The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of law and public policy, and trade has certainly been no exception. Given that the supply chains for many critical medical supplies and forms of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) run through China, it was inevitable that this impact would affect the Section 301 investigation of
Commerce Initiates AD and CVD Investigations of Imports of Non-Refillable Steel Cylinders from China
On April 17, 2020, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced the initiation of antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing (“CVD”) duty investigations of imports of non-refillable steel cylinders from the People’s Republic of China. The petitioner in this case is Worthington Industries. See our previous post summarizing the petition filed by Worthington Industries for details on the
Petition Summary: Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt , Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates
On April 16, 2020, Insteel Wire Products (“Insteel”), Sumiden Wire Products Corporation (“Sumiden”), and Wire Mesh Corporation (“WMC”) (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand (“PC strand”) from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab
OFAC Fact Sheet on Humanitarian Assistance to Countries with Sanctions
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a fact sheet that outlines exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations for humanitarian assistance and trade under the sanctions programs for Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Ukraine/Russia. The fact sheet can assist with questions about exporting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and
Customs Creates New Imports Web Portal for Inquiries Related to COVID-19
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced in CSMS #42364745, issued April 14, 2020, that due to the high volume of inquiries the agency is migrating from its COVID-19 Relief Imports email address to the COVID-19 Relief Imports Web Portal, which is designed to address inquiries related to the importation of medical supplies to
USTR Announces Extensions for Some Section 301 Product Exclusions
On April 7, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued one-year extensions for some product exclusions that were granted in April 2019. The extensions cover eight product exclusions that were due to expire on April 18, 2020, including exclusions for roller machines for paper, aluminum pipe brackets, and instruments for measuring voltage.
Any product
FEMA Issues Temporary Final Rule Restricting Export of Certain PPE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a temporary final rule requiring FEMA approval before certain kinds of personal protective equipment (PPE) can be exported from the United States. The temporary rule is being issued pursuant to, among other authorities, the Defense Production Act of 1950 and a series of Executive Orders. Based on these
Commerce Finds Dumping and Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of Ceramic Tile from China
On March 31, 2020, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced its affirmative final determinations in the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of ceramic tile from China. See the fact sheet for a summary of the final cash deposit rates and margins.
In the AD investigation, Commerce calculated cash deposit rates of
EU Prepares Retaliation against U.S. over Expansion of Section 232 Tariffs
In retaliation for the United States’ expansion of Section 232 tariffs in February to cover steel and aluminum derivative articles, the European Union (“EU”) will hit certain U.S.-origin imports with additional tariffs. Duties of 20 percent for lighters and 7 percent for plastic furniture fittings will apply starting May 8, 2020. An additional 4.4 percent
OFAC Extends General License for Companies Doing Business with PDVSA Affiliate Nynas AB
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) recently issued General License 13E (“GL 13E”), authorizing certain activities involving Nynas AB, a Swedish manufacturer of specialty oils owned in part by PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, which would normally be prohibited by Executive Order 13850 (“E.O. 13850”). The notice issued by OFAC