Our sources advise that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has stated that preparations for an exclusion process for the third tranche of tariffs (List 3) applied to goods from China under Section 301 are currently underway and the process will be launched by the end of the month.  Continue Reading USTR States List 3 Product Exclusion Process to Be Launched

On March 4, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it would be conducting a Section 232 investigation on imports of titanium sponge. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stated that the investigation will be looking into whether or not the “quantity or circumstances” of the imports are a threat to national security. Continue Reading Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation on Titanium Sponge

At the direction of President Trump, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) has announced the United States’ intent to withdraw beneficiary status from India and Turkey under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (“GSP”) program. Continue Reading President Trump Announces Intent to Withdraw GSP Status for India and Turkey

On February 28, 2019, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released a federal register notice delaying the increase in Section 301 (List 3) tariffs to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods until further notice. The tariff rate on goods covered under List 3 will remain at 10%. Continue Reading USTR Announces List 3 Tariffs Will Not Increase to 25%

On February 24, 2019, President Trump announced via tweet that he would be delaying the increase of Section 301 tariffs on China. The U.S. planned to increase tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products from 10% to 25% on March 1, 2019 (See our previous post here). However, in his February 24 tweet, the President expressed his approval with the status of the trade talks, stating that the parties had made “substantial progress…on important structural issues including intellectual property protection, technology transfer, agriculture, services, currency, and many other issues.” President Trump did not specify a new deadline date for imposing additional tariffs or concluding the trade talks, but anticipates hosting a summit for both himself and President Xi at Mar-a-Lago to conclude the agreement. Just hours after the tweet, President Trump also made a remark at the Governor’s Ball on the bilateral talks, saying, “And if all works well, we’re going to have some very big news over the next week or two.” Continue Reading President Trump Delays Section 301 Tariff Increase on Tranche 3

On February 21, 2019, Petitioner Vulcan Steel Products, Inc. filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod from China, India, Taiwan, and Thailand. Continue Reading Petition Summary: Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod from China, India, Taiwan, and Thailand

On Sunday, February 17, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce reportedly submitted its report to the President following its investigation into whether imported cars and parts pose a threat to national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This investigation was initiated in May 2018 at President Trump’s request.  The report has not been released to the public yet. The administration is required to release any part of the report that does not contain classified information in the Federal Register. Continue Reading Commerce Submits 232 Auto Tariff Report to the President

shipping containersOn February 19, 2019, Petitioner Coalition for Acetone Fair Trade filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of Acetone from Belgium, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain. Continue Reading Petition Summary: Acetone from Belgium, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain