USITC INSTITUTES SECTION 337 INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain electronic devices and semiconductor devices having wireless communication capabilities and components thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation (notice of investigation).

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Bell Northern Research, LLC of Chicago, IL, on June 21, 2023, and supplemented on July 3, 2023, and July 11, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain electronic devices and semiconductor devices having wireless communication capabilities and components thereof that infringe patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. 

The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:

  • ASUSTek Computer Inc., of Taipei, Taiwan;

  • ASUS Computer International., of Fremont, CA; 

  • Laird Connectivity, LLC, of Akron, OH;

  • Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., of San Diego, CA;

  • MediaTek Inc., of Hsinchu, Taiwan;

  • MediaTek USA Inc., of San Jose, CA;

  • NXP Semiconductors N.V., of Eindhoven, Netherlands; and 

  • NXP USA, Inc., of Austin, TX. 

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1367), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission. Read More→
https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0721_64152.htm

Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From Thailand: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021

AGENCY:

Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that The Siam Industrial Wire Co. Ltd. (SIW) made sales of subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.

DATES:

Applicable July 24, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Samantha Kinney or Brian Smith, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–2285 or (202) 482–1766, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On February 10, 2023, Comerce published the Preliminary Results of the 2021 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC Strand) from Thailand.[1] We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. On June 6, 2023, Commerce extended the deadline for the final results of this administrative review until July 20, 2023.[2] For a summary of the events that occurred since the Preliminary Results, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.[3] Commerce conducted this review in accordance with section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Read More→

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/24/2023-15638/prestressed-concrete-steel-wire-strand-from-thailand-final-results-of-antidumping-duty

USITC VOTES TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS ON PAPER SHOPPING BAGS FROM CAMBODIA, CHINA, COLOMBIA, INDIA, MALAYSIA, PORTUGAL, TAIWAN, TURKEY, AND VIETNAM

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 paper shopping bags from Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of China and India.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel 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 shopping bags from Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about September 25, 2023, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about November 16, 2023.

The Commission’s public report Paper Shopping Bags from Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-690-691 and 731-TA-1619-1627 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5448, July 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by August 25, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paper shopping bags from Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, and Vietnam

Investigation Nos: 701-TA-690-691 and 731-TA-1619-1627 (Preliminary)

Product Description: Paper shopping bags with handles of any type, regardless of whether there is any printing, regardless of how the top edges are finished (e.g., folded, serrated, or otherwise finished), regardless of color, and regardless of whether the top edges contain adhesive or other material for sealing closed. Paper shopping bags have a width of at least 4.5 inches and depth of at least 2.5 inches. Paper shopping bags typically are made of kraft paper but can be made from any type of cellulose fiber, paperboard, or pressboard with a basis weight less than 300 grams per square meter (GSM). Read More→
https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0714_64126.htm

USITC TO SYNTHESIZE AND REVIEW INFORMATION ON THE DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS OF TRADE AND TRADE POLICY ON U.S. WORKERS IN FIVE TRIENNIAL REPORTS

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has instituted the first of five investigations that will synthesize and critically review information on the potential distributional effects of goods and services trade and trade policy on U.S. workers and underrepresented and underserved communities. The investigations were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on January 25, 2023.

This first investigation, Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers, 2026 (Inv. No. 332-599), will build on information presented in the 2022 USITC report  Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers (Inv. No. 332-587). The Commission expects to submit its first report in the upcoming series to the USTR by January 20, 2026.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will prepare a public report that will include information gathered through:

  • Community-based open conversations targeted to the interests and concerns of specific underrepresented and underserved demographic and geographic communities. Additional information on the scope of the outreach is available in the Federal Register notice linked above; 

  • A symposium focused on academic or similar research on the distributional effects of trade and trade policy on underrepresented and underserved communities, including results of existing analysis, evaluation of methodologies, the use of public and restricted data in current analysis, identification of gaps in data and/or in the economic literature, and proposed analysis that could be done with restricted data; and 

  • Economic literature on the distributional effects of trade and trade policy on underrepresented and underserved communities including, among other things, the data limitations raised in these analyses. 

The Commission intends to publish a notice in the Federal Register at a later date of the time, place, and procedures to be followed for the community-based discussions and academic symposium and for the filing of written submissions from interested parties for this first report. Read More→
https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0712_64121.htm

USITC RELEASES FIRST REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND OPERATION OF THE USMCA AUTOMOTIVE RULES OF ORIGIN

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released its first report on the economic impact on the United States of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) automotive rules of origin (ROOs), their operation and effects on the U.S. economy and U.S. competitiveness, and whether the rules remain relevant in light of technological changes in the United States.

The report, USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 2023 Report, is required by section 202A(g)(2) of the USMCA Implementation Act (the Act) (19 U.S.C. § 4532(g)(2). The Act requires the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, to submit five biennial reports to the President, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The next four reports are due in 2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031.

Detailed highlights of the Commission's findings can be found in the report's Executive Summary.

Select findings are detailed below.

  • As the USMCA has only been in force since July 1, 2020, and many of the ROOs have not been fully implemented due to staging, or phasing in, of requirements over a period of years, the full impact will likely not be apparent until the agreement is fully implemented, in 2027, or later.

  • For the period July 2020 through December 2022, the Commission’s economic modeling analysis indicated that the ROOs reduced U.S. imports of vehicle parts and increased U.S. revenues, employment, wage payments, and capital expenditures related to light vehicle and automotive parts production. The model also indicated that the ROOs increased the cost of producing light vehicles in the United States. The higher costs of U.S. vehicle production increased U.S. sales of imported light vehicle models from the rest of the world. Lower tariff preference utilization reduced U.S. imports of light vehicles from Canada and Mexico. These economic effects were concentrated in the automotive industry and had a negligible economy-wide impact. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0630_64076.htm

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, May 2023

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $69.0 billion in May, down $5.5 billion from $74.4 billion in April, revised.

Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)

May exports were $247.1 billion, $2.1 billion less than April exports. May imports were $316.1 billion, $7.5 billion less than April imports.

The May decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $4.8 billion to $91.3 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.7 billion to $22.3 billion.

Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit decreased $101.7 billion, or 22.8 percent, from the same period in 2022. Exports increased $48.0 billion or 3.9 percent. Imports decreased $53.7 billion or 3.2 percent.

Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)

The average goods and services deficit decreased $0.4 billion to $68.0 billion for the three months ending in May.

  • Average exports decreased $2.2 billion to $251.5 billion in May.

  • Average imports decreased $2.6 billion to $319.5 billion in May.

Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit decreased $22.9 billion from the three months ending in May 2022.

  • Average exports increased $0.3 billion from May 2022.

  • Average imports decreased $22.6 billion from May 2022. Read More→

https://www.bea.gov/news/2023/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-may-2023

Tentative Agreement reached between the BCMEA and ILWU Canada, operations to resume as soon as possible

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) is pleased to advise that the Parties have reached a tentative agreement on a new 4-year deal that recognizes the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce.

The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by both Parties, and subsequently, details of the agreement will not be released at this time.

In partnership with our member employers, the BCMEA is committed to working closely with ILWU Canada and their Locals and supply chain partners to safely resume operations as soon as possible. Please stay tuned for further operational updates.

We would like to express our appreciation to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service officers and the Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan Jr., for assisting both Parties throughout this process. Specifically, we would like to recognize the expertise and unwavering dedication of federal mediator Peter Simpson and his team, who were instrumental in achieving a tentative agreement.  

The BCMEA recognizes and regrets the significant impact this labour disruption has had on the economy, businesses, workers, customers and ultimately, all Canadians.

We must collectively work together to not only restore cargo operations as quickly and safely as possible but to also rebuild the reputation of Canada’s largest gateway and ensure supply chain stability and resilience for the future.

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USITC MAKES DETERMINATIONS IN FIVE-YEAR (SUNSET) REVIEW CONCERNING TOOL CHESTS AND CABINETS FROM CHINA AND VIETNAM

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the existing countervailing duty order on tool chests and cabinets from China and revocation of the existing antidumping duty orders on tool chests and cabinets from China and 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 this product from China and Vietnam will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel 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 Tool Chests and Cabinets from China and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-575 and 731-TA-1360-1361 (Review), USITC Publication 5445, June 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews. 

The report will be available by July 28, 2023; 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/2023/er0622_64044.htm

USITC RELEASES SHIFTS IN U.S. MERCHANDISE TRADE 2022 REPORT IN NEW DATA-ONLY FORMAT

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2022 (Trade Shifts 2022) is now available on the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) website.

Beginning this year, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan factfinding federal agency, is transitioning its annual Trade Shifts series of reports to a data-only format featuring tables and figures posted on the USITC website (http://www.usitc.gov). In the future, these tables and figures will be updated at regular intervals—at least annually—to reflect up-to-date U.S. government trade data.

As in past years, these data tables and figures incorporate interactive features that allow users to refine and view, as they choose, official U.S. government trade data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. Part I provides data pertaining to the most substantial trends in merchandise trade by industry sector and selected partner countries, and Part II provides more focused data for ten U.S. industry sectors, covering 92 percent of total U.S. merchandise trade in 2022. Each section includes a downloadable data set covering annual U.S. merchandise trade trends from 2018 through 2022.

Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2022 can be accessed at https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/tradeshifts/2022/index.

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https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0621_64040.htm

CORRECTED--CERTAIN FREIGHT RAIL COUPLERS FROM CHINA 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 certain imports of freight rail couplers and parts thereof from China 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 Government of China.

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

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

The Commission also made a negative critical circumstances finding with respect to imports of this product from China. As a result, these imports will not be subject to retroactive antidumping or countervailing duties. 

The Commission’s public report, Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-682 and 731-TA-1592 (Final), USITC Publication 5438, July 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by July 31, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0614_64013.htm

United States Announces Major Resolution on Key Trade Issues with India

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the United States and the Republic of India have agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization.  India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs, which it had imposed in response to the U.S. Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminum, on certain U.S. products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents. The Exchange of Letters between the United States and India is available here. 

These tariff cuts will restore and expand market opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers.  The resolution also maintains the integrity of the U.S. Section 232 measures.  This announcement comes as President Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States for an Official State Visit.
 
“Prime Minister Modi’s visit has underscored the importance of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship and our cooperation on a range of shared priorities.  Today’s agreement represents the culmination of intensified bilateral engagement over the last two years, including through the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, to deepen our economic and trade ties,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai.  “As a result of our work, U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers will now enjoy renewed access to a critical global market and we will strengthen our trade relationship with one of our closest partners.  I look forward to continue to working with my counterpart, Minister Goyal, as we identify additional ways to bring our people and our economies together.” Read More→ https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2023/june/united-states-announces-major-resolution-key-trade-issues-india

Commerce Initiates Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Certain Paper Shopping Bags...

from Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, the Republic of Turkey, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

On June 21, 2023 , the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced the initiation of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of certain paper shopping bags from Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China (China), Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, the Republic of Turkey (Turkey), and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam).

APHIS Authorizes Imports of Fresh Leaves and Stems of Garland Chrysanthemum (Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Washington, D.C., June 28, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorizing imports of fresh leaves and stems of garland chrysanthemum (Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Based on a pest risk analysis, APHIS has determined applying one or more designated phytosanitary measures will successfully manage the risks of introducing or spreading plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh leaves and stems of garland chrysanthemum from Mexico.

This action becomes effective June 28, 2023.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/federal-register-posts/sa_by_date/sa-2023/garland-chrysanthemum-mexico

Global Business Identifier Initiative

Background

The Global Business Identifier (GBI) initiative seeks to develop a single identifier solution that will improve the U.S. government’s ability to pinpoint high-risk shipments and facilitate legitimate trade, create a “common language” between government and industry, and improve data quality and efficiency for identification, enforcement, and risk assessment.

