The Court of International Trade on Nov. 28 blocked imports of certain fish taken from New Zealand's West Coast North Island multispecies set-net and trawl fisheries. In an opinion that cited renowned conservationist Rachel Carson, Judge Gary Katzmann found plaintiffs are likely to succeed in arguing two claims in the case seeking a Marine Mammal Protection Act ban on imports of fish and fishery products from New Zealand and caught using techniques that have caused the near extinction of the Maui dolphin, warranting the injunction. The injunction covers snapper, tarakihi, spotted dogfish, trevally, warehou, hoki, barracouta, mullet and gurnard from the New Zealand set-net and trawl fisheries.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., one of the primary movers behind the Chips Act, told an audience that more domains need policymakers' attention so that they don't wake up to find that China has become dominant in an important emerging technology. He noted that before becoming a politician, he "was in the telecommunication space," and said that realizing that China is dominating 5G with two heavily subsidized champion companies was the "final wake-up call" that engagement and deeper trade with China is not the right way to go.

The early submissions to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on whether the 7.5% and 25% tariffs on Chinese goods should continue were heavily against continuing the action. More than 90% of the 27 submissions either said end all the tariffs or urged dropping the ones that affect businesses or workers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is finalizing a new safety standard for clothing storage units that addresses tip-over risks, CPSC said in a final rule released Nov. 23. The new standard requires clothing storage units “to be tested for stability, exceed minimum stability requirements, bear labels containing safety and identification information, and display a hang tag providing performance and technical data about the stability of the CSU,” CPSC said.

Exclusions from Section 301 China tariffs for 81 medical care products related to COVID-19 will be extended until the end of February 2023, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a pre-publication notice released Nov. 23. The exclusions had been set to expire Nov. 30.

CBP will block imports from Dominican sugar giant Central Romana under a new withhold release order issued by the agency on Nov. 23, it said in a news release the same day. Beginning on Nov. 23, CBP will “detain raw sugar and sugar-based products produced in the Dominican Republic” by Central Romana, after finding “information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in its operation,” CBP said.

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.

House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to consider doing an out-of-cycle review on Ethiopia's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act preferences program. Ethiopia lost its eligibility at the beginning of 2022 (see 2111020035) because the U.S. said its government was violating human rights as it tried to quell a rebellion in the Tigray region. Ethiopia was exporting more than $100 million annually of apparel and textiles to the U.S. before it was ousted from AGOA.

CBP is adding three new benefits related to forced labor in its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Trade Compliance program, CTPAT Director Manual Garza said in a message to the trade community posted to the CBP website Nov. 18. Effective immediately, CBP will provide “to the greatest extent possible and practical,” front-of-line admissibility review, the ability to hold instead of redeliver goods suspected of forced labor and the ability to move shipments detained under a withhold release order to a bonded facility.

Seventeen styles of fabrics are not excluded from 10% Section 301 duties because they do not qualify as microfibers or microdeniers, CBP said in a Sept. 8 ruling, recently released publicly.