Supply Chain

UPDATE: USTR Increases Section 301 Tariffs to 25% Duty for Products on List 3

Since September 17, 2018, the trade industry has been bracing themselves for the increase of China tariffs from 10% to 25%. The trade community has enjoyed a few months of postponements – January 1st, 2019 to March 1st, 2019. The postponements led many to believe the increase was unlikely, until May 6, when the President emphatically stated that “the 10% will go up to 25% on Friday [May 10, 2019].” via twitter. Only three days later and USTR has officially announced the anticipated 25% increase is effective on 12:01 am, May 10, 2019.

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Comment Today! USTR Publishes Preliminary List of EU Products To Be Covered By Additional Duties. 

Until recently the Section 301 Tariffs have been associated with China deceptive practices. The USTR is now expanding Section 301 Tariffs to the European Union (EU).  As a result of the World Trade Organization (WTO) repeatedly finding that EU subsidies to Airbus have caused adverse effects to the United States; the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has launched a process under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to identify products of the EU to which additional duties may be applied. These additional duties will be in effect from the dated published until the EU removes those subsidies.

USTR estimates the harm from the EU subsidies as $11 billion in trade each year. The final amount is expected to be issued summer of 2019.  “Our ultimate goal is to reach an agreement with the EU to end all WTO-inconsistent subsidies to large civil aircraft.  When the EU ends these harmful subsidies, the additional U.S. duties imposed in response can be lifted.” USTR’s determination will reflect with the outcome of the WTO dispute settlement proceedings should the findings show that the EU and certain member States have denied U.S. rights under the WTO Agreement. […]

CBP Needs Your Help to Improve their Operations in the 21st Century Business Environment – COMMENT PERIOD NOW OPEN!

RegulationsU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has announced the re-opening of the public comment period on the six key themes identified by “The 21st Century Customs Framework” initiative. Now is your chance to provide feedback to CBP that can benefit your supply chain and the US economy.

CBP appreciates the need to stay modern to face the challenges of an evolving business landscape. To fulfill its mission, CBP is carrying out an initiative entitled “The 21st Century Customs Framework” which will seek to address and improve many aspects of CBP’s trade mission to better position the agency to operate in the 21st Century business environment. Below are the topics CBP is seeking public input on:

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YEAR IN TRADE 2017 – Highlights of U.S. Trade Relations with China and Canada in 2017

As we continue to work hard to keep you up to date on the current Trade War between the U.S. and China, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USTIC) released The Year in Trade 2017 on August 21, 2018. The report is the USTIC’s 69th annual report submitted to the U.S. Congress under section 163(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2213(c)). The report is one of the government’s most comprehensive reports about developments regarding the administration of U.S. trade policies, trade laws, and trade agreements. […]

Exports from China are on the Rise – What is your IPR Plan?

On April 11, amid a high demand for soccer apparel in preparation for FIFA World Cup, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized counterfeit soccer apparel shipped from China to the Port of Savannah. The value of the seized goods exceeded $1 million in manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). The apparel seized contained counterfeit trademarks of the following professional soccer clubs: Arsenal, Barcelona, Celtic, Chelsea, Mexican Federation, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid.  Little did they know they should have tried to import Germany’s soccer club’s apparel. “You look at that Chelsea patch, and it just looks off,” said Steve Sapp, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “The last B is smaller than the rest, and that’s the kind of thing you often see with these counterfeit goods. Our investigators know the signs that these goods aren’t real.”  Both images are provided below for you to see for yourself – check out the extra space at the top, and the “u” in club.

This month, CBP again seized a shipment of counterfeit soccer apparel from China. This time, the shipment arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the apparel consisted of Brazilian, Italian and Argentinian national soccer clubs’ uniforms. “The trade in these illegitimate goods is associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, and often funds criminal enterprises”, stated Area Port Director Juan Hurtado.  The apparel shipped to Puerto Rico violated the intellectual property rights (IPRs) of Puma, Adidas and Nike.

With exports from China rising, protecting intellectual […]

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