GBI is a priority initiative under the Border Interagency Executive Council (BIEC), an executive advisory board made up of more than 50 U.S. Federal agencies with import and export responsibilities. In 2017, the BIEC established the GBI initiative to address issues with the Manufacturer/Shipper Identification Number, known as the “MID” and identify potential improvements. Though the MID served the U.S. government well since the 1990s, increasingly complex global supply chains necessitate better insight into where and how imported goods are manufactured, packaged, and exported.

Evaluative Proof of Concept (EPoC)

The BIEC developed an Evaluative Proof of Concept (EPoC) that will test three global identifiers’ ability and determine the optimal combination to help the U.S. Government identify main legal entity and ownership, specific business and global locations, and supply chain roles and functions.

To improve the U.S. government’s visibility into imports, CBP is partnering with three globally recognized global identifier companies: GS1 U.S., Dun and Bradstreet (D&B), and the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) to test their identifiers’ ability to, alone or together, meet the U.S. government’s needs. Those identifiers are:

  1. Global Location Number (GLN)

  2. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)

  3. Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)

Through the GBI EPoC, CBP aims to leverage existing entity identifiers (GLN, DUNS, LEI) to develop a systematic, accurate, and efficient method for the trade to report, and the U.S. government to uniquely identify, legal business entities, their different business locations and addresses, and their various functions and supply chain roles. CBP will consider whether these three global identifiers, alone or together, ensure that CBP receives standardized trade data in a universally compatible trade language. Moreover, CBP will examine whether the identifiers submitted to CBP during the GBI EPoC can be easily verified, reducing uncertainties that may be associated with the information related to shipments of imported merchandise. Read More→
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/gbi

USITC MAKES DETERMINATIONS IN FIVE-YEAR (SUNSET) REVIEWS CONCERNING FROZEN WARMWATER SHRIMP FROM CHINA, INDIA, THAILAND, AND VIETNAM

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on frozen warmwater shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and 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 this product from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel 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 Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1064 and 1066-1068 (Third Review), USITC Publication 5432, June 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews. 

The report will be available by July 18, 2023; 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/2023/er0601_63963.htm

USITC ANALYZES MARKET CONDITIONS AND OUTLOOK FOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES IN ANNUAL SERVICES REPORT

The United States was the world's largest services market and was the world’s leading exporter and importer of services in 2021, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its new publication Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2023 Annual Report. As also noted in the report, preliminary data on U.S. cross-border services trade for 2022 show that total services exports were 15.9 percent higher in 2022 compared to 2021.

The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, compiles the report annually. Each year's report presents a qualitative and quantitative overview of U.S. trade in services and highlights some of the services sectors and geographic markets that contribute substantially to recent services trade performance.

This year’s report focuses on distribution services, including specific discussions on retail supply chains, e-commerce, logistics, warehousing, maritime shipping, port services, trucking and rail, air cargo, and express delivery via drones. Each section analyzes global market conditions in the industry and summarizes the industry’s outlook.

The report describes detailed trade in services via cross-border transactions through 2021 and via affiliate sales through 2020, as well as preliminary cross-border trade data for 2022 (latest available data). Several highlights are listed below.

  • In 2021, the services sector represented the largest sector of the U.S. economy, and the United States is the world’s top cross-border exporter and importer of services. U.S. exports of private services totaled $771.9 billion, whereas imports totaled $524.9 billion, resulting in a $247.0 billion trade surplus.

  • Within the services sector, sales by foreign affiliates of U.S. firms—the leading channel by which many U.S. services are delivered to foreign markets—totaled $1.6 trillion in 2020 while the value of services purchased from foreign-owned affiliates in the United States totaled $1.2 trillion. 

