US Orders Evidentiary Hearing in Suit on 100% Section 301 Tariff Hike on Needles, Syringes

The Court of International Trade on Oct. 1 ordered that an evidentiary hearing be held on Oct. 16 in a suit from importer Retractable Technologies on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's 100% Section 301 tariff hike on needles and syringes. The importer filed the suit to seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction on the duties, claiming the tariffs could send it out of business (see 2409270025) (Retractable Technologies v. United States, CIT # 24-00185).

Judge Claire Kelly was recently assigned to the case. In her Oct. 1 order, the judge ordered the U.S. to file its response to Retractable's motion for a TRO and PI before Oct. 11.

Ahead of the evidentiary hearing, Kelly ordered the parties to submit a list of witnesses and the subject of their testimony, along with any exhibits the parties may use, no later than Oct. 9. So far in the suit, Retractable filed affidavits from Thomas Shaw, founder and CEO of Retractable; Woot Lervisit, project manager for Retractable; and John Fort III, vice president of Retractable.