The Department of Commerce has issued a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on (1) the appropriateness of the information its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) requested and considered in applying the Section 232 exclusion criteria to product exclusion requests, and (2) the efficiency and transparency of the product exclusion process itself. This request
Tariffs/Trade Policy
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 import tariffs for certain List 3 products from China (imports from China with an annual trade value of $200 billion). The exemptions cover 17 ten-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) subheadings and 61 specially prepared product descriptions, which cover…
USTR Grants Extensions for Imported Chinese Products With Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Expiring May 14, 2020
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), after seeking comments on whether to extend for up to 12 months exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs granted in May 2019 for certain imports from China (see Trump and Trade Update of March 2, 2020), has approved 13 extensions covering the following Harmonized Tariff…
Recent Executive Actions Focus on Bulk-Power System Grid Security and Supply Chain
Two recent federal government actions have highlighted national security concerns related to the nation’s power grid. First, on May 1, 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that will likely lead to restrictions on the procurement and use of electric equipment from certain foreign adversaries for use in the U.S. power grid. Second, on…
USTR Issues Another Round of China Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for List/Tranche 4 Products, Including Medical Products
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice excluding certain List/Tranche 4 products (imports from China with an annual trade value of $300 billion) from China Section 301 tariffs. The exemptions cover three 10-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) subheadings and five specially-prepared product descriptions, which cover 27 separately submitted…
USTR Issues Notice Seeking Public Comment on Extending China Section 301 List/Tranche 3 Product Exclusions Set to Expire in August 2020
On May 6, 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 25 percent tariffs on imports from China with an…
USITC Releases Database Identifying Imported Products Needed for COVID-19 Response; House Ways and Means Chairman Calls for Suspension of Tariffs on Affected Products
On May 4, 2020, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) released the results of its investigation to identify imported products related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. The report and database identify 112 U.S. Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) numbers covering a “mix of COVID-19 related” goods, including test kits/instruments; disinfectants and sterilization products; pulse oximeters and…
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 two 10-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) subheading and 144 specially-prepared product descriptions, which cover 185 separately submitted exclusion…
USTR Seeks Public Comments on Possible Extension of July 2019 Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Imported Chinese Products on List/Tranche 2
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the possible extension of Section 301 tariff exclusions for certain products that it granted on July 31, 2019, in the ongoing trade dispute with China. These exclusions were granted as part of the second round of Section…
USTR Seeks Comments on Possible Extension of July 2019 Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Imported Chinese Products on List/Tranche 1
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the possible extension of Section 301 tariff exclusions for certain products that it granted on July 9, 2019, in the ongoing trade dispute with China. These exclusions were in the sixth batch of exclusions granted as part…
