On June 3, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14032, “Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Certain Companies of the People’s Republic of China” (EO). The EO supersedes the executive orders targeting “Communist Chinese Military Companies” that the Trump administration issued. Specifically, it revises Sections 1 through 5 of Executive Order 13959
Section 301 Investigations
U.S. Government Defendants at CIT File Motion to Dismiss China Section 301 Tariff Refund Cases
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…
USTR Announces Section 301 Tariffs in Retaliation for Digital Service Taxes by Six Countries but Suspends Implementation While Negotiations Continue
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…
U.S. Government Files Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction in CIT Section 301 Tariff Refund Litigation
On May 14, 2021, the U.S. government defendants in the ongoing Court of International Trade (CIT) litigation over Section 301 tariffs on certain imports of Chinese products filed their opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction that would suspend collection of these tariffs on imports covered by List 3 and List 4A as…
USTR Tai Testifies on President Biden’s Trade Agenda
On May 12, 2021, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on President Joseph Biden’s trade agenda. Ambassador Tai’s written testimony noted that the Biden administration wants “a fair international trading system that promotes inclusive growth and reflects America’s universal values.” She noted that support from Congress would add “more…
DOD Agrees to Drop Chinese Company from CCMC List
In a joint status report filed on May 11, 2021, the Department of Defense (DOD) and Xiaomi Corporation (Xiaomi) notified the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that they have reached an agreement in which Xiaomi will be removed from DOD’s list of Communist Chinese Military Companies (CCMC). DOD agreed that a final…
CIT Issues Stay on New China Section 301 Cases
On April 28, 2021, Chief Judge Mark Barnett of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued an order staying any new complaints filed in the ongoing Section 301 tariff refund litigation involving the legality of tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on imports from China appearing on the Office…
Plaintiff Group in China Section 301 Tariff Refund Litigation Seeks Preliminary Injunction on Liquidation of Lists 3 and 4A Entries
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…
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…
