In the category of “we can’t make this stuff up,” there reportedly has been in the past 24 hours an all-out war within the Trump administration over any tariffs to be implemented as a result of the Section 232 investigations into steel and aluminum imports. On February 16, the Department of Commerce publicly released reports
Trade Remedy/Enforcement
President Trump Releases 2018 Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has released the Trump administration’s Trade Policy Agenda and Annual Report detailing how the administration “is promoting free, fair, and reciprocal trade and strongly enforcing U.S. trade laws.” USTR Robert Lighthizer, in releasing the report, stated that, “President Trump has launched a new era in American trade policy.…
President Trump Comments on Trade to U.S. Governors
In wide-ranging remarks during a business session with U.S. governors, President Trump yesterday repeatedly broached the topic of international trade. The president reiterated his commitment to working on fair and reciprocal trade deals and highlighted specific trade issues:
- Mexico – “You know, with Mexico … we probably lose $130 billion a year…. And, at some
…
BIS Sanctions 21 Russia-Related Entities
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has sanctioned 21 entities determined by the U.S. government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. BIS has taken this action to ensure the efficacy of existing sanctions on the Russian Federation (Russia) for violating international…
Canadian Solar Cell Companies File Suit Against U.S. Tariffs
As discussed during our recent “Trump and Trade: One Year Later” webinar, 2018 will not only be a year of monitoring continued trade enforcement activities by the Trump administration, but also a year to monitor how affected countries and industries will react to such trade actions. Yesterday’s update noted WTO action by various countries regarding…
WTO Members Formally Request Consultations With the U.S. Regarding Solar Cell and Washing Machine Trade Actions
As expected, the European Union, China, South Korea and Taiwan have formally requested WTO consultations with the United States over the Trump administration’s Section 201 global safeguard measures on imports of certain solar cells and washing machines. The countries requested consultations under Article 12.3 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, which entitles affected countries who…
Treasury Department Releases Russian Oligarch Report; State Department Declines to Implement New Sanctions
As required by Section 241 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) (see our Trump and Trade Update dated 10/30/17), the Treasury Department has submitted to Congress a detailed and classified report identifying senior Russian political figures, Russian oligarchs and Russian parastatal entities (companies in which Russian state ownership is at least…
President Trump’s Remarks to the World Economic Forum
In remarks to attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump proclaimed that “the world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America” that has dramatically cut taxes and eliminated burdensome regulations, and is reforming bureaucracy and ensuring its laws are enforced fairly. While acknowledging his “America First” stance, the…
Commerce Submits Report on Section 232 Aluminum Investigation
On January 19, the Department of Commerce submitted its Section 232 report to the White House on the national security implications of aluminum imports one business day ahead of its statutory deadline. The president now has 90 days from that date, January 19, to determine whether he agrees with the Commerce Department’s findings or will…
OFAC Sanctions Additional Iranian Individuals and Entities for Human Rights Abuses and Support of Weapons Proliferation
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated 14 individuals and entities for sanctions arising from serious human rights abuses and censorship in Iran and support of designated Iranian weapons proliferators. According to Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, “The United States will not stand by while the Iranian regime continues…
