RTL Admin
USTR to Consider New China Tariffs & ...

On March 12, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received a petition from various labor unions addressing China's policies concerning critical maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. The petition seeks relief from alleged unfair trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 - the same statute that has been used to address other unfair trade allegations resulting in the current special tariffs assessed against China.

USTR to Consider New China Tariffs & Allegations
RTL Admin
USTR Extends Section 301 China Tariff ...

On December 26, 2023, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) extended 429 total Section 301 tariff exclusions on Chinese goods.

USTR Extends Section 301 China Tariff Exclusions until May 31, 2024
RTL Admin
AD/CVD Investigation Broadly Targets Aluminum ...

On October 4, 2023, the US Aluminum Extruders Coalition and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (collectively, the "Petitioners") filed an antidumping ("AD") and countervailing ("CVD") duty petition before the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) concerning aluminum extrusions and merchandise produced from aluminum extrusions.

AD/CVD Investigation Broadly Targets Aluminum Extrusions and Downstream Products
RTL Admin
U.S. Expands Sanctions Against Russia

On May 19, 2023, the United States introduced a number of expanded sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus. These sanctions were imposed following the G7 Leaders’ Summit meeting conducted the prior week in Japan, and were coordinated with similar measures imposed by the other G7 countries and with Australia in an effort to further curtail the development of Russia’s military and industrial sectors in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In this advisory, we focus on the new sanctions and export controls that were imposed by the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”).

U.S. Expands Sanctions Against Russia
RTL Admin
Court Rules USTR Had Authority to Impose List 3 ...

The Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its decision in the lead case challenging the imposition of List 3 / 4A Section 301 China tariffs. In Re Section 301 Cases, CIT Docket No. 21-00052. The CIT ruled that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) had the authority to impose List 3 & 4A tariffs while in direct response to China imposing retaliatory tariffs. A copy of the decision can be accessed here.

Court Rules USTR Had Authority to Impose List 3 / 4A Section 301 Tariffs; Remands on Other USTR Decisions

CBP Initiating Quicker, More Transparent Investigations for AD/CVD Enforcement

On August 22, 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published long-awaited interim regulations implementing the procedures for conducting investigations of alleged antidumping (AD) or countervailing duty (CVD) evasion. These new investigatory procedures were enacted to address ongoing concerns by U.S. producers that AD/CVD duties have been illegally avoided.

The Sanctions Shuffle: U.S. Offers Iran Relief While Imposing New Sanctions One Day Later

The complicated relationship between the U.S. and Iran continued to evolve after a flurry of events over this past weekend.  The U.S. lifted sanctions on targeted sectors of the Iranian market as part of implementing a key part of a multi-lateral agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, while new sanctions were imposed on persons and entities involved in ballistic missile testing from last December.  The sanctions relief opens up a new potential market for billions of dollars in trade, but also presents a reminder to those looking to do business in Iran that vigilance over the complex web of sanctions and export controls is essential.

U.S. Reaches Trade Accord with Pacific Partners

The U.S. and 11 partner nations have reached an agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The agreement will lower trade barriers and set commercial rules for the participants, which make up 40% of the global economy.
 
The U.S. Trade Representative and international counterparts concluded negotiations on Monday over several contentious issues, including the opening of U.S. agricultural markets in Japan and Canada, and the tightening of intellectual property rules for pharmaceuticals and technology.