The Commerce Department this week released the results of its 2021 request for information on risks in the semiconductor supply chain (see 2109230018), finding that greater U.S. fab capacity would help alleviate chip supply chain issues. The agency also said U.S. semiconductor companies have “significantly increased the utilization of their existing capacity” since the chip shortage began in 2020, but demand continues to outpace supply. In a report outlining the results, Commerce urged Congress to fund legislation that would provide more support and incentives for the semiconductor industry. “The RFI results make it clear: America needs to produce more semiconductors,” Commerce said. “Congress must pass funding for domestic semiconductor production, such as the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, to solve our supply challenges for the long term.”

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Jan. 25:

The Commerce Department Jan. 19 released its quarterly update to its annual list of foreign government subsidies on imported articles of cheese subject to an in-quota rate of duty July 1 through Sept. 30, 2021. The agency again found that only Canada is providing subsidies, in the form of export assistance.

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Jan. 14:

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Jan. 11:

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Dec. 28:

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Dec. 22:

The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Dec. 17:

A recent Government Accountability Office report on Section 232 tariff exclusions on steel and aluminum noted that the Commerce Department has tweaked a number of procedures in its exclusion application and decision-making process, but has not updated the guidance on its website to let the public know. It recommended that the department do so.

The Commerce Department set the 12-month 2022 value-added tariff preference level for certain apparel imported directly from Haiti eligible to receive duty-free treatment under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement Act (HOPE). For the one-year period Dec. 20, 2021, through Dec. 19, 2022, the recalculated quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under the value-added TPL is 367,770,223 square meters equivalent (SME). Apparel articles entered in excess of this TPL will be subject to otherwise applicable duty rates.