On April 1, 2022, the three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its opinion in the China Section 301 tariff refund litigation regarding the government defendants’ motion to dismiss and the plaintiffs’ cross-motion for judgment on the record. The CIT found that: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Aerospace, Marine, and Electronics Industry Sectors in Russia Added to Sanctionable Sectors Under Executive Order 14024; OFAC Adds SDN Designations
On March 31, 2022, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen released a Determination expanding the scope of Section 1(a)(i) of Executive Order 14024 to include aerospace, electronics and marine sectors of the Russian economy as being within the scope of the Executive Order. This Executive Order has been relied upon extensively to implement sanctions against
USTR Katherine Tai Discusses President Biden’s 2022 Trade Agenda
On March 30, 2022, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai appeared before the House Ways & Means Committee to discuss President Joseph Biden’s 2022 trade agenda. In Ambassador Tai’s written testimony, she primarily focused on the U.S.-China trade relationship. Ambassador Tai highlighted ongoing talks with China over trade distortions and imbalances, including China’s failure to
OFAC Issues New Russia-Related General Licenses
On March 24, 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued two amended general licenses (GL) and two new GLs involving Russia-related sanctions programs. OFAC has also updated its FAQs 1,023 and 1,024 to reflect the changes in GL 17A.
- General License 6A: GL 6 authorized transactions prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign
President Biden Issues Sanctions on the Russian Duma and Additional Russian Oligarchs and Defense Companies
On March 24, 2022, President Joseph Biden announced further sanctions toward Russia involving more than 400 individuals and entities, including the Russian Duma and its members, several additional Russian oligarchs, and numerous Russian defense companies. The sanctions were carried out pursuant to Executive Order 14024 which authorizes sanctions against Russia for its harmful foreign activities.
USTR Reinstates Certain Expired China Section 301 Product Exclusions
On March 23, 2022, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was reinstating certain previously granted and extended product exclusions in the China Section 301 investigation. Per the Federal Register notice, USTR has reinstated 352 of the 549 eligible exclusions identified in the October 8, 2021 USTR Federal Register notice
U.S. and UK Announce Agreement on Steel and Aluminum Section 232 Tariffs
On March 22, 2022, the United States and the United Kingdom reached agreement on allowing “sustainable volumes” of UK steel and aluminum products to enter the U.S. market without the application of Section 232 tariffs. The Joint Statement notes that both the United States and UK will monitor steel and aluminum trade between the countries
BIS and OFAC Release Details on Air and Maritime Activities Involving Russia and Ukraine
On March 18, 2022, the Department of the Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) identified nearly 100 commercial and private aircraft that have allegedly “flown into Russia in apparent violations of the Export administration Regulations (EAR).” The list identifies planes owned by Russian airlines Aeroflot, AirBridgeCargo and Utair as well as Russian oligarch Roman
Biden Announces Additional Import and Export Restrictions on Russia
On March 11, 2022, President Joseph Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) announcing further prohibitions on imports, exports and new investments related to Russia. This announcement was made at the same time that the president and the other G7 leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, as well as the European
Biden Calls on Congress to Suspend “Normal Trade Relations” Status of Russia
On March 11, 2022, President Biden called on Congress to pass legislation that will revoke normal trade relations (NTR) with Russia, and announced that the administration “will work closely with Congress to deny Russia the benefits of its WTO membership and ensure that Russian imports do not receive most favored nation treatment” in the U.S.