On July 10, 2020, The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the imposition of a 25 percent import duty on French products in response to France’s Digital Services Tax (DST). This action is the result of a Section 301 investigation initiated on July 10, 2019, after the French government passed a tax on
Section 301 Investigations
USTR Issues Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Extensions for Certain Imported Chinese Products on Tranche/List 1
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has published a Federal Register notice granting a limited number of product exclusion extensions from the Section 301 tariff for four imported Chinese products appearing on the first list/tranche of goods valued at $34 billion. In July 2019, the USTR granted 110 specially-prepared exclusion requests with an…
USTR Issues Additional China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for List/Tranche 4A
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice exempting Section 301 tariffs for certain List 4A products (imports from China with an annual trade value of $300 billion). The exemptions cover 61 specially prepared product descriptions, covering a total of 86 separate exclusion requests. These exclusions will apply from September 1, 2019,…
CFIUS 2018 Annual Report Reveals Continued Focus on Mitigation Measures and Offers a First Look at Mandatory Declaration Reviews
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-agency committee headed by the Department of the Treasury, has released its annual report for 2018. CFIUS is authorized to review transactions that could result in the control of U.S. businesses by foreign persons or companies, as well as non-controlling investments by foreign…
U.S. Tightens Export Controls for Hong Kong – Pompeo States That If China Treats Hong Kong as “One Country, One System,” So Must the United States
On June 29, 2020, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States was ending exports of U.S.-origin defense equipment to Hong Kong and “will take steps toward imposing the same restrictions on U.S. defense and dual-use technologies to Hong Kong as it does for China.” The secretary noted that the United States “can…
Department of Commerce Partially Delays Electronic Export Information (EEI) Filing Requirements for Certain Shipments to China, Russia and Venezuela
On June 25, 2020, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced that it would be delaying the effective date for certain filing requirements set forth in April 2020 regulations on military-related exports to China, Russia and Venezuela. After significant pushback from industry representatives that more time was needed to transition to…
USTR Issues Notice Seeking Public Comment on Extending China Section 301 List/Tranche 4 Product Exclusions, Including Exemptions for Certain Medical Supplies
On June 23, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on whether extensions for up to 12 months should be granted for particular products that have received exclusions in the China Section 301 process from the 7.5 percent tariffs on imports from China with an…
USTR Issues Notices Seeking Public Comment on Extending China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for List/Tranche 2 Products Set to Expire in September and October 2020
On June 22, 2020, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released two Federal Register notices seeking public comment on whether extensions for up to 12 months should be granted for particular products that have received exclusions in the China Section 301 process from the 25 percent tariff on imports from China with an…
USTR Lighthizer Testifies Before Congress on President Trump’s 2020 Trade Policy Agenda
On June 17, 2020, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer testified before both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee concerning President Donald Trump’s 2020 Trade Policy Agenda. His written statement highlights the “benefits of the President’s trade and economic policies” for U.S. households, the Trump administration’s fundamental changes to U.S.…
USTR Issues China Section 301 Tariff Exclusion for One Product Under List/Tranche 3
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice exempting Section 301 import tariffs for one additional List 3 product from China (imports from China with an annual trade value of $200 billion):
- Motorboats with displacement hulls of reinforced fiberglass and wood, each motorboat measuring not less than 14.47 m
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