The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the chairman of the House Select Committee on China told Ford its response to its earlier letter "did not provide the level of detail sought by the Committee," and they continue to have questions about whether Ford's partnership with a Chinese electric vehicle battery maker will obscure Chinese imports in the EV batteries produced in Michigan, and whether those inputs will be produced with forced labor.

The Biden administration will complete its review of the Section 301 tariffs "this fall," U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai wrote to senators, and while she did not commit to any course of action, she wrote: "As part of the 4-Year Review of the Section 301 tariffs, USTR is reviewing the effectiveness of the tariffs in achieving the objectives of the investigation, as well as the effect of the tariffs on consumers, workers, and the U.S. economy at large. As part of this review, we are considering the existing tariffs structure and how to make the tariffs more strategic in light of impacts on sectors of the U.S. economy as well [as] the goal of increasing domestic manufacturing."

The House Select Committee on China, having heard from witnesses advocating a punitive approach to Chinese trade and investment (see 2305180064), asked to hear from advocates for both that approach and a more moderate one in a debate on Capitol Hill.

The rejection of a settlement led to a short-lived resumption of a strike by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada at Canadian West Coast ports, but the strike is again on hold after the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruled the strike illegal and ILWU Canada issued a 72-hour notice that the strike will begin again July 22.

A bill that says the Taiwan trade initiative can't take effect until the administration submits an economic analysis of its effects and answers questions from Congress on implementation has passed both chambers of Congress. The bill also says the next deal between Taiwan and the U.S. must gain congressional approval.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is pressing companies based in China to provide more detailed disclosures on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act compliance and the role of the Chinese government in their operations, according to a sample letter recently posted to the agency’s website.

Although the administration does not believe Mexico is doing enough to help its vaquita population recover, President Joe Biden said he isn't ready "to impose trade measures on Mexican products" because he expects high-level dialogue with Mexico on how to implement its CITES action plan and assistance to Mexico to build capacity in anti-trafficking (if it requests such assistance) to address the problem. CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who has in the past been a skeptic of the utility of the broad scope of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports (see 2205180036), rejected the premise of a reporter's question that the U.S. could remove tariffs to "extend an olive branch" to China.

Importers of apparel from Africa and exporters of auto parts, apparel, food and metal from South Africa are making the case to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act ahead of schedule, renew it for at least 10 years, if not 20, and, some are arguing directly, restore Ethiopia's eligibility.