On April 23, 2021, the plaintiff group in the ongoing Section 301 tariff refund litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction Limited to Suspension of Liquidation of all unliquidated entries of imported products from China appearing on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Lists 3 and
OFAC Imposes New Sanctions on Russia’s Technology, Defense and Financial Sectors
On April 15, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order (“E.O.”) on “Blocking Property with Respect to Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.” The E.O. establishes a new national emergency under which sanctions may be imposed against individuals and entities furthering specified harmful foreign activities of Russia against the United
CIT Issues Briefing Schedule in Section 301 Tariff Refund Litigation
On April 13, 2021, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a Scheduling Order in response to the joint status report filed the previous day by the plaintiffs and U.S. government defendants in the ongoing litigation involving more than 3,700 complaints challenging the legality of duties implemented on certain imports from China pursuant to
DDTC Issues Guidance Regarding Restrictions on Exports to Russia
On April 12, 2021, the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) issued additional guidance regarding changes that have been made to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) pertaining to export of defense articles or services to Russia. The guidance summarizes changes that were implemented on March 18, 2021, when the Departments of
CIT Invalidates President Trump’s Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum “Derivative Articles”
On April 5, 2021, the U.S Court of International Trade (CIT) published a summary judgment opinion invalidating former President Donald Trump’s executive order, Proclamation 9980, which imposed 25 percent tariffs on various imports of aluminum and steel derivative articles pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The CIT found in favor
President Biden Terminates U.S. Sanctions Related to the International Criminal Court
On April 2, 2021, President Joseph Biden issued an Executive Order terminating a previously declared national emergency and related sanctions against certain persons involved with the International Criminal Court (ICC). In June 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13928 declaring a national emergency due to the ICC’s “illegitimate assertions of jurisdiction over personnel of the
CIT Issues Latest Procedural Orders in China Section 301 Tariff Refund Litigation
On March 31, 2021, the three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) assigned to the litigation involving the potential refund of Section 301 tariffs on certain imports from China issued its fourth procedural order in the proceeding. In the order, the CIT: (1) accepted the first-filed case as the sample case for
USTR Releases 2021 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has released its annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers that addresses the status of foreign trade and investment barriers to U.S. exports worldwide. This is the U.S. government’s major annual report on the barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, investment and electronic
BIS Announces Virtual Forum to Address Supply Chain Risks for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Packaging Industries
On March 26, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced that it will hold a virtual forum on April 8, 2021 to allow the public to address policy objectives and concerns over President Joseph Biden’s Executive Order 14017, which seeks to address the need for resilient, diverse and secure
USTR Announces Further Action in Section 301 Digital Services Taxes Investigations
On March 26, 2021, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued several Federal Register notices concerning the ongoing Section 301 investigations of Digital Service Taxes (DSTs) adopted or under consideration by 10 U.S. trading partners. For six countries, the investigations will continue and the USTR is seeking public comment on possible trade actions.