The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) further tightened U.S. sanctions on Cuba “for its repression of the Cuban people and its support of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.” Overall, the United States maintains a comprehensive embargo on trade with Cuba, and the export and reexport to Cuba of items subject to
Trade Remedy/Enforcement
United States Implements Sanctions on Turkey and Raises Section 232 Steel Tariffs Again from 25% to 50%
On October 14, 2019, President Donald Trump announced U.S. economic sanctions directed at the government of Turkey in response to Turkey’s military action in northeast Syria, “including but not limited to indiscriminate targeting of civilians, targeting of civilian infrastructure, targeting of ethnic or religious minorities, or targeting or other actions that undermine the continued counterterrorism…
President Trump Announces Tentative “Phase One” Trade Deal with China
On October 11, 2019, in remarks to the press, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and China’s trade negotiators had “agreed in principle” to address issues involving intellectual property, financial services and agricultural sales between the two countries. In this “phase one” agreement, China agreed to purchase between $40 billion to $50…
ITC Portal Now Open for Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Petitions
On October 11, 2019, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) opened its electronic portal for petitions seeking temporary import duty suspensions and reductions in accordance with the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016. The ITC will accept these petitions until December 10, 2019 (see Trump and Trade Update of October 1, 2019).
This process…
WTO Arbitrator Ruling on Airbus-Boeing Dispute Allows United States to Impose Tariffs on EU Products
A World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrator has ruled that the United States may take countermeasures/implement retaliatory tariffs against the European Union (EU) concerning “adverse effects” arising from EU subsidies provided to Airbus. The arbitrator determined that the United States may request authorization from the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to take countermeasures at a level…
USTR Announces Additional Product Exclusions from Section 301 Tariffs on Certain U.S. Imports of Chinese Products
In a series of notices, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) granted exclusions from Section 301 tariffs for certain imported Chinese products on List 1 (valued at $34 billion), List 2 (valued at $16 billion and List 3 (valued at $200 billion). Products on these lists currently face a 25 percent Section 301…
OFAC Issues Additional Economic Sanctions Targeting Iran, Russia and Venezuela
In September, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continued to tighten its sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, and addressed a sanctions-evading scheme for Syria involving several Russian entities.
- Iran: On September 20, 2019, OFAC announced that it was designating the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), the National Development
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U.S. International Trade Commission Launches New MTB Petition Process
On October 11, 2019, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will begin accepting Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) petitions for duty suspension or reduction. Before opening the process and electronic portal for filings, the ITC will be holding a “MTB Walk-Through” on October 8, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. The walk-through will provide…
China Releases First Batch of Product Exclusions for Tariffs on Imports from the United States
On September 11, 2019, the Customs Tariff Commission of China’s State Council (CTCSC) announced its first batch of tariff exclusions for imports of U.S. products, covering shrimp, fish meal, lubricants and more, according to an unofficial translation of a Ministry of Finance press release. These exclusions will be executed under two different lists:
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United States to Further Tighten Cuban Sanctions
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that, effective October 9, 2019, the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) will be amended to further restrict certain financial transactions involving Cuba and to deny Cuba access to hard currency. In a press release, OFAC announced that these changes will amend certain…
