Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news: 
Russia/Sanctions
On April 8, 2022, Ambassador Katherine Tai released a statement following the congressional vote on Russia and Belarus’ Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status stating how as a result the Russian economy has cratered and hundreds of companies have announced plans to leave the country. In addition, Ambassador Tai thanked Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo, as well as Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal and Ranking Member Kevin Brady in the House of Representatives, for coming together to reach this agreement.
On April 8, 2022, President Biden signed into law H.R. 7108, the “Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act.” With this law, the rates of duty set forth in Column 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) shall apply to all products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus effective for shipments entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after April 9, 2022.
On April 12, 2022, The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License 26 “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Joint Stock Company SB Sberbank Kazakhstan or Sberbank Europe AG.”
CIT
On April 11, 2022, the U.S. Court of International Trade issued a decision regarding a Section 592 penalty case brought against a U.S. company for about $6M in unpaid duties on the import of Chinese tires between 2009 and 2012. The CIT agreed with the defendants claims that DDP absolved them from any liability for customs clearance including payment of duties because they purchased the tires on a DDP basis, in addition to their claims that their statute of limitations waiver was no longer in force and CBP’s case was time-barred. CIT dismissed the case.
USTR
On April 14, 2022, the Office of the United States Trade Representative today published a blog post from Ambassador Sarah Bianchi, Deputy United States Trade Representative, on how USTR and the Biden-Harris Administration are building resilient supply chains through trade policy. The full blog is available online here.
If you have questions about these updates, contact our Customs and International trade law attorneys at info@diaztradelaw.com or call us at 305-456-3830.
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