The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) published the following documents related to WTO disputes in the Federal Register. Although USTR will accept any comments received during the course of the dispute settlement proceedings, you should submit your comment on or before the “Comments Due” date to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.
On June 5, 2018, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted (Amended) QB 18-122, which provides information on annual absolute quota quantities for Argentina and Brazil steel imports as of June 1, 2018. Additional information may be issued at the end of each quarter for convenience of importers of steel products under absolute quota. On June 4, 2018, CBP posted QB 18-123 Announcement for Steel Mill Articles: South Korea, provides information on annual absolute quota…
On April 30, 2018, CBP issued CSMS #18-000316 Quota Announcement South Korea Steel Mill Articles.
The CSMS states:
On April 30, 2018, the President signed Presidential Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States. The Proclamation states that the United States has agreed in principle with Argentina, Australia, and Brazil on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment to our national security posed by aluminum articles imported from these countries, so they will remain exempt from the tariff in Proc. 9704 until details are finalized. The United States is continuing discussions…
On April 12, 2018, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that it is seeking input on a new investigation concerning proposed modifications to the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) regarding the staging of customs duties for certain motor vehicles (provided for in subheadings 8704.21.00, 8704.22.50, 8704.23.00, 8704.31.00, 8704.32.00, and 8704.90.00 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule). The announcement stated:
On March 28, 2018, US Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer and South Korean Minister for Trade Hyun Chong Kim issued a joint statement announcing that the US and S. Korea have reached an agreement in principle on the general terms of amendments and modifications to the United States-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
On February 21, 2018, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong signed the Korea-Central America Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with representatives from five Central American countries:
On March 26, 2018, the S. Korean Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that the US and S. Korea and reach agreement “in principle” to amend the terms of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (frequently referred to as “KORUS”).
It is being reported that on March 22, 2018, USTR Robert Lighthizer announced at a Senate Finance Committee hearing that the administration would exempt the European Union, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea from the 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariffs set to take effect on March 23, 2018.
On March 22, 2018, President Trump signed Presidential Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States and Presidential Proclamation Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States which amend Proclamations 9704 and 9705 to grant relief until May 1, 2018