In the continuing, long-running trade dispute between the United States and the European Union (EU) over aircraft subsidies, the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 2, 2019, again ruled that the EU, despite earlier decisions instructing the EU to remove or alter its aircraft subsidies, has continued to provide support for the Airbus A350 and
Tariffs/Trade Policy
USTR Section 301 Investigation Report Finds that France’s Digital Services Tax Is Unreasonable and Discriminatory, Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Retaliatory Action
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued its Section 301 investigation report this week on France’s digital services tax (DST), finding that the tax discriminates against U.S. companies, is inconsistent with prevailing principles of international tax policy, and is unusually burdensome for affected U.S. companies. The report notes that the French DST is inconsistent with prevailing…
President Trump Tweets that Section 232 Tariffs Will Be Re-Imposed on Steel and Aluminum Imports from Argentina and Brazil
While no formal notice has been published by the Department of Commerce yet, President Donald Trump tweeted today that Section 232 tariffs will be re-imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products from Argentina and Brazil. In an early morning tweet, the president announced that “Brazil and Argentina have been presiding over a massive devaluation…
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 announced 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 annual trade value of approximately…
USTR Announces New Exclusions from Section 301 Tariffs for Certain Imported Chinese Products on List 3
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced today more 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. The USTR determined that two 10-digit subheadings will be excluded in their entirety:
- 8409.91.3000: Parts suitable for use
…
WTO Allows China $3.6 Billion in Retaliatory Tariffs Against United States Over Anti-Dumping Calculation Methodologies
On November 1, the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a decision arising from a longstanding dispute between the United States and China concerning certain methodologies used by the United States in anti-dumping (AD) proceedings involving imports of Chinese products. In this dispute, China argued that certain methodologies used by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)…
Department of Commerce’s Inspector General Issues Alert on “Lack of Transparency” in Section 232 Tariff Exclusion Process
In an October 28, 2019 memorandum for Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General (IG) issued a “management alert” over concerns about the “lack of transparency that contributes to the appearance of improper influence in decision-making” for the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariff exclusion process. While not requesting…
USTR Seeks Public Comment on Extension of Granted Product Exclusions for China Section 301 List/Tranche 1
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that it is seeking public comment on its consideration of extending certain product exclusions it granted in December 2018 in the ongoing trade dispute with China [update: USTR Federal Register notice of October 31, 2019]. These exclusions were part of the first round of…
USTR Announces Additional List 3 Product Exclusions from Section 301 Tariffs on Certain U.S. Imports of Chinese Products
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced today more 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. The USTR determined that 83 specific product descriptions will be excluded from the tariffs, covering 95 separate exclusion…
President Trump Lifts Sanctions on Turkey
Merely nine days after implementing sanctions on Turkey for its military action in northeast Syria (see Trump and Trade Update of October 15, 2019), President Donald Trump announced that he was lifting those sanctions due to the continuing ceasefire along the border. The president stated that Turkey would be halting its offensive and make…
