USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe From China

The U.S. International Trade Commission(USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from China will remain in place. 

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-447 and 731-TA-1116 ( Third Review), USITC Publication 5571, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by January 9, 2025; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library. 

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1204_66200.htm

USITC Votes to Continue Investigations on Paper File Folders from Cambodia and Sri Lanka

The U.S. International Trade Commission(USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of paper file folders from Cambodia and Sri Lanka that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of Cambodia.

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of paper file folders from Cambodia and Sri Lanka, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations for both countries due on or about April 1, 2025, and its preliminary countervailing duty determinations for Cambodia on January 16, 2025.

The Commission’s public report Paper File Folders from Cambodia and Sri Lanka, (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-741 and 731-TA-1718-1719 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5570, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by January 9, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1204_66199.htm

USTR Increases Tariffs Under Section 301 on Tungsten Products, Wafers, and Polysilicon, Concluding the Statutory Four-Year Review

WASHINGTON – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced tariff increases under Section 301 for imports from the People’s Republic of China of certain tungsten products, wafers, and polysilicon. The rates for solar wafers and polysilicon will increase to 50 percent, and the rates for certain tungsten products will increase to 25 percent. These tariff increases will take effect on January 1, 2025.
 
“The tariff increases announced today will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China. These actions will complement the domestic investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration to promote a clean energy economy, while increasing the resilience of critical supply chains,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai.
 
The federal notice for today’s announcement can be found here.
 
Background
 
The tariff increases announced today had been proposed as part of the statutory review of the tariff actions in the Section 301 investigation of the People’s Republic of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation.  These modifications conclude the statutory review. In the USTR Report on the statutory review, the U.S. Trade Representative found that, while the PRC had changed some specific unfair measures, the PRC’s harmful forced technology transfer practices – in particular its cyber theft and industrial espionage – have continued, and in some instances, worsened. The findings of the four-year review can be found on USTR’s website. 
 
In light of those findings, Ambassador Tai modified the Section 301 tariff actions by targeting strategic sectors for tariff increases, improving the effectiveness of the tariff actions in achieving the objectives of the investigation, while promoting American jobs and investments. For example, Ambassador Tai increased tariffs (with various effective dates) on electric vehicles, syringes and needles, and medical gloves (100 percent); semiconductors, solar cells, and facemasks (50 percent); and steel and aluminum products, certain critical minerals, and others (25 percent). More details on the specific products, tariff rates, and effective dates can be found on USTR’s website. 

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https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/december/ustr-increases-tariffs-under-section-301-tungsten-products-wafers-and-polysilicon-concluding

BIS Publishes Assessment on the Use of Mature-Node Chips

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is releasing a report on the use of mature-node semiconductor chips, or legacy chips, in supply chains that directly or indirectly support U.S. critical infrastructure. The report includes key findings related to U.S. companies’ use of legacy chips manufactured by entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The report, based on data BIS collected pursuant to an authority under the Defense Production Act (DPA), shows:

• Companies that sell products containing legacy chips continue to lack visibility into their semiconductor supply chains. About half of surveyed companies were unable to determine whether their products contained any chips manufactured by PRC-based foundries.

• Based on the information respondents provided, U.S. companies’ use of chips made in PRC-based foundries is pervasive. More than 2/3 of their products contain PRC-origin chips. However, these legacy chips represent a limited share of the total number of chips used in those products.

• Capacity expansion in China has already begun to cause pricing pressure that may weaken U.S. chip suppliers’ competitive positions.

“We are committed to creating a level playing field in the semiconductor industry to ensure that U.S. companies, and those in like-minded countries, can compete. But unfair practices from the PRC to expand legacy chip production will create significant challenges for U.S. economic and national security,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan F. Estevez. “Our survey results indicate that companies remain shockingly unaware of the sources of chips used in their products. While government cannot act alone, more action is needed to build strong, diverse, and resilient semiconductor supply chains.”

“This work has provided invaluable data that will help the U.S. government continue building secure semiconductor supply chains,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration Thea D. Rozman Kendler. “Legacy chips are essential components in almost every part of our critical infrastructure, and it’s imperative we understand our exposure to any supply chain risks and act accordingly to address them.”

