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Trade News: New AD/CVD Case Filed on Erythritol from China

A new anti-dumping and countervailing case was filed on Erythritol from China by Cargill, the sole U.S. producer of Erythritol.

Full list of exporters here. Full list of importers here.

 Background on AD/CVD Investigations

Antidumping duty (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) investigations are brought jointly by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“USITC”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”). AD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports of particular goods from specific countries being sold at less than a fair value. Meanwhile, CVD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports that are being unfairly subsidized by their governments. The domestic industry initiating the investigation is known as the petitioner while the foreign industry participating in the investigation is known as the respondent.

Scope of the Investigation

The product is generally described as: Erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol, commonly referred to as a polyol, typically produced by the fermentation of glucose using

enzymes and yeast or yeast-like fungi (though the scope includes erythritol produced using

any other feedstock or organism). Erythritol typically appears as a white crystalline, odorless product that rapidly dissolves in water. While erythritol is typically produced in the crystalline form or as a fine powder or in directly compressible form, the scope of these investigations covers all physical forms and grades of erythritol.

Full scope here.

Next Steps

The Commerce Department will determine whether to initiate the investigations within 20 days. The USITC […]

By |2024-12-20T14:30:08-05:00December 13, 2024|AD/CVD, China, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)|0 Comments

CBP Issues Guidance on Melt and Pour Requirements for Steel Articles

CBP recently issued guidance on melt and pour requirements for certain imported steel articles, implementing President Biden’s July proclamation adjusting imports of steel and aluminum into the United States.

Steel and Aluminum Proclamation Background

On July 10, 2024, President Biden issued two proclamations on adjusting imports of steel and aluminum into the United States. The proclamations increased the section 232 duty rate for both products and adjusted the requirements for avoiding section 232 duties.

The steel proclamation implemented a melt and pour requirement for imports of steel articles that are products of Mexico. It also increases the section 232 duty rate for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of Mexico that are melted and poured in a country other than Mexico, Canada, or the United States. If the country of melt and pour is any country other than the U.S., Mexico, or Canada, then the steel articles are subject to an additional 25%.

Effective November 21, 2024, importers are required to report to CBP the country of melt and pour for certain imported steel articles from all countries; and for imported derivative steel articles that are products of Mexico; regardless of whether Section 232 duty treatment, quota treatment, or an exception treatment applies.

CBP Guidance on Steel

The new guidance provides information on codes for reporting the country of smelt, certificates to be submitted via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), and advises importers on changes that have been made in ACE.

Reporting Codes & Certificates

The guidance states […]

ICYMI: G7 Issues Guidance on Preventing Evasion of Export Controls and Sanctions Imposed on Russia

The United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (the G7) published joint guidance for industry on preventing evasion of the export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia.

The goal of the guidance is to protect common high priority list items from misappropriation, prevent reputational harm, and mitigate liability risk. The guidance aims to assist industry with complying with multilateral export controls and sanctions and with identifying evolving Russian evasion practices.

The guidance outlines three priority areas: Items that pose a heightened risk of being diverted to Russia, red flag indicators of potential evasion, and best practices to address red flags.

1. The Common High Priority List (CHPL)

The European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States developed the CHPL to identify items that pose a heightened risk of illicit diversion to Russia. Items include:

  • Integrated circuits
  • Navigational instruments
  • Digital cameras
  • Transistors
  • Signal generators
  • Milling machines

See the full CHPL here.

2. Red Flag Indicators

The G7 identified the following red flags indicators of potential export control and sanctions evasion:

  • Sudden changes in business activity after February 24, 2022
  • Fales, inaccurate, or misleading documentation
  • Concealing the end user
  • Inconsistencies in the transaction
  • Vague details and/or incomplete information
  • Dividing invoices
  • Suspicious customer information

3. Best Practices

The G7 calls on responsible traders to improve export compliance systems and exercise enhanced due diligence. Specifically, following these steps when encountering any red flags:

  • Run transaction parties against applicable public sanctions lists
  • Conduct additional due diligence
  • Analyze the risk of export control and/or […]
By |2024-10-11T11:02:26-04:00October 11, 2024|Countries, Export, Russia|0 Comments

USTR Finalizes Action on 301 Tariffs

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced final tariff modifications following their statutory review of the Section 301 investigation of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. The final modifications include tariff increases on several products including critical minerals, batteries, and semiconductors.

301 Investigation Background

In August 2017, USTR initiated an investigation into China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. The agency released a report of its findings in March 2018 and in June 2018 began imposing additional duties on products of China in four tranches. 

Under the Trade Act of 1974, the USTR is required to conduct a four-year review if they receive an appropriate request to continue an action taken under Section 301. The agency is required to review:

  • (A) the effectiveness in achieving the objectives of section 301 of (i) such action, and (ii) other actions that could be taken (including actions against other products or services), and
  • (B) the effects of such actions on the United States economy, including consumers.

In accordance with this requirement, USTR announced in May 2022 that it was commencing this review and opened a docket for interested persons to submit comments. 

The agency […]

Reminder: New Section 232 Duties on Certain Steel and Aluminum Products from Mexico

On July 10, 2024, President Biden issued two proclamations on adjusting imports of steel and aluminum into the United States. The proclamations increase the section 232 duty rate for both products and adjust the requirements for avoiding section 232 duties.

Steel Proclamation

The steel proclamation implements a melt and pour requirement for imports of steel articles that are products of Mexico. It also increases the section 232 duty rate for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of Mexico that are melted and poured in a country other than Mexico, Canada, or the United States. If the country of melt and pour is any country other than the U.S., Mexico, or Canada, then the steel articles are subject to an additional 25% duty.

In making this adjustment, the Administration stated that domestic steel producers’ capacity utilization remains below the target 80 percent capacity utilization recommended in the Secretary of Commerce’s report of January 11, 2018. Additionally, imports of steel articles from Mexico have increased significantly. In the opinion of the Administration and the Secretary of Commerce, these developments indicate the need for further action under section 232.

Aluminum Proclamation

The aluminum proclamation implemented a country of smelt and country of most recent cast requirement for imports of aluminum articles that are products of Mexico. It also increased the section 232 duty rate for imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles that are products of Mexico containing aluminum for which the reported […]

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