There are no plans to automatically extend Section 301 tariff exclusions, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in answers to written questions from senators on the Finance Committee and members of the House Ways and Means Committee. When he was asked repeatedly by members of Congress if the exclusions would be extended automatically to help small businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 recession, he said no and that “USTR has not decided whether to possibly extend again the exclusions extended until the end of 2020.” Lighthizer testified at the hearings in June (see 2006180029 and 2006170008).
Customs Duty
A Customs Duty is a tariff or tax which a country imposes on goods when they are transported across international borders. Customs Duties are used to protect countries' economies, residents, jobs, and environments, by limiting the flow of imported merchandise, especially restricted and prohibited goods, into the country. The Customs Duty Rate is a percentage determined by the value of the article purchased in the foreign country and not based on quality, size, or weight.
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on metal lockers and parts thereof from China (A-570-133/C-570-134). The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. The AD duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 27-31 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Coalition of American Chassis Manufacturers seeks the imposition of new antidumping and countervailing duties on certain chassis and subassemblies thereof from China, it said in a petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission July 29. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations, which could result in the imposition of permanent AD/CV duty orders and the assessment of AD and CV duties on importers.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipe from the Czech Republic (A-851-804), South Korea (A-580-909), Russia (A-821-826) and Ukraine (A-823-819), and its recently initiated countervailing duty investigations on South Korea (C-580-910) and Russia (C-821-827).
A domestic manufacturer filed a petition on July 28 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on methionine from France, Japan and Spain. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD duty investigation on methionine. The investigation was requested by Novus International.
The Commerce Department will publish a notice in the Aug. 4 Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigation on seamless refined copper pipe and tube from Vietnam (A-552-831). The agency will determine whether imports of merchandise subject to this investigation are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The period of investigation is Oct. 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from July 20-24 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative weighs whether to remove any items from the Airbus retaliatory tariff list and replace them with other goods, or to hike tariffs on any goods now being taxed at an additional 25%, most trade groups are asking him to limit tariffs to aerospace, and spare what they import. The decision is due by Aug. 12.
Thousands of people who either work in the wine industry or who enjoy drinking imported wines wrote to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative between June 26 and July 26. In all, USTR received close to 30,000 comments on what to do about tariffs on European goods. USTR is considering changing the mix of products, either by putting products on the list that were spared last time, or by adding new products not considered last year. It's also considering increasing the 15% and 25% tariffs on EU goods (see 2006240017).