Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news:

 

 

 

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is imposing immediate import restrictions on fish and fish products from the New Zealand inshore set net and trawl fisheries deployed in the range of the Maui dolphin, a marine mammal species endemic to the on the west coast of the North Island in response to the United States Court of International Trade order (Slip Op. 22-130) and in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
  • CBP has implemented Split Processing at the Fort Erie/Peace Bridge Border Crossing for NEXUS/Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) Enrollment Center. A similar split interview process was previously implemented successfully at the Alexandria Bay, N.Y. Port of Entry and Lansdowne Border Crossing and these initiatives represent key strategies to address ongoing demand.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) 

  • The Department of the Treasury announced G7 and Australia, as current members of the Price Cap Coalition, on 2 December 2022 reached consensus on a maximum price of 60 U.S. dollars per barrel for seaborne Russian-origin crude oil in line with the unanimous decision by Member States of the European Union to endorse a price level for the price cap on seaborne Russian-origin crude oil.
  • OFAC is publishing the names of one or more persons that have been placed on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) based on OFAC’s determination that one or more applicable legal criteria were satisfied. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
  • OFAC is publishing the names of one or more persons that have been placed on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) based on OFAC’s determination that one or more applicable legal criteria were satisfied. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.
  • OFAC is publishing the names of one or more persons that have been placed on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) based on OFAC’s determination that one or more applicable legal criteria were satisfied. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Executive Office of the United States President

  • On December 5, the United States and Panama held the third meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council under the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA). Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources Kelly Milton led the U.S. delegation, along with the U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn.
    • The Parties highlighted their respective efforts to implement Environment Chapter commitments during the meeting, including their actions to strengthen environmental protection, enforce environmental laws, and promote public participation in environmental decision-making.
  • The United States and Bangladesh today convened the sixth meeting of the United States-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) Council. The meeting was co-chaired by Christopher Wilson, Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asian Affairs, and Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Secretary, Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce. Both delegations included officials from trade, labor, agriculture, and other relevant ministries.

The Department of Commerce (DOC)

  • The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders with October anniversary dates. In accordance with Commerce’s regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews.
  • DOC preliminarily determines that circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from the Republic of Korea (Korea) was sold at prices below normal value for Husteel Co., Ltd. and not sold at prices below normal value for Nexteel Co., Ltd. during the period of review (POR) November 1, 2020, through October 31, 2021. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.
  • DOC determines that Metalco S.A., the sole company subject to the 2020-2021 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on corrosion- resistant steel products from the People’s Republic of China, is part of the China-wide entity because it did not demonstrate its eligibility for a separate rate. The period of review (POR) is July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
  • DOC determines that POSCO, a producer/exporter of certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to- length plate from the Republic of Korea, received de minimis net countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR), January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
  • DOC preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of chlorinated isocyanurates from the People’s Republic of China  during the period of review (POR), January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.
  • DOC preliminarily determines that sales of monosodium glutamate from the Republic of Indonesia have been made below normal value during the period of review (POR), November 1, 2020, through October 31, 2021. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.
  • DOC published the notice of initiation and preliminary results of changed circumstances reviews of the antidumping duty (AD) order on silicomanganese from India. For these final results, Commerce continues to find that NAVA Limited is the successor-in-interest to Nava Bharat Ventures Limited in the context of the AD order on silicomanganese from India. Furthermore, NAVA is entitled to NBVL’s AD cash deposit rate.
  • DOC preliminarily finds that Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd. made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) in the United States during the November 1, 2020, through October 31, 2021, period of review (POR).

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

  • United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with the European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis to hold the first Ministerial Meeting of the Working Group on large civil aircraft. They affirmed the U.S.-EU Understanding on a Cooperative Framework for Large Civil Aircraft reached in June 2021 and agreed to continue the Working Group’s efforts to confront the challenges posed by China’s non-market economic policies.
  • USTR Katherine Tai, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, and U.S. Department of Labor’s Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee co-hosted the inaugural principals’ meeting of the U.S. – EU Trade and Labor Dialogue at the University of Maryland, College Park.
  • The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the European Commission led today the inaugural principals’ meeting of the United States and European Union tripartite Trade and Labor Dialogue. The meeting included key U.S. and EU labor and business representatives, and focused on identifying opportunities for governments, labor unions, and businesses to collaborate to eliminate forced labor in supply chains.
  • USTR announced support for extending the deadline to decide whether there should be an extension of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)

  • The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC)  has received a complaint entitled Certain Environmental Monitors with Side-Viewable Illumination and Components Thereof, DN 3657; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant’s filing pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

 

If you have questions about these updates, contact our Diaz Trade Law attorneys at info@diaztradelaw.com or call us at 305-456-3830.

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