Tariffs imposed on goods from China during the previous administration likely contributed to the ongoing chip shortage, though an increasing demand and port congestion are bigger factors, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said. Speaking during an Oct. 20 event hosted by The Washington Post, both underscored the severity of the supply chain crisis and said lawmakers should move faster to pass legislation that would provide more funding to the semiconductor industry.

Although U.S. traders would widely welcome the U.S. rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, industry officials are disappointed with the country’s lack of urgency on the trade pact and don't expect the Biden administration to prioritize the deal before its term ends. While they said mini trade deals, such as the 2020 agreement with Japan (see 1912050058), can serve as “short-term” bandages, they aren’t nearly enough to make up for the benefits U.S. traders would have received under TPP.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Aug. 30 - Sept.3 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave advice to Congress in July and August on how to shape legislation that Congress is calling a "polluter import fee," which most call a carbon border adjustment tax. On Sept. 2, it published its reaction to one bill on the table, the Coons-Peters bill, although Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has not said that the Coons bill will be the starting point for legislation he wishes to advance as part of the "soft infrastructure package" Congress is trying to write this fall (see 2108100031). Just before leaving for the August recess, Wyden said that the Senate was far from a concrete proposal, and that any proposal must get the support of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Manchin represents a state where coal mining is the third-largest industry.

Export Compliance Daily is providing readers with the top stories for Aug. 23-27 in case you missed them. You can find any article by searching the title or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

A readout of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai's video call with the U.S.-China Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's China Center Advisory Board said that she told them that the trade relationship with China is important, and there needs to be "a thorough strategic assessment to craft resilient trade policy that supports the Administration’s efforts to create jobs, raise wages, and strengthen our communities." She "reiterated USTR’s commitment to addressing China’s unfair trade policies and non-market practices that undermine American businesses and workers." The readout made no mention of tariffs, but said the business groups talked about the "challenges and opportunities" in the China market.

Tarif Akhras, founder of the Akhras Group and chairman of Syria's Homs Chamber of Commerce, was removed from the United Kingdom's Syrian sanctions regime, the Office of Financial Sanctions Notice said in a financial sanctions notice Aug. 12. The delisting notice provided no explanation for his removal.

A group of technology, auto, manufacturing and semiconductor groups urged congressional leaders to fund the CHIPS for America Act so the semiconductor industry can begin benefiting from tax credits and other incentives to boost U.S. semiconductor innovation (see 2107160040). The groups, including the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urged Congress in a July 22 letter to “expeditiously” approve funding for the bill and other programs to support the chip industry. “These initiatives will help grow the U.S. economy, create hundreds of thousands of good-paying middle-class jobs in advanced manufacturing and other fields, unleash billions in private sector investments, assure the supply of critical components essential to virtually all sectors of the economy, and strengthen our national security,” the groups wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Japan Customs published an updated list July 15 of the issuing authorities for exports' certificate of origin under the Generalized System of Preferences for North Macedonia and Afghanistan. The Economic Chamber of North Macedonia may certify a product's origin for North Macedonia, and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment may do the same for Afghanistan. Japan's GSP applies reduced tariffs for imports from developing countries.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce asked Congress to work to renew and update the fast-track law officially called Trade Promotion Authority, which just expired. Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs Myron Brilliant said, “TPA is the vehicle that allows American workers, farmers, and companies to secure the benefits of a new market-opening trade agreements; it lets members of Congress set negotiating objectives and guarantees they will be consulted as trade talks proceed; and it strengthens the hand of U.S. trade officials as they engage with foreign governments. To advance a pro-growth, pro-jobs trade agenda, TPA is essential.”