The Biden Administration’s Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) recently increased enforcement efforts against imports from Chinese entities linked to forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.  Twenty-nine (29) companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA) Entity List on Friday November 22, 2024, bringing the total number of companies to

As the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) strike commenced yesterday morning, our team received word from a source with knowledge of operations at the Port of New York and New Jersey (NYNJ) that, one by one, NYNJ terminals decided to “freeze the clock” on detention and demurrage (D&D) charges for the duration of the ILA strike.

On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed into law the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act, Pub. L. No. 118-50, div. D. Part of the Act included a provision extending the statute of limitations for civil and criminal violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA) from five years to 10 years. The new statute of limitations took effect on the date of the President’s signature.

Omaha-based partner Grant Leach appeared last week on an episode of The Justice Insiders podcast to discuss the ever-expanding set of requirements and restrictions placed on U.S. businesses in connection with trade law, including a key change in the statute of limitations—from five years to ten—in connection with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

On July 10, 2024, the Biden Administration announced tariff increases on imports of aluminum  and steel products. The tariff increases are the latest measure to combat the circumvention of Section 301 duties imposed against Chinese origin products by shipping the products through third countries.

The modifications apply to goods entered or withdrawn for consumption

Earlier this week, 159 trade associations representing key supply chain stakeholders sent a letter to the Biden administration and relevant congressional committees calling on the U.S. government to intervene in the stalled labor contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). On June 10, the ILA issued a press release announcing its refusal to continue negotiations due to an outstanding dispute with a terminal operator involving one Gulf Coast port. The ILA has signaled its willingness to call for a coastwide strike if a new contract agreement is not reached prior to the expiration of the current contract, which covers roughly 45,000 dockworkers at seaports on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts.

On February 28, 2024, Fiber Industries LLC d/b/a Darling Fibers, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, and Sun Fiber LLC (“Petitioners”) filed a Petition for Global Safeguard Relief Pursuant to Sections 201-202 of the Trade Act of 1974 on imports of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber.

SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION

The imported article covered by this petition

On February 23, 2024, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a Final Rule intended to add clarity to invoicing requirements outlined in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA 2022). In particular, the Final Rule provides minimum information for demurrage and detention (D&D) invoices and procedures for disputing charges. D&D invoices have created a host of issues for importers and shippers throughout the economy, especially as they relate to the lack of information provided on the invoices.

On December 26, 2023, the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that it will further extend 352 reinstated exclusions and 77 COVID-related exclusions to duties imposed on goods from China pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 until May 31, 2024.  USTR imposed Section 301 duties in four tranches or “lists,” and

On August 18, 2023, the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) announced its final determination that certain solar cells and modules exported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are circumventing the antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing (“CVD”) orders on imports from China after conducting its investigation for over 18 months.  Any duties will only go into effect in