In January 2024, BIS initiated a DPA survey and assessment to learn how companies are sourcing these mature-node semiconductors. The survey and assessment were initiated at the direction of the Secretary of Commerce to bolster the Department’s ongoing work to develop robust semiconductor supply chains, support domestic production of semiconductors, and protect U.S. national security.

The report’s findings illuminate how U.S. companies are currently directly and indirectly sourcing legacy chips and the extent of the use of chips manufactured by companies based in the PRC in critical U.S. industries, to include telecommunications, automotives, medical devices, and the defense industrial base.

The report’s findings will help inform future U.S. government actions to address PRC overconcentration and oversupply concerns, as well as companies’ lack of visibility into the supply chains for these critical semiconductor components. The Department remains committed to securing critical supply chains for semiconductors and safeguarding the U.S. economy from the distorting effects of non-market activity.

Review the report here.

For more information, visit www.bis.gov. 

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https://www.bis.gov/press-release/bis-publishes-assessment-use-mature-node-chips

USITC Votes to Continue Investigations on Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products from China and Vietnam

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of thermoformed molded fiber products from China and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of China and Vietnam.

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of thermoformed molded fiber products from China and Vietnam, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations for China and Vietnam due on or about March 17, 2025, and its preliminary countervailing duty determinations for China and Vietnam on January 2, 2025.

The Commission’s public report Thermoformed Molded Fiber Products from China and Vietnam, (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-739-740 and 731-TA-1716-1717 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5568, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by December 30, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1121_66161.htm

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Silicomanganese from India, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on silicomanganese from India, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from India, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela will remain in place. 

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Silicomanganese from India, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-929-931 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 5567, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by December 31, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library. 

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1121_66162.htm

Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam Injure U.S. Industry

The U.S. International Trade Commission Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of frozen warmwater shrimp from Indonesia that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and imports of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, India, and Vietnam that Commerce has determined are subsidized by the governments of Ecuador, India, and Vietnam.

Chair Amy Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from Ecuador, India, and Vietnam and an antidumping duty order on imports of this product from Indonesia. 

The Commission’s public report Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-699-700 and 702 and 731-TA-1660 (Final), USITC Publication 5566, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by January 6, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

Status of proceedings, links to relevant documents, and additional information for these investigations can be found at the Commission’s Investigations Database System (IDS).

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FDA FSVP At-A-Glance

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 mandates the creation of a food safety system in which the focus is on preventing contamination rather than primarily reacting to problems after they occur. The FSMA rules include those that require preventive controls for food facilities that manufacture/process, pack, and hold human and animal foods, and establish science-based standards for produce grown on farms. These rules apply to domestic food producers and those in other countries who export to the United States.

The import community will be most impacted by the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule, which requires FSVP importers to verify that the food they import meets U.S. safety standards. FSVP importers are required to develop, maintain, and follow an FSVP for each food imported, unless an exemption applies. The goal is to ensure that each food is produced in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the preventive controls and produce safety regulations, if applicable, and the food is not adulterated or misbranded with respect to allergen labeling.

Read More→ https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/final-rule-foreign-supplier-verification-programs-fsvp-glance

Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers

• §Subpart L--Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Food Importers

  URL: https:/​/​www.ecfr.gov/​current/​title-21/​part-1/​subpart-L
  Citation: 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart L

• §1.500 What definitions apply to this subpart?

  URL: https:/​/​www.ecfr.gov/​current/​title-21/​section-1.500

  Citation: 21 CFR 1.500

Adequate means that which is needed to accomplish the intended purpose in keeping with good public health practice.

Audit means the systematic, independent, and documented examination (through observation, investigation, discussions with employees of the audited entity, records review, and, as appropriate, sampling and laboratory analysis) to assess an audited entity's food safety processes and procedures.

Dietary supplement has the meaning given in section 201(ff) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Dietary supplement component means any substance intended for use in the manufacture of a dietary supplement, including those that may not appear in the finished batch of the dietary supplement. Dietary supplement components include dietary ingredients (as described in section 201(ff) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) and other ingredients.

Environmental pathogen means a pathogen capable of surviving and persisting within the manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding environment such that food may be contaminated and may result in foodborne illness if that food is consumed without treatment to significantly minimize the environmental pathogen. Examples of environmental pathogens for the purposes of this part include Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. but do not include the spores of pathogenic sporeforming bacteria.

Read More→ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subpart-L

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on steel concrete reinforcing bar from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine will remain in place. 