  • The distribution services sector includes a wide range of activities that facilitate the movement of goods through the supply chain from producer to end consumer. Distribution services accounted for 7.1 percent of total cross-border services exports and 17.4 percent of imports in 2021. They represented 27.4 percent of total sales by the foreign affiliates of U.S. firms and 29.5 percent of total purchases from the U.S. affiliates of foreign firms in 2020. Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0526_63943.htm

USITC MAKES DETERMINATIONS IN FIVE-YEAR (SUNSET) REVIEW CONCERNING BIODIESEL FROM ARGENTINA AND INDONESIA

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia 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 this product from Argentina and Indonesia will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel 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 Biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-571-572 and 731-TA-1347-1348 (Review), USITC Publication 5428, June 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews. 

The report will be available by June 30, 2023; 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/2023/er0525_63934.htm

USITC INSTITUTES SECTION 337 INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION DEVICES WITH ROTATABLE WINDLASSES AND COMPONENTS THEREOF

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain blood flow restriction devices with rotatable windlasses and components thereof. 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 Composite Resources, Inc., of Rock Hill, SC, and North American Rescue, LLC, of Greer, SC, on April 24, 2023, and supplemented on April 27, 2023, May 11, 2023, and May 18, 2023. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain blood flow restriction devices with rotatable windlasses and components thereof that infringe patents, trademarks, and trade dress asserted by the complainants. The complainants request that the USITC issue a permanent general exclusion order, or in the alternative a permanent limited exclusion order, and permanent cease and desist orders. 

The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation: Read More→

https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2023/er0524_63929.htm

Substantial Conclusion of Negotiations on Landmark IPEF Supply Chain Agreement

The proposed IPEF Supply Chain Agreement would make our supply chains more resilient and competitive, and would establish a framework for lasting cooperation on issues like workforce development, supply chain monitoring, investment promotion, and crisis response.

Completing negotiations on the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement is a major achievement in support of the President’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and a win for consumers, workers, and businesses in the United States and throughout the region.

The IPEF partners will now take steps, including further domestic consultations and a comprehensive legal review, to prepare a final text for signature.

Today, the United States joined its IPEF partners – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – in announcing the substantial conclusion of negotiations on a landmark IPEF Supply Chain Agreement.

The proposed IPEF Supply Chain Agreement seeks to ensure that American workers, consumers, and businesses benefit from resilient, reliable, and efficient supply chains. It would support the President’s effort to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, facilitating the steady supply of the materials, components, and inputs that U.S. companies rely on to compete effectively on the world stage.

The agreement would foster coordination to identify potential supply chain challenges before they become widespread disruptions. Moreover, through the Agreement, partners would work collaboratively to increase the resilience, efficiency, productivity, sustainability, transparency, diversification, security, fairness, and inclusivity of our supply chains.

The IPEF Supply Chain Agreement would create an IPEF Supply Chain Council to oversee the development of sector-specific action plans designed to build resilience and competitiveness in critical sectors, including by helping companies identify and address supply chain vulnerabilities before they become significant bottlenecks.  

Through the proposed agreement, the IPEF partners would also create an IPEF Supply Chain Crisis Response Network that can serve as an emergency communications channel when one or more partners faces an acute supply chain crisis, facilitating more effective responses that can benefit American workers, businesses and consumers.  Read More→

https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/05/substantial-conclusion-negotiations-landmark-ipef-supply-chain

Argentina initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding US measures on certain tubular goods

Argentina has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding certain US anti-dumping measures on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Argentina as well as Section 771(7)(G) of the US Tariff Act of 1930. The request was circulated to WTO members on 25 May.

Argentina claims that the challenged measures are inconsistent with a number of provisions of the WTO's Anti-Dumping Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.  This is the third WTO dispute brought by Argentina relating to US anti-dumping measures on OCTG.

Further information is available in document WT/DS617/1

What is a request for consultations?

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

Read More→ https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news23_e/ds617rfc_24may23_e.htm