On September 1, 2020 the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Department of Agriculture, and Department of Commerce issued a 32-page report outlining the Trump Administration’s plan to address increased foreign imports of perishable fruits and vegetables. Following the public hearings held in August, the Administration published this report in hopes to open a dialogue with senior Mexican Government officials over the next 90 days regarding specific produce.
Commerce Initiates New Administrative Reviews on AD/CVD Orders
On September 3, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce published a notice initiating new Administrative Reviews for antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders with mostly July anniversary dates, but some other dates as well. Listed below are the countries and products named in the notice:
- Belgium: Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts (A-423-813)
Opportunity to Request Administrative Review
On September 1, 2020, Commerce announced in the Federal Register the opportunity to request an annual administrative review for products that are currently subject to antidumping and countervailing duties. In addition to administrative reviews, Commerce has included an opportunity to request a new suspension agreement proceeding pertaining to fresh tomatoes from Mexico.
USTR Grants Extensions to Some Section 301 List 4 Product Exclusions, Allowing Most to Expire
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued extensions for previously granted product exclusions under List 4 of the Section 301 tariffs on imports from China. USTR is extending the duty exemptions for only 87 of the approximately 248 product exclusions published to date under List 4, allowing for more than 150 to expire on September 1, 2020. The products for which exclusions have not been extended will be subject to the 7.5% tariff beginning on September 2, 2020.
EU Lifts Tariffs on U.S. Lobsters; U.S. Agrees to Limited Rollback on Certain Products
On August 21, 2020, the United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and European Union (EU) Commissioner Phil Hogan issued a joint statement, announcing that both parties would reduce tariffs on certain goods. Specifically, the EU has agreed to eliminate tariffs on imports of U.S. live and frozen lobster products. The elimination of these tariffs
USTR Announces New Section 301 Product Exclusions for List 3
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued two (2) new product exclusions pertaining to the Section 301 List 3 tariffs. The current tariff is 25%. The new exclusions include 2 specific product descriptions that together cover 2 separate exclusion requests. According to the USTR, the product exclusions apply retroactively from September 24, 2018
Commerce Proposes Modifications to AD/CVD Laws to Strengthen Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced in a Federal Register notice that it is proposing significant changes to its antidumping and countervailing duty regulations. The last time such sweeping changes were undertaken were in 1997 after the WTO went into effect. Commerce is requesting comments on the proposed changes by September 14, 2020.
Among the most significant changes outlined in Commerce’s proposal are the changes to its conduct of scope proceedings, which determine whether a certain product is subject to the scope of an AD or CVD order; and to circumvention proceedings where importers are alleged to be avoiding duties, often by using components from the subject country to assemble the product in another country not subject to the relevant AD/CVD order. Currently, both types of proceedings are governed by the same set of regulations in 19 C.F.R. §351.225. Commerce’s proposal would separate the two proceedings into unique regulatory frameworks.
Petition Summary: Glass Containers from the People’s Republic of China
On September 25, 2019, Petitioner American Glass Packaging Coalition filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Certain Glass Containers from the People’s Republic of China.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The merchandise covered by this investigation are certain glass containers with a nominal capacity of 0.059 liters (2.0 fluid
Petition Summary: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Sheet from Korea, Mexico, and Oman
On July 8, 2019, Petitioners Advanced Extrusion Inc. (“Advanced Extrusion”), Ex-Tech Plastics, Inc. (“Ex-Tech”), and Multi-Plastics Extrusions, Inc. (“Multi-Plastics”) filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Sheet from Korea, Mexico and Oman.
Petition Summary: Utility Scale Wind Towers from Canada, Indonesia, Korea, and Vietnam
On July 9, 2019, Petitioner Wind Tower Trade Coalition filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of Utility Scale Wind Towers from Canada, Indonesia, Korea, and Vietnam.