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative for Belarus, China, Indonesia, Moldova, and Poland. Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative for Latvia and Ukraine. Commissioner David S. Johanson voted in the negative for Latvia and Ukraine.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-873-875, 878-880, and 882 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 5565, December 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by January 7, 2025; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library. 

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1115_66128.htm

USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Flash-Spun Nonwoven Materials and Products Containing Same

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain flash-spun nonwoven materials and products containing same. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by DuPont de Nemours, Inc. of Wilmington, DE,  DuPont Safety & Construction, Inc. of Wilmington, DE, and DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC of Wilmington, DE, on October 9, 2024 and supplemented on October 29, 2024. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain flash-spun nonwoven materials and products containing same by reason of misappropriation of complainants’ trade secrets, wrongful use and exploitation of stolen confidential and proprietary information, and infringement of trademarks asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue a general exclusion order, or in the alternative a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders. 

The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:

• Xiamen Dangs New-Materials Co., Ltd., AKA Dawnsens New Materials Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China 

• Beijing Dangsheng Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China

• Xiamen Dangsheng Technology Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China

• Kingwills New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Nantong, China

• Zhejiang Qingyun New Material Co., Ltd., Jiaxing, China

• Jiangsu Qingyun New Materials Co., Ltd., AKA Jiangsu Kingwills New Materials Co., Ltd., Nantong, China

• Shanghai Qingyun New Material Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China

• Kingwills International Ltd., Kowloon, Hong Kong

• Harbourpoint Innovations Inc, Raleigh, NC

• Impak Corporation, Los Angeles, CA

• Shenzhen Zhengming Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Huizhou, China

• Weifang Konzer Safety Protective Equipment Co., Ltd., Anqiu, China

• Jiangsu Tubo New Material Co., Ltd., Kunshan, China

• Emedia Group. Inc., Greenville, SC

• endur-tec, LLC, Anderson, SC

• Hangzhou Several Sets of Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., Yuhang, China

• Hangzhou Qiao Shell Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Yuhang, China

• Zhenping County Weihe Commerce and Trade Co., Ltd., Zhenping, China Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1115_66133.htm

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Glycine from China, India, Japan, and Thailand

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on glycine from  India, Japan, and Thailand, and the countervailing duty orders on glycine from China and India would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from China, India, Japan, and Thailand will remain in place. 

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Glycine from China, India, Japan, and Thailand (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-603-604 and 731-TA-1413-1415 (Review), USITC Publication 5564, November 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by December 20, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library. 

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1114_66122.htm

USTR Secures Renewed Market Access for U.S. Apples in Indonesia

November 01, 2024

WASHINGTON – Following extensive engagement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Government of Indonesia has agreed to restore an accelerated track for the United States to export apples to Indonesia. This achievement adds to the more than $26.7 billion in market access secured for America’s farmers, ranchers, fishers, and food manufacturers under the Biden-Harris Administration.

“Tackling unjustified trade barriers and increasing market opportunities for our agricultural producers is one of the top priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration,” said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “USTR will continue to work with Indonesia to monitor implementation of this fast-track channel closely and make sure that U.S. producers, growers, and exporters can continue to export U.S. products.  This will help support American jobs across the country, especially in our rural communities.”

Apples grown in the United States support roughly 150,000 jobs and create almost $23 billion in economic activity.  In 2023 alone, the United States exported more than $925,000,000 worth of apples to foreign markets around the globe.

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https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/november/ustr-secures-renewed-market-access-us-apples-indonesia

USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Laminated Woven Sacks from Vietnam

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on laminated woven sacks from Vietnam would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from Vietnam will remain in place. 

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Jason E. Kearns and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Laminated Woven Sacks from Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-601 and 731-TA-1411 (Review), USITC Publication 5561, November 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by December 13, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library. 

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

Read More→ https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1107_66102.htm

Aluminum Extrusions From China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam...

DO NOT INJURE u.s. INDUSTRY, sAYS usitc

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of aluminum extrusions from China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value, and subsidized by the Governments of China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey.

Commissioners David S. Johanson and Jason E. Kearns voted in the negative.  Chair Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Rhonda K. Schmidtlein did not participate.

As a result of the Commission’s negative determinations, Commerce will not issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, and countervailing duty orders on imports of this product from China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey.

