On January 12, 2021, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a final rule [CBP Dec. 21-01] that amends CBP regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain categories of archaeological material of the Italian Republic (Italy). The restrictions, which were originally imposed by Treasury Decision 01-06 and last extended by CBP Decision (CBP Dec.) 16-02, are due to expire on January 12, 2021. The Assistant Secretary for Educational…
On December 16, 2020, US Department of the Treasury delivered to Congress the semiannual Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States. Treasury determined that both Vietnam and Switzerland are currency manipulators. For each country, Treasury assessed, based on a range of evidence and circumstances, that at least part of its exchange rate management over the four quarters through June 2020, and particularly foreign exchange intervention, was for…
On August 27, 2020, CBP issued CSMS #43784137 – UPDATED GUIDANCE: Modification of Section 301 Action: Enforcement of U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute. The text is identical to CSMS #43762405 – GUIDANCE: Modification of Section 301 Action: Enforcement of U.S. World Trade Organization (WTO) Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute except that it includes a revised list of affected products (LCA 2020 Table chart 20200825.pdf). Subheadings 0406.90.99 (added) and…
On August 12, 2020, the US Trade Representative (USTR) issued a press release stating that, as required by U.S. law, the USTR is issuing a modification to the list of products subject to WTO-authorized additional duties in the United States’ successful WTO challenge to subsidies for large civil aircraft provided by the European Union, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. USTR is removing from the tariff list certain products from Greece and the United…
On June 8, 2020, the Department of State published in the Federal Register a notice [Public Notice: 11132] proposing to extend the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Italy Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Archaeological Material Representing the Pre-Classical, Classical and Imperial Roman Periods of Italy.
On June 2, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that his office is beginning investigations into digital services taxes that have been adopted or are being considered by a number of our trading partners. The investigations will be conducted under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. This provision gives the USTR broad authority to investigate and respond to a foreign country’s action which may be unfair or discriminatory and negatively affect US Commerce. …
On June 2, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that his office is beginning investigations [Docket No. USTR-2020-0022] into digital services taxes that have been adopted or are being considered by a number of the US’ trading partners. The investigations will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. This provision gives the USTR broad authority to investigate and respond to a foreign country’s action which may be unfair or…
On March 17, 2020, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published in the Federal Register a document notifying the public of certain arrival restrictions. The document announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to direct all flights to the United States carrying persons who have recently traveled from, or were otherwise present within, the countries of the Schengen Area to arrive at one of the United…
On March 4, 2020, CBP issued CSMS #41898289 – UPDATE: Section 301 EU LCA Modification – Effective March 05, 2020, which provides information and guidance on USTR’s modification of the Sec. 301 additional duties on products of the EU or its member states. It is reproduced below: The purpose is to provide notice of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) modification determination to impose additional duties on products of the European Union (EU) or certain…
On January 13, 2020, the US Department of the Treasury announced that it had delivered to Congress the semiannual Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States. In this Report, Treasury reviewed and assessed the policies of 20 major US trading partners. Treasury also assessed developments over the last several months with China and its currency practices. The announcement said: The Report concluded that while the currency practices…