On 4 September 2019, the House of Commons passed a Bill (327 in favor to 299 against) that requires the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to seek an extension from the EU if he cannot obtain a withdrawal agreement by 19 October. The extension would effectively preclude a “no-deal” Brexit and ensure continuity. The House of Lords passed the Bill on a voice vote on 6 September 2019, after defeating an amendment (283-28) that would have…
On August 6, 2019, the International Trade Administration (ITA), Department of Commerce, published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 180223210–8210–01] that removes the regulations (15 C.F.R. part 315) implementing the Automotive Products Trade Act of 1965, Public Law 89–283 (Act). That statute implemented the 1965 Canada-United States Automotive Products Agreement (Auto Pact). Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect in 1994, trade in automotive products between the United…
On July 29, 2019, the Diario Oficial de la Federacion (the official Federal Gazette) published the Presidential Decree approving the Protocol replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement with the Treaty between the United Mexican States, the United States of America and Canada, made in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 30 of two thousand eighteen, as well as the six parallel agreements between the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the…
On May 20, 2019, the Department of Finance announced that effective today, Canada is lifting its retaliatory countermeasures against the U.S. When the United States imposed unjustified tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, the Government of Canada stood up for our country’s steel and aluminum workers, industries, and communities – imposing reciprocal, dollar-for-dollar countermeasures against imports of steel, aluminum, and other products from the U.S., to encourage the full removal of the U.S. tariffs. “Canada stood firm…
On May 20, 2019, the Diario Oficial published a Decree, signed by President López Obrador, which modifies the earlier Decree (published on June 5, 2018) setting the applicable duty rate for goods originating in the United States and the Decree establishing various Sectoral Promotion Programs. The Decree repeals Articles 1, 2 and 9 of the June 5, 2018 Decree and removes the duties imposed by Mexico in retaliation for steel and aluminum tariffs imposed on…
On 15 May 2019, the Federal Council announced that it had opened consultation proceedings on the trade agreement with the United Kingdom and on an additional agreement extending the provisions of the trade agreement to the Principality of Liechtenstein. The agreements are intended to ensure to a large extent the continuation of existing trade relations after the UK’s departure from the European Union. The consultation will end on 5 September. The Federal Council will submit…
The entry into force of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) brings with it preferential import tariff rates applicable to CPTPP originating goods. Import tariffs can amount to a substantial increase on the end cost of goods. For businesses operating in a competitive market, preferential tariff rates may afford them a comparative advantage by reducing costs. Under the CPTPP, tariff rate reductions occur automatically after the Agreement has entered into force in a member country’s territory. Accordingly, exporters of most CPTPP originating goods can enjoy preferential tariff rates immediately.
On April 18, 2019, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) released its 379 page report, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors [Inv. TPA 105-003, Pub. No. 4889], as required by the section 105(c) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (Title I, Pub. L. 114-26; 129 Stat. 320). The highlights of the report are contained in the Executive Summary which states (with emphasis as in the original text):
On April 18, 2019, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) released its 379 page report, U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors [Inv. TPA 105-003, Pub. No. 4889], as required by the section 105(c) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (Title I, Pub. L. 114-26; 129 Stat. 320). The highlights of the report are contained in the Executive Summary which states (with emphasis as in the original text):
On April 18, 2019, the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) published in the Federal Register a request for public comments concerning a request from the Government of Morocco (GOM) for modification of the US- Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA) rules of origin for women’s or girls’ swimwear made from certain knit fabric.