The Commission’s public report Aluminum Extrusions from China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-695-698 and 731-TA-1643-1644 and 1646-1657 (Final), USITC Publication 5560, November 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by December 10, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

Status of proceedings, links to relevant documents, and additional information for these investigations can be found at the Commission’s Investigations Database System (IDS).

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1030_66075.htm

Shipments that use vague descriptions will be automatically rejected.

The following list, provided by CBP, is a guide to acceptable and unacceptable descriptions. This list is not exhaustive and will continue to expand as unacceptable descriptions are identified and acceptable descriptions are further refined. Descriptions in the Acceptable column should be viewed only as examples of the items they actually describe and not as a list of specifically acceptable or restrictive terms.

Vague Item Description

Bolded text indicates line items that have been added as of August 12, 2024.

Read More→ https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/e-commerce/examples-unacceptable-vs-acceptable-cargo-descriptions

Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates from China And Japan Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of aluminum lithographic printing plates from China and Japan that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.

Chair Amy Karpel and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative. Commissioner David S. Johanson voted in the negative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from China and antidumping orders on imports of this product from China and Japan.

The Commission made negative critical circumstances findings with regard to imports of this product from China. 

The Commission’s public report on Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates from China and Japan (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-694 and 731-TA-1641-1642 (Final), USITC Publication 5559, November 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by December 2, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

Status of proceedings, links to relevant documents, and additional information for these investigations can be found at the Commission’s Investigations Database System (IDS).

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1022_66037.htm

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1018_66028.htm

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of corrosion-resistant steel products from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of  Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Vietnam.

Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners Jason E. Kearns, David S. Johanson and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigations of imports of corrosion-resistant steel products from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, with its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about February 12, 2025 and its preliminary countervailing duty determinations on November 29, 2024.

The Commission’s public report of Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-733-736 and 731-TA-1702-1711 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5558, October 2024) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by November 25, 2024; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2024/er1018_66028.htm

Americas Partnership Countries Highlight Resources for Inclusive Trade and Small Business

October 29, 2024

WASHINGTON – The countries of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (the Partnership) today convened virtually for a Best Practices exchange on programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.  The event was organized through the Partnership’s Inclusive Trade and SME Committee, convened by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration, which was established by Trade Ministers to develop activities to promote greater access to the benefits of trade for SMEs and underserved communities.

Partnership countries each prepared an Americas Partnership SME Inclusive Trade Inventory, consisting of self-reported existing SME export programs and resources in each Partnership country that support its SME exporters, including programs which assist micro-, women-led, minority-led and Indigenous-led SMEs and other SMEs led by those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.  These included information on SME export information resources, SME export counseling, small business centers, women’s business centers, minority business centers, entrepreneurial programs, rural outreach programs, trade promotion programs, trade missions, business-to-business export matchmaking services, and SME export financing.
 
Background 
 
The Americas Partnership countries are the United States, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.  Trade Ministers of Partnership countries met in Quito, Ecuador on August 1, 2024, and held a government-to-government Best Practices Exchange highlighting countries respective programs. The joint statement from that ministerial meeting can be found here.
  

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https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/october/americas-partnership-countries-highlight-resources-inclusive-trade-and-small-business

Customs Broker Continuing Education

Important!

On November 1, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published Federal Register Notice (FRN) announcing that customs brokers can soon begin earning credits under the new CBP Continuing Education (CE) Program.

To maintain an active license, individually licensed brokers must earn 20 CE credits from qualifying educational activities that occur beginning January 1, 2025 through January 31, 2027.  January 31, 2027 is the end of the current triennial period.

The CE program aims to ensure all CBP licensed brokers remain up to date on evolving customs rules and relevant U.S. trade laws to facilitate compliant trade in the modern environment, while acting as an additional layer of security against illegal trade from entering the U.S. commerce.

A variety of CE credit-eligible educational activities will be offered by CBP, partner government agencies, and private entities, including:

• Industry or trade-related conferences, seminars, and webinars

• Online, self-administered courses (also known as asynchronous trainings)

• Company trainings (internally developed or offered by an outside vendor)

• Port tours

• Trade days sponsored by CBP and local associations

Individual brokers who receive their broker’s license during a current triennial period will not need to comply with the rule until the start of the next Triennial Status Reporting period.

Government hosted CE activities will be added in the near term. Read More→

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/continuing-education#:~:text=If you would like to,and payment of applicable fees