On April 21, 2020, Thyssenkrupp Materials NA, Inc., and several of its related operating divisions filed a complaint in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) against the United States alleging that the federal government’s administration of Section 232 aluminum and steel duties is unconstitutional. Thyssenkrupp is a Michigan-based importer of aluminum and steel products
Aluminum
USTR Grants Extensions for China Section 301 Exclusions Set to Expire April 18, 2020
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), after seeking comments on whether to extend for another year certain product exclusions it granted in April 2019 (see Trump and Trade Update of February 5, 2020), has granted eight extensions covering the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings and product descriptions:
- Roller machines designed
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DOJ Argues President Can Modify Section 232 Tariffs at Any Time to Protect National Security
PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., a U.S. importer of various steel derivative products, filed an amended complaint in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) on February 4, 2020, arguing that President Donald Trump’s Proclamation No. 9980 is unlawful and unconstitutional. This proclamation expanded the implementation of steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 of the…
USTR Issues Additional China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for List/Tranche 3 Products
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice exempting Section 301 tariffs for certain List 3 (imports from China with an annual trade value of $200 billion) products. The exemptions cover one 10-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) subheading and 176 specially-prepared product descriptions, which combined cover 202 separately submitted…
In Annual Reports to Congress, USTR Continues to Criticize Russia and China for Poor WTO Compliance
Recently, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued its annual reports to Congress assessing how the People’s Republic of China (China) and the Russian Federation (Russia) have been complying with their World Trade Organization (WTO) accession agreements, including both their multilateral commitments and bilateral commitments with the United States. China became a member of the WTO…
Secretary Ross Provides Update on Section 232 Steel/Aluminum Trade Actions to Senate Committee on Appropriations
On March 5, 2020, Secretary Wilbur Ross testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee to discuss President Donald Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget request for the Department of Commerce. In laying out the funding requests for each agency within the department, Ross requested $137.7 million for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in order…
Another U.S. Importer Files Complaint Against Trump Administration’s Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Derivative Product Tariffs
Huttig Building Products, Inc. (Huttig) has become the latest U.S. importer to file a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s recent Section 232 tariffs on certain steel and aluminum derivative products. In a complaint filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), Huttig argues that the president’s January 24, 2020 Proclamation imposing a 25…
USTR Announces Additional Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Certain Imported Chinese Products on List 3
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has published a Federal Register notice announcing additional Section 301 tariff exclusions for certain imported Chinese products appearing on List 3. These products have been subject to Section 301 tariffs since September 24, 2018, when President Donald Trump announced additional import duties on Chinese goods with an…
U.S. Importer Files Complaint Challenging Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Derivative Products; Parties Agree to Injunctive Order on Importer’s Goods Only
PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., a U.S. importer of various steel derivative products, filed a complaint (subsequently amended) in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) on February 4, 2020, arguing that President Donald Trump’s Proclamation No. 9980 is unlawful and unconstitutional. This proclamation expanded the implementation of steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 of…
President Trump Initiates New Section 232 Tariffs on Imports of Derivative Steel and Aluminum Products
On January 24, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation directing the Department of Commerce to adjust the tariff rate on imports of derivative steel and aluminum products into the United States. In earlier proclamations (see Trump and Trade Update of March 8, 2018), the president directed Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to…
