China Trade War Archives | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

Customs Bulletin Weekly, Vol. 56, November 2, 2022, No. 43

Below is a recap for this week’s Custom’s Bulletin.

Elimination of Customs Broker District Permit Fee
- Section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1641), provides that individuals and business entities must hold a valid customs broker’s license and permit to transact customs business on behalf of others. The statute also sets forth standards for the issuance of broker licenses and permits; provides for disciplinary action against brokers in the form of suspension or revocation of such licenses and permits or assessment of monetary penalties; and, provides for the assessment of monetary penalties against other persons for conducting customs business without the required broker’s license.
- On June 5, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (85 FR 34549), proposing the elimination of customs broker district permit fees in parts 24 and 111.
- Consistent with the June 5, 2020, notice, CBP is publishing a final rule to, among other things, eliminate customs broker districts (see ‘‘Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations’’ RIN 1651–AB16). Specifically, CBP is transitioning all brokers to national permits and expanding the scope of the national permit authority to allow national permit holders to conduct any type of customs business throughout the customs territory of the United States. As a result of the elimination of customs broker districts, CBP is amending in this document the regulations to eliminate customs broker district permit fees.
Modernization of the Customs Broker Regulations
- This document adopts […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-11-03T10:21:31-04:00November 7, 2022|301 INVESTIGATIONS, AD/CVD, China Trade War, Customs Broker, Import, International Law, International Trade, U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)|Comments Off

Customs and Trade Weekly Snapshot

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

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By Jennifer Diaz|2022-09-09T15:59:48-04:00September 9, 2022|301 INVESTIGATIONS, China, China Trade War, EAR, Export, Import, International Trade, IPR, Trademarks and Logos, IRAN, Pre-compliance, Reasonable Care, Snapshot, Supply Chain, Trade Policy, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|Comments Off

Big News! 352 of 549 Proposed China Tariff Exclusions Reinstated

On March 23, 2022, the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that 352 of the 549 proposed exclusions have been reinstated. The reinstated product exclusions will apply as of October 12, 2021, and extend through December 31, 2022. For a full list of reinstated exclusions, please see this Federal Register announcement.

On October 8, 2021, USTR invited comments on whether to reinstate 549 previously granted and extended exclusions. This recent determination was a result of USTR’s review of public comments regarding whether and which of the proposed exclusions should be reinstated.

Diaz Trade Law filed comments on behalf of several clients who have had their exclusions reinstated. Are your products on the list of exclusions that were reinstated? Do you have questions about navigating Section 301 China tariffs? We are here for you! Diaz Trade Law has significant experience working on Section 301 exclusions. Contact us today at info@diaztradelaw.com.

A list of all the exclusions can be found below:

A. Effective with respect to good entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for
consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on October 12, 2021, and before
11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on December 31, 2022, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is modified:
1. by inserting the following new heading 9903.88.67 in numerical sequence, with the
material in the new heading inserted in the columns of the HTSUS labeled
“Heading/Subheading”, “Article Description”, and “Rates of Duty 1-General”,
respectively:
Heading/Subheading: 9903.88.67

Article Description: Effective with respect to entries on or after
October 12, […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-03-28T10:37:08-04:00March 23, 2022|301 INVESTIGATIONS, ACE, China, China Trade War, Import, Reasonable Care, Trade Policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|Comments Off

Customs and Trade Law Weekly Snapshot

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

Apparel

Nike has ended 2021 as the most valuable apparel firm globally. According to data presented by FinancePR.com, the American outfit achieved a $30.44 billion valuation in 2021, placing it at the helm of the top ten garment firms worldwide.

