On June 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), representing U.S. government defendants, filed its dispositive motion – a motion to dismiss and, in the alternative, a motion for judgment on the agency record – in litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) involving the potential refund of Section 301 tariffs placed
June 2021
USTR Announces Section 301 Tariffs in Retaliation for Digital Service Taxes by Six Countries but Suspends Implementation While Negotiations Continue
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On June 2, 2021, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the conclusion of its Section 301 investigations of Digital Service Taxes (DSTs) that have been adopted by Austria, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. For each country, USTR determined that it would take action in the form of additional duties…
CBP Issues WRO for Seafood Products Imported from the Dalian Ocean Fishing Company
On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a press release announcing that the CBP had issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) for imports of seafood products from Dalian Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd., a Chinese entity, “based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the entity’s fishing…
Transfer of 3D-Printed Gun Technology and Software to the EAR from the ITAR Becomes Final
By Scott E. Diamond** on
The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) on June 1, 2021 announced that a final rule from January 2020, which moved 3D-printed guns out from control under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) over to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), is now in effect. See Federal Register notice of January 23, 2020…
OFAC Again Issues Venezuela General License to Continue Authorization of Limited Transactions Involving PdVSA and Winding Down of Operations for Certain Entities
By Scott E. Diamond** on
On June 1, 2021, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 8H, “Authorizing Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) Necessary for the Limited Maintenance of Essential Operations in Venezuela or the Wind Down of Operations in Venezuela for Certain Entities.” This general license continues to…
OFAC Publishes Formal Burma Sanctions Regulations
By Scott E. Diamond** on
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has formally issued the Burma Sanctions Regulations to implement Executive Order 14014 of February 10, 2021, “Blocking Property With Respect to the Situation in Burma.” See SmarTrade Update of February 11, 2021. These regulations took effect on June 1, 2021, and are now…