Catch Up on DTL’s Top Blogs From 2019!
We want to make sure you stay up to date with the hottest trade blogs from 2019. Below is a summary of what you missed by category. Enjoy!
A Year in Review!
DTL saved clients MILLIONS of dollars in 2019. It is with great joy that we finish off 2019 celebrating our fourth anniversary! We would like to thank each of you for being an integral part of making DTL a success.
This year has been filled with numerous achievements and accomplishments. We are grateful for the clients who have entrusted their trade and customs issues to us, and we look forward to assisting you in 2020!
Below we share some of our 2019 success stories with you.
TOP 5 Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Tariffs
Many importers, exporters, and international businesses alike may be unaware that avenues exist to ensure that their products remain unabated by protectionist trade policies (think China tariffs).
This blog provides an easy reference overview of five (5) proven and legitimate options for duty-saving opportunities.
We recommend U.S. importers, exporters, and manufacturers to consider these five (5) options as they apply to all products from virtually any country subjected to a tariff, including Section 201 tariffs for solar systems, Section 232 tariffs for aluminum and steel, and the infamous Section 301 Tariffs in place for Chinese originating goods and violations of trade agreements, as well as acts, policies or practices that are unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory and that burden or restrict U.S. commerce.
China Trade War Intensifies
Today, the Trump administration’s China trade war intensified as it announced plans to increase tariffs on Lists 1, 2, 3, and 4!
The president connected the additional tariff hikes to China’s new retaliatory tariffs (as a result of US’s imposition of List 4 tariffs) on $75 billion-dollar in US products, mainly impacted the agricultural and auto industries, or President Trump’s base (as previously reported here).
So what are the changes?
List 4 Split into Two HTS Lists
As published by the USTR TODAY: USTR Announces Next Steps on Proposed 10 Percent Tariff on Imports from China
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the next steps in the process of imposing an additional tariff of 10 percent on approximately $300 billion of Chinese imports.
On May 17, 2019, USTR published a list of products imported from China that would be potentially subject to an additional 10 percent tariff. This new tariff will go into effect on September 1 as announced by President Trump on August 1.
Certain products are being removed from the tariff list based on health, safety, national security and other factors and will not face additional tariffs of 10 percent.
Wondering if your Exclusion Request has been granted or denied? Find out here!
Since the inception of the Trade War with China, the Office of the United States’ Trade Representative (USTR) has provided citizens, primarily those in industries directly affected by the imposition of ad valorem duties (tariffs), the opportunity to request that certain products be granted exclusions. Each list of tariffs has its own specific process to ensure that concerned citizens may voice their opinions as to why given products should not be subjected to additional duties upon importation, as prescribed in the Section 301 investigation.
Section 301- List 4 Tariffs in Effect Starting September 1
Despite the reignition of tensions in May, hopes of reconciliation began to grow in the preeminence of the G-20 international economic forum, held in June. While substantial progress was not made, President Trump and potential dictator for life Xi Jinping appeared to slow the escalation, coming to a bilateral good-faith agreement. Supposedly, the two nations agreed that the United States would soften the sanctions imposed on Chinese tech giant, Huawei, contingent that China begins to repurchase American agricultural products, as well as halt their exportation of Fentanyl.
The tentative “cease-fire” also intended to delay the United States’ imposition of the threatened list 4, which would levy a 25% ad valorem on roughly $300 Billion worth of Chinese goods. The new round of tariffs looms over China, considering that 2019 proved to be their worst fiscal year in recent memory. In fact, this is the most sluggish Chinese economy in nearly three decades, which many directly attribute to President Trump’s vigilant economic policies.
However, approximately a month since the United States graciously showed the illicit regime restraint, China refuses to uphold their end of the bargain. Chinese imports of American agriculture has failed to accelerate, and similarly, their exportation of Fentanyl remains a major health threat to the United States.
“China agreed to…buy agricultural product from the U.S. in large quantities, but did not do so,” President […]
Section 301 – List 3 Tariff Exclusion Requests Open Until September 30th
On May 9, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register Notice announcing that an exclusion process will become available for all goods included on List 3. All products included on List 3 are now subject to an additional 25 percent tariff (raised from 10%).On Monday, June 24, 2019, USTR released a Notice detailing the exclusion process. As discussed in our previous blog, the exclusion process opened up via an online portal on June 30, 2019, and will remain open until September 30, 2019.
List 3 Exclusion Requests to Open June 30 via Online Portal
On May 9, 2019, the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register Notice announcing that an exclusion process will become available for goods on List 3. The Proposed Section 301 Modification is set to increase the current tariffs on goods listed in the Annex from a 10 percent ad valorem to a 25 percent ad valorem.
On Monday, June 24, 2019, USTR released a Notice detailing the exclusion process. As discussed in our previous blog, USTR confirmed that the process will open up via an online portal on June 30, 2019. Exclusions may be posted between noon on June 30 until September 30, 2019.
Government Agencies Seek out Blockchain Solutions to Strengthen Current Systems
In an effort to improve the security and tranquility of Americans, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are looking for tech-startups and scientific talent to be integrated into DHS’ Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP). DHS and its subsidiary groups seek to find commercially viable companies to invest in, many of which reside in the same territory of SVIP–Silicon Valley. The goal is to bridge the gap between American technological innovation and the security and effectiveness of government agencies, tasked with the protection of the country.