UPDATED: March 25, 2020 – Several U.S. executive branch agencies along with federal courts are instituting significant operational changes. These changes have either already been implemented or are anticipated at the U.S. government agencies and courts which manage international trade-related concerns in the coming weeks due to personnel and public safety concerns over the COVID-19
The Potential Impacts of COVID-19 on Commerce
On March 23, 2020, Husch Blackwell LLP’s very own Nithya Nagarajan was quoted in Bloomberg Law’s article discussing the impacts of the COVID-19 virus on the Department of Commerce’s accuracy concerning antidumping and countervailing duties. To see the full article, please click here. Due to the travel restrictions, attorneys fear that the Department of
OFAC Issues Two New General Licenses for Companies Doing Business with GAZ Group
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has recently issued two new General Licenses to extend pre-existing authorizations for transactions with GAZ Group that would otherwise be prohibited under OFAC’s Ukraine- and Russia-related sanctions. General License 15H (“GL 15H”) authorizes certain activities necessary to maintenance or wind down of operations or existing contracts
USTR Announces New Section 301 Product Exclusions for List 3 and Requests Comments on Potential COVID-19 Medical Exclusions
On March 20, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued new product exclusions pertaining to the 25% Section 301 List 3 Tariffs. The new list of exclusions includes one 10-digit HTS subheading that covers one exclusion request and 176 specially prepared product descriptions that cover 202 separate exclusion requests. The full list of excluded
Customs Providing Immediate Short Term Duty Deferrals to Approved Importers Working to Provide Longer Term Relief to the Importing Community
Short term case-by-case relief to approved importers: On Friday, March 20, 2020 at 4:52 PM Customs issued the following message:
Due to the severity of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will approve on a case by case basis additional days for payment of estimated duties, taxes and fees due to
CBP Announces that Garlic and Pipe Fittings Importers are Evading Antidumping and Countervailing Duties
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) recently announced two new final determinations that importers of garlic and pipe fittings were evading antidumping and countervailing duties, under the Enforce and Protect Act (“EAPA”).
Title IV, Section 421 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is commonly referred to as The Enforce and Protect
Petition Summary: Certain Vertical Shaft Engines Between 99cc and 225cc, and Parts Thereof from the People’s Republic of China
On March 18, 2020, Petitioner Briggs & Stratton Corporation filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of vertical shaft engines between 99cc and 225cc, and parts thereof from the People’s Republic of China.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The petitioner proposed the following scope for these investigations:
The merchandise
USTR Grants Extensions to Some Section 301 Exclusions
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that it will grant an extension of one-year to eleven (11) specific exclusions that were subject to the Section 301 List 1 tariffs at a rate of 25%. These eleven specific products and HTS numbers had exclusions that were scheduled to expire on March 25, 2020.
USTR Announces New Section 301 Product Exclusions for List 3
On March 16, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued new product exclusions pertaining to the 25% Section 301 List 3 Tariffs. The new list of exclusions includes five 10-digit HTS subheadings that cover 75 separate exclusion requests. To view the full list of excluded products, click here. According to the USTR, the
Court of International Trade Assigns 3-Judge Panel to Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Derivatives Tariff Appeals
The Court of International Trade on Thursday, March 12, 2020, reassigned several pending appeals on the recent challenges to the Section 232 derivative tariffs on steel on aluminum. These duties were originally announced on January 24, 2020, and went into effect on February 8, 2020. (See original post here). While it is unusual for