On March 1, 2024, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published President Biden’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report. This year’s agenda aims to further the cause of worker-centered trade policy, enhance the resilience of supply chains, and promote fair and sustainable trade practices. Below is a summary of
European Union
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Russia to Commemorate Second Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
On February 23, 2024, the eve before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine officially enters its third year, the United States issued another sanctions package against Russia, taking particular aim at Russia’s financial sector, energy production revenue streams, and military-industrial complex. Specifically, the package sanctions more than 500 entities and individuals by having them added…
EU Suspends Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Imports and U.S. Extends TRQs on Imports of EU Steel and Aluminum as Bilateral Negotiations Continue
The temporary trade truce between the United States and European Union (EU) will continue after the EU issued a press release on December 19, 2023 announcing the customs union would suspend the reimposition of certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports until March 31, 2025. The EU’s retaliatory tariffs, which were scheduled to resume January 1…
Treasury Publishes Final Guidance on the Russian Oil Price Cap
On February 3, 2023, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) issued multiple determinations related to the price cap to be set on Russian-origin petroleum products. Treasury also published finalized guidance on the broader price cap policy implemented by the “Price Cap Coalition” – an international coalition that includes the United States, the G7, the European Union…
CBP Issues Guidance on EU Section 232 Tariff Rate Quotas on Imports of Aluminum and Steel Articles
On December 29, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued several guidance documents through its Cargo Systems Messaging Service concerning recent Presidential Proclamations that established the tariff rate quota (TRQ) process for imports of aluminum and steel articles from the member countries of the European Union (EU). See Update of December 29, 2021 for…
President Biden Issues Proclamations Adjusting Imports of Steel and Aluminum into the United States
On December 28, 2021, President Joseph Biden issued two proclamations – Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States and Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States. In each proclamation, the president acknowledged that:
“the United States has successfully concluded discussions with the EU [European Union] on behalf of its member countries on…
BIS Seeks Public Comments on U.S.-EU Export Control Cooperation
On November 30, 2021, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a Notice of Inquiry in the Federal Register seeking public comments regarding areas and priorities for United States and European Union (EU) export control cooperation. This information gathering is intended to inform and assist the work of the U.S.-EU Trade…
United States and European Union Reach Agreement on Steel and Aluminum Imports; Section 232 Duties to Be Removed
On October 30, 2021, the United States and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement regarding the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU that were implemented during the Trump administration. Under the agreement, the United States will replace the current Section 232 duties with tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for covered EU…
United States, Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom Reach Agreement on Digital Services Taxes
On October 21, 2021, the Department of the Treasury announced that the United States has reached an agreement with Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom on the treatment of digital services taxes (DSTs), a little more than a month before the United States was scheduled to implement additional duties of 25% on certain…
U.S.-EU Hold Inaugural Trade and Technology Council Meeting
On September 29, 2021, the inaugural meeting of the United States–European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) met to discuss and establish “common principles to update the rules for the 21st century economy.” Attending were U.S. Co-Chairs, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and…