CBP

On November 30, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati seized a shipment containing counterfeit designer jewelry and scarves. The fakes, which came from China, would have been worth a total of $3.09 million had they been genuine.
On December 6, 2021, a garment importer based in downtown Los Angeles was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for scheming to undervalue imported garments and avoid paying duties to the United States, and failing to report income on tax returns and large cash transactions to the federal government.
On December 13, 2021, Chris Magnus was sworn in as Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection following his Senate confirmation last week. Magnus becomes the fifth confirmed CBP Commissioner since the law enforcement agency’s creation under DHS in 2003.
CBP has reorganized all Informed Compliance Publications (ICPs) on CBP.gov under each applicable Center of Excellence and Expertise.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is modernizing the ACE Secure Data Portal over multiple phases in 2022. The modernization effort will entail the transition of existing functionality to an upgraded platform, offering […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-01T11:15:32-04:00January 14, 2022|ACE, China, China Trade War, HTS, Import, International Trade, Seizures, Snapshot, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off

Customs and Trade Law Snapshot

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

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

BIS published a report summarizing the findings of a Department of Commerce investigation into the effect of imports of titanium sponge on the national security of the United States.
BIS is seeking public comments concerning the imposition of export controls on certain Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) emerging technology, particularly with respect to its impact on U.S. national security
- Comments due by December 10, 2021.
- Contact us at info@diaztradelaw.com for help submitting your comment.
BIS published this final rule to amend the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to update the AG Common Control List for dual-use biological equipment.
- This rule is effective October 5, 2021.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-04T16:14:39-04:00November 5, 2021|301 INVESTIGATIONS, Best Practices, China, China Trade War, EAR, Export, Forced Labor, Import, International Law, International Trade, Special 301, Supply Chain, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Uncategorized, Vietnam|Comments Off

Want Your 301 Exclusion Back? Comment Now!

USTR Proposes Reinstating Exclusions

On October 6, 2021, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) a nnounced in the Federal Register that the agency is considering a possible reinstatement of 549 EXCLUSIONS for Section 301 duties on products imported from China that had expired on December 31, 2020.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2022-07-07T12:43:46-04:00October 6, 2021|301 INVESTIGATIONS, China, China Trade War, Import, International Trade, Trade Policy, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|1 Comment

Insight on Last 6 Months of Biden/Congress on Trade

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-07-22T09:11:38-04:00July 21, 2021|Canada, China, China Trade War, Countries, COVID-19, Cuba, Customs Expert, Enforcement, Export, Forced Labor, Import, International Business, International Law, International Trade, IRAN, Mexico, Seizures, Special 301, Supply Chain, Trade Policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Uncategorized, USMCA|Comments Off

Potential Relief from China Tariffs Coming

Background on Section 301 Tariffs

A key element of the U.S.-China trade war, initiated under the Trump administration and continuing through Biden’s first term, was the imposition of China tariffs under Section 301. Section 301 is a mechanism via which the President can retaliate against foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in acts that are “unjustifiable” or “unreasonable” and burden U.S. commerce. With regard to China, the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) found that China’s acts, policies, and practices related to intellectual property and innovation are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Accordingly, a broad set of tariffs were instituted. Section 301 tariffs for goods originating from China have been so expansive that U.S. Customs revenue has nearly doubled from $41.6 billion in FY 2018 to $71.9 billion in FY 2019 and $74.4 billion in FY 2020.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-10-07T14:51:06-04:00June 7, 2021|301 INVESTIGATIONS, ACE, China, China Trade War, Customs Expert, Import, International Trade, Trade Policy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)|Comments Off

COVID-19’s Impact on 2020 Trade Flows

COVID-19’S IMPACT ON 2020 TRADE FLOWS

Diaz Trade Law’s President, Jennifer Diaz, and Associate Attorney, Sharath Patil, are enthusiastic to announce that our article, “COVID-19’S IMPACT ON 2020 TRADE FLOWS” was published by the Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) in its Spring 2021 newsletter. Below is the article for your reading pleasure.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-07-22T12:05:50-04:00May 18, 2021|301 INVESTIGATIONS, China Trade War, COVID-19, Defense Production Act, Export, Import, International Trade, PPE, U.S. Census Bureau|1 Comment

An Introduction to Safeguard Investigations

What is Section 201 ?

Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 provides import relief measures (also known as Safeguards) for domestic industries. The measures provide temporary relief for U.S. industries when competitor imports increase so significantly that they cause serious injury or threat to the domestic industry. The Safeguard measures are temporary – they allow the U.S. President to raise import duties or impose nontariff barriers on goods entering the United States for a limited period so that domestic industry is given sufficient time to adjust to the competition.

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