Customs and Trade Law Weekly Snapshot
Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news: 
OFAC Issues Clarifying Guidance on Communist Chinese Military Companies Sanctions
Background on EO 13959
On November 12, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order 13959 (“EO 13959”), Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Communist Chinese Military Companies. EO 13959 prohibits U.S. investors from purchasing or investing in securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as Communist Chinese military companies (“CCMCs”), a designation determined by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Since former President Trump signed EO 13959, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has issued clarifying guidance and general licenses on this matter.
NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER: Federal Agencies Directed to Remove Regulatory Barriers
In light of COVID-19, on May 19, 2020, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order (EO) entitled, “Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery” directing all federal agencies to promote economic recovery through non-regulatory action. Importers, exporters, and other businesses under the jurisdiction of one of the 42 plus federal agencies that have pending federal enforcement actions should consider the regulatory reform mandated by the EO.
Trump Administration Tightens Cuba’s Sanctions Program
Since June 2017, we have been anxiously awaiting changes to the Cuba sanctions program since President Trump signed an executive order and emphatically stated that his administration would tighten loose regulations established under the Obama Administration.
On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated,
- “We have strengthened our Cuba policies to channel economic activity away from the Cuban military and to encourage the government to move toward greater political and economic freedom for the Cuban people”
Missed DTL’s seminar on AD/CVD with CBP? Here’s a re-cap.
Yesterday we at DTL had the pleasure of hosting Part 1 of 2 of our Seminar Series for Compliance Professionals. In celebration of #WorldTradeMonth the first seminar concentrated on Antidumping Duties and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) with expert speakers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While we had a packed room, we have received requests from industry members who were not able to attend asking for a re-cap. You asked so we delivered!
Here is our re-cap:
The morning kicked off with a networking breakfast where experienced and novice custom brokers, legal counsel, trade consultants, and others were able to engage in meaningful dialogue about overlapping issues they experience in their respective workplaces in dealing with the topic of AD/CVD.
The seminar promptly began at 9:00 am with introductory remarks by our own President, Jennifer Diaz. We had all attendees introduce themselves and include why this seminar was important to attend. We were glad to hear from majority of attendees that their reason for participating was to further their trade education, and CBP wanted to ensure they performed “informed compliance” with the trade community. One attendee commented with “I’m here to continue to learn as that’s what we [customer brokers] are required to do.” […]
FREE World Trade Month Seminar on AD/CVD & CBP ENFORCEMENT
Importers, here is your chance to learn all about the hot topic of AD/CVD. In celebration of World Trade Month, Diaz Trade Law is providing the trade community a valuable opportunity to speak direct with Supervisory Import Specialists with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and a legal expert to address your questions and concerns relating to CBP’s role in administering and enforcing imports subject to AD/CVD.
In Fiscal Year 2016, CBP Processed $14 billion of imported goods subject to AD/CVD, and collected $1.5 billion in cash deposits. By the end of the fiscal year, $2.8 billion in AD/CVD duties were still owed to the U.S. (dating back to 2001). From fiscal year 2015 to 2016, AD/CVD cash deposits increased over 25
percent. Learn directly from CBP on AD/CVD Compliance and Enforcement! With President Trumps new Executive Order mandating a plan by June 29 “to require importers deemed a risk to U.S. revenue to provide security for AD and CVD liability through bonds and other legal measures”- many questions arise! Now’s your time to ask them!!
You have a limited time to RSVP to this event for FREE!!! Yes, for FREE. We find this information to be invaluable so Diaz Trade Law is sponsoring this event, to bring it to you for FREE. RSVP today! Our full event agenda including the who, what, when, and where is below. Don’t miss […]
President Trump & CBP Aim to Collect Unpaid AD/CVD Duties
On March 31, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) that addressed unpaid anti-dumping and countervailing duties. This new EO, “promotes the efficient and effective administration of U.S. customs and trade laws by establishing enhanced measures to collect duties”.
What are anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD)?
Dumping happens when a foreign company exports goods into the U.S. and sells those goods at less than fair market value. This in turn causes “injury to the U.S. industry”. Due to this, U.S. manufacturers or businesses can file a petition with the International Trade Commission (ITC), claiming that it has suffered an injury. Once the ITC finds that evidence of an injury exists, then the Department of Commerce (DOC or the Department) will investigate the claim. If the DOC determines that dumping occurred, then Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can withhold “liquidation of entries” and collect anti-dumping (AD) duties. AD “duties are calculated to bridge the gap back to a fair market value.” […]
New Executive Order…Will Small Businesses Benefit?
On January 30th, the Office of the Press Secretary released the Executive Order (EO) on reducing federal regulations and controlling regulatory costs. This latest EO requires that all federal agencies “cut two existing regulations for every new regulation they implement”. According to President Trump, this EO is meant to help small businesses by easing “the opening and expansion of small businesses” and the “incremental costs for the new regulations in 2017 will be zero dollars”. The EO requires “for every one new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination, and that the cost of planned regulations be prudently managed and controlled through a budgeting process.” There will also be “certain categories of regulations that will be exempt from this new policy, including those dealing with the military and national security”.