The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced new amendments to exclusions from Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. In one notice, an exclusion is apparently being removed under U.S. Note 20(x)(97) on multiphase motors, in statistical reporting number 8501.52.4000. A second notice modifies exclusions from the third set of Section 301 tariffs, as follows:
The Alliance for Trade Enforcement is asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to bring up intellectual property and agriculture issues with Mexico and Canada in the USMCA. The alliance includes trade groups in pharmaceutical, biotech and creative industries and the National Association of Manufacturers, in addition to broad trade groups such as the National Foreign Trade Council and the U.S. Council for International Business.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Kenya Secretary for Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Betty Maina released a joint statement on the formal launch of free trade negotiations.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the beginning of U.S.-Kenya trade talks July 7 in Nairobi. Scott Eisner, president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement that said: “A deepening U.S.-Kenya commercial relationship will benefit the U.S., Kenya, and the entire African continent. It is our hope that when complete, the agreement will not only be the first of its kind between the U.S. and a sub-Saharan African country, but also lay the groundwork to strengthen and deepen our relationships with economies across the continent by providing the necessary legal protections and enduring, reciprocal trade. With the African Growth and Opportunity Act set to expire in 2025, a Kenya free trade agreement will provide American businesses the certainty they need to continue investing in this growing market.”
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is establishing a new tariff-rate quota for imports of sugar-containing products from Canada under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, it said in a notice. Effective July 1, the TRQ will allow imports at an in-quota rate of up to 9,600 metric tons of sugar-containing products, as defined in Annex 2-B to USMCA. USTR will require export certificates issued by the Canadian government for goods entered under the TRQ. “No SCP that is the product of Canada will be permitted entry under the in-quota tariff rate established for imports of SCPs from Canada, unless at the time of entry the person entering the SCP makes a declaration to [CBP], in the form and manner prescribed by CBP, that a valid export certificate is in effect for the SCP,” USTR said in the notice. The certificate requirement will remain in effect going forward unless USTR issues a determination that export certificates will not be required in any given year.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is increasing the in-quota amount of refined sugar, other than specialty sugar, available to Canada, per the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Effective July 1, USTR is increasing the amount of Canadian refined sugar allowed under the TRQ by 36,287 metric tons raw value (MTRV), USTR said. “Refined sugar imported from Canada pursuant to this notice may be made from non-originating raw sugar,” the agency said. “Only refined sugar with a sucrose content, by weight in the dry state, corresponding to a reading of 99.5 degrees polarity or more will be permitted. No certificate for quota eligibility is required for sugar entering under this additional in-quota quantity.”
The process to submit written complaints for either the rapid response mechanism or for violations of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's labor chapter will be published in the Federal Register June 30, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments on the submission procedures. Comments are due by Aug. 15.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on whether all the tariff exclusions granted to Chinese imports on Section 301 List 4 that are set to expire Sept. 1 should be extended for up to another year, it said in a notice. The agency will start accepting comments on the extensions on July 1. The comments are due by July 30, it said. Each exclusion will be evaluated independently. The evaluation's focus will be whether, despite the first imposition of these additional duties, the particular product remains available only from China. The companies are required to post a public rationale.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on whether to extend by up to another year tariff exclusions on Chinese imports on Section 301 List 2 that are set to expire Sept. 20 (see 1909180013), it said in a notice. The agency will start accepting comments on the extensions July 1. Comments are due July 30, it said. Each exclusion will be evaluated independently, focusing on whether, despite the first imposition of these additional duties, the particular product remains available only from China. The companies are required to post a public rationale.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on whether tariff exclusions on Chinese imports on Section 301 List 2 that are set to expire Oct. 2 (see 1909300041) should extend by up to another year, it said in a notice. The agency will start accepting comments on the extensions July 1. The comments are due by July 30, it said. Each exclusion will be evaluated independently. The focus of the evaluation will be whether, despite the first imposition of these additional duties, the particular product remains available only from China. The companies are required to post a public rationale.