Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., was chosen to be the House Ways and Means Committee chairman by the House Steering Committee, edging out Rep. Vern Buchanan, the Florida Republican who was considered the establishment choice.

Ahead of a meeting of the "Three Amigos" -- the presidents of the U.S. and Mexico and the prime minister of Canada -- Jan. 9-10, business groups that advocate for North American integration said during a Jan. 6 webinar that they're hoping to see more evidence of nearshoring and using North American resources to diversify away from China.

The Treasury Department published its fall 2022 regulatory agenda for CBP. The only new mention of any regulations is a new long-term action that would amend CBP's regulations "pertaining to prior disclosure and to the procedure for demanding payment of duties, taxes, fees, or revenue" when a penalty claim isn't issued. "Amendments are designed to encourage participation in the prior disclosure program and to enhance the effectiveness of the duty/revenue demand process," the agenda said.

The Federal Maritime Commission denied a Chinese freight forwarder’s motion to dismiss a complaint that said the forwarder delayed 20 container shipments in order to submit higher detention and demurrage invoices (see 2210250021). The FMC’s chief administrative law judge Jan. 4 ordered China-based Shenzhen Unifelix to submit a response to the complaint by Jan. 20, requiring the company to also answer charges levied by U.S.-based Way Interglobal Network that Unifelix tried to change the terms of a signed service contract.

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.

Carbon dioxide cartridges designed for use in air guns are properly classified in subheading 2811.21.00 as “Other inorganic acids and other inorganic oxygen compounds of nonmetals: Other inorganic oxygen compounds of nonmetals: Carbon dioxide,” CBP said in a Dec. 16 Headquarters Ruling. The ruling was made in response to a request by Crosman to reconsider an earlier New York office ruling. Crosman asked CBP to reclassify the cartridges under subheading 9305.99.50 as gun parts and accessories.

The International Trade Commission posted the 2023 Basic Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of AGOA benefits for Burkina Faso, as well as a lengthy list of 10-digit level changes including a bevy of new organic provisions for fruits and vegetables, more detailed provisions for plywood of tropical wood, and new tariff breakouts for pillows. Changes were effective as of Jan. 1 unless otherwise noted.

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top 20 stories published in 2022. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.

The European Union said it is glad that the U.S. Treasury Department is reaffirming that European companies can benefit from the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit without changing their production plans. "The EU welcomes this guidance, which reflects the constructive engagement as part of the EU-US Inflation Reduction Act Task Force at senior official level," the press office said Dec. 29, the day that guidance was released.

Electrical cabinets specifically designed to be installed in power control rooms are eligible for drawback, CBP headquarters said in a recently released ruling that CBP issued in September. The ruling followed a request for further review by SMS USA LLC following the denial of its drawback claims.