June 2017

As we previously reported, Executive Order 13796 of April 29, 2017, requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the secretary of State, secretary of the Treasury, attorney general and the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, to conduct comprehensive performance reviews of all…

On June 20, 2017, pursuant to four executive orders (EOs), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) subjected to U.S. economic sanctions more individuals and entities involved in the ongoing Crimean conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These actions…

After several months of internal review, the Trump administration on June 16 announced revisions to U.S. policy toward Cuba. The internal review, led by the president’s National Security Council, engaged in an interagency review that included input from the Departments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Transportation and the Treasury. Additionally, President Trump met with…

After several months of negotiations in the Committee on Foreign Relations, the full Senate on June 15, 2017 considered and passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 98-2 seeking to hold both Iran and Russia accountable for their recent destabilizing activities in world affairs. S. 722 at Title I contains the Iran component of…

Groups of Senate and House Republicans have sent letters to President Donald Trump urging him not to reverse Obama administration policies that began to relax longstanding economic sanctions and open up the country for limited trade. Seven House Republicans wrote Trump stating, “Reversing course would incentivize Cuba to once again become dependent on countries like…

As comments in the ongoing Section 232 investigation into steel imports are being filed, we highlight two recent submissions that reflect the dichotomy of views on this trade issue. Both the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) filed comments with the Department of Commerce on May 31, 2017.…