This week, at the highly anticipated forced labor expo, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) unveiled its new Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Statistics Dashboard aimed at providing transparency for
Continue Reading CBP Unveils New Interactive Dashboard at UFLPA Technical Expo
UFLPA Region Alert and Postal Code Requirements Set to Deploy March 18, 2023
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expected to deploy the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) regional alert and postal code requirement this Friday, March 18, 2023.
According to
Continue Reading UFLPA Region Alert and Postal Code Requirements Set to Deploy March 18, 2023Biden Administration Increases Tariffs on Russian Aluminum and 100 Other Products on One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
On February 24, 2023, the Biden Administration announced the imposition of additional tariffs on Russian imports of aluminum and approximately 100 other individual products. The imposition of these additional tariffs
Continue Reading Biden Administration Increases Tariffs on Russian Aluminum and 100 Other Products on One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of UkraineCBP Releases New Resources for UFLPA Enforcement & Applicability Reviews
On February 23, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) released new guidance for importers seeking admissibility of goods under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”). The three guidance
Continue Reading CBP Releases New Resources for UFLPA Enforcement & Applicability ReviewsPossible Forced Labor Enforcement Remedies on Aluminum Products
Recent reports indicate that aluminum is now being targeted for actions against forced labor under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”). Though U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) has
Continue Reading Possible Forced Labor Enforcement Remedies on Aluminum ProductsCBP Releases Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Guidance for Importers
On June 13th, Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) released its Operational Guidance For Importers to prepare companies for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”). UFLPA enforcement is set to take effect June 21st and will apply a rebuttable presumption standard to imports tied in whole or in part to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region or entities identified by the U.S. government on the soon to be published UFLPA Entity List.
Continue Reading CBP Releases Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Guidance for Importers
Commerce Trade Missions Set to Resume in March 2022
The U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced on Friday that it was set to resume trade missions starting as early as March 2022. Trade missions are government- led programs where members of the trade can meet directly with foreign industries and officials to explore potential business opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic brought these missions to a sudden halt in March 2020 and no trade missions have occurred in the past 24 month. The International Trade Administration (“ITA”) is now preparing to resume in-person trade missions, where possible.
Continue Reading Commerce Trade Missions Set to Resume in March 2022
U.S. and Japan Agree to Eliminate Section 232 Tariffs on Steel Imports
On February 7, 2022, the United States and Japan announced that both countries had agreed to a tariff-rate quote (TRQ) for steel imports from Japan. The agreement will eliminate the
Continue Reading U.S. and Japan Agree to Eliminate Section 232 Tariffs on Steel Imports
New Harmonized Tariff Schedule Updates Set to Take Effect in January 2022
On January 1, 2022, the new Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) will take effect with a number of significant updates for importers and exporters. The World Customs Organization (WCO) made approximately 350 amendments which will impact a substantial number of products and product groups being imported into the U.S. In addition to new classifications, importers should also take note of the updated tariff descriptions, legal notes, and product descriptions. The new changes are expected to account for the continued advances in technology and developing global priorities. The updated version can be found here along with the official change record.
Continue Reading New Harmonized Tariff Schedule Updates Set to Take Effect in January 2022
USTR Grants 6-Month Extension on Exclusions for 81 COVID-Related Products
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced in a notice that 81 COVID specific product exclusions would be extended for an additional 6 months, with all COVID exclusions receiving an additional 16-day transition period. The exclusions on the 81 products was set to expire on November 14, 2021, but will now be pushed back until May 31, 2022, allowing these medical – care products to remain free from additional duties upon importation. The announcement comes after USTR requested public comments on August 27, 2021 on whether the exclusions should be further extended.
Continue Reading USTR Grants 6-Month Extension on Exclusions for 81 COVID-Related Products
Biden Administration Shows Signs of Addressing China Trade Wars
On October 4, 2021, Ambassador Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, addressed the state of U.S.- China trade relations and the upcoming plans for the Biden Administration to improve foreign trade policy. Since taking office in January, the Administration has spent time reviewing the trade policies put in place under the Trump Administration. There has been little movement until now as to the stance the Biden Administration would take, which created uncertainty regarding U.S. trade policy with China. Speculation grew as many questioned what would happen with the tariffs imposed on Chinese imports (under Section 301), how the administration would address the shortcomings of the “Phase 1” deal, and whether the product exclusion process would be re-instated.
Continue Reading Biden Administration Shows Signs of Addressing China Trade Wars