced compliance that ends Jan. 1 for some USMCA provisions, while the auto sector has a longer period of informed compliance that is set to end July 1, 2021.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Nov. 2. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Oct. 26-30 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said a renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program could happen either by packaging the bill with an omnibus spending bill, or, if Congress just passes another temporary spending bill, by attachment to a tax extenders bill.
Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden's harsh words on USMCA (see 2010300046) would have even more significance if the Democrats are able to take the majority in the Senate with the Nov. 3 election. Dan Ujczo, a close USMCA watcher and partner at Dickinson Wright in Ohio, said lawyers from his firm were talking about Wyden's letter with people in both Mexico and the U.S. He said he sees it more as a political document at the moment. “It’s pretty amazing that USMCA hasn’t been a large factor in the election,” Ujczo said. He said he thought both Democrats and Republicans would claim victory on the NAFTA rewrite, but instead, the election has barely touched on trade, and has been focused mostly on the COVID-19 pandemic and President Donald Trump.