USTR Proposes New Tariffs on EU Products under Section 301
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced on July 1, 2019 a proposed list of tariffs on approximately $4 billion worth of products from the European Union (EU). This is a supplemental list to the April 12, 2019 proposed tariffs with an approximate trade value of $12 billion.
According to USTR, this action is designed to pressure the EU to implement the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body recommendations in regard to the United States’ WTO dispute against the EU’s subsidies on large civil aircraft.
Interested parties can appear at a public hearing or file comments on the proposed list.
Key dates:
July 24, 2019: Due date for submission of requests to appear at the public hearing and summary of testimony.
August 5, 2019: Due date for submission of written comments.
August 5, 2019: The Section 301 Committee will convene a public hearing in the Main Hearing Room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington DC 20436 beginning at 9:30 a.m.
August 12, 2019: Due date for submission of post-hearing rebuttal comments.
USTR Opens Section 301 Investigation into French Digital Services Tax, Announces Public Comment Period
On July 10, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that it had opened an investigation directed at the Government of France under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The announcement came as the French Senate considered a new digital services tax (“DST”)—enacted a day later—imposing a 3% revenue tax on companies providing certain online services directed at French customers that earn annual revenues of at least €25 million in France and at least €750 million worldwide. To see the full post on the new Section 301 Investigation click here.
President Trump Declares Uranium Imports Not a Threat to U.S. National Security
On Friday evening, July 13, 2019, President Trump declared that U.S. imports of uranium do not pose a national security threat under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
The President’s decision is surprising as the Administration has been strongly protectionist and has previously imposed Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum. Additionally, the decision goes against the U.S. Department of Commerce’s findings that imported uranium poses a threat to U.S. national security. To see our full put on the issue, click here.
This article was published by Husch Blackwell in the monthly Trade Law Newsletter. To read the full July Trade Law Update click here.