USITC Releases Report Concerning Proposed Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences - U.S. International Trade Commission
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on possible modifications to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The investigation, Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2018 Review (Investigation No. 332-572), was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, submitted a confidential version of the report to the USTR on September 9, 2019. The public version released today contains only the unclassified sections, with any business confidential information deleted.
As requested, the USITC provided advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. consumers of the removal from eligibility of two HTS subheadings for certain GSP countries.
The removals in consideration are:
- 3907.61.00 (Polyethylene terephthalate, having a viscosity number of 78 ml/g or higher) from Pakistan,
- 3907.69.00 (Polyethylene terephthalate, having a viscosity number less than 78 ml/g) from Pakistan.
In addition, the USITC provided advice on whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by competitive need limitation waivers for two HTS subheadings for certain GSP countries and advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, as well as on consumers, of the requested waivers. The USITC also provided advice as to whether a like or directly competitive article was produced in the United States in any of the preceding three calendar years for these articles. "Competitive need limitations" represent the maximum import level of a product that is eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP. Once the limit is reached, trade is considered "competitive," benefits are no longer needed, and imports of the article become ineligible for GSP treatment, unless a waiver is granted. With respect to the competitive need limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act, the USITC, as requested, will use the dollar value limit of $185 million. The HTS subheadings in consideration are:
- 3823.11.00 (Stearic acid) from Indonesia,
- 9001.50.00 (Spectacle lenses of materials other than glass, unmounted) from Thailand.
Finally, the USITC provided advice as to the probable economic effect on U.S. imports, on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. consumers of the redesignation of three HTS subheadings for certain GSP countries. The USITC also provided advice as to whether a like or directly competitive article was produced in the United States in any of the preceding three calendar years for these articles. The HTS subheadings in consideration are:
- 0603.13.00 (Orchids, fresh cut) from Thailand,
- 4412.10.05 (Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood, of bamboo) from Indonesia,
- 4412.31.4155 (Plywood sheets n/o 6mm thick, with specified tropical wood outer ply, with face ply nesoi, not surface covered beyond clear/transparent) from Indonesia.
Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2018 Review (Investigation No. 332-572, USITC publication 4972, September 2019) is available on the USITC's Internet site at https://www.usitc.gov/sites/default/files/publications/332/pub4972.pdf.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod from China, India, and Taiwan - U.S. Department of Commerce
Today (9/20/19), the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, and Taiwan, finding that exporters from China, India, and Taiwan have dumped carbon and alloy steel threaded rod at the following rates:
China – 4.81 percent to 59.45 percent
India – 2.04 percent
Taiwan – 32.26 percent
As a result of today’s decisions, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, and Taiwan as applicable.
In 2018, imports of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod from China, India, and Taiwan were valued at an estimated $325 million, $111 million, and $156 million, respectively.
The petitioner is Vulcan Threaded Products, Inc. (Pelham, AL).
The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump Administration. Since the beginning of the current Administration, Commerce has initiated 182 new antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 231 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.
Antidumping and countervailing duty laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of the unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 496 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.
Commerce is scheduled to announce the final determination with respect to Taiwan on or about December 4, 2019, and with respect to China and India, on or about February 11, 2020.
If Commerce’s final determinations are affirmative, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determination with respect to Taiwan on or about January 24, 2020, and with respect to China and India, on or about March 26, 2020. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping, and the ITC makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping, or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued.
Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decisions.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade law and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.
Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties. Companies that receive unfair subsidies from their governments, such as grants, loans, equity infusions, tax breaks, or production inputs, are subject to countervailing duties aimed at directly countering those subsidies.
Louisville CBP Seizes $90M in Counterfeit Merchandise - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Since the middle of July, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Express Consignment Operations hub in Louisville have seized counterfeit bracelets and other jewelry worth over $90 million if the goods were genuine.
From July 17 to 31, CBP officers seized three large shipments of counterfeit bracelets totaling more than $42 million. This seizure led to the arrest of a pastor in North Carolina who was discovered with a cache of more than 3,200 fake Cartier bracelets. On August 2, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced that church pastor JianGang "Frank" Lan was charged with felony criminal use of a counterfeit trademark and is being held under $25,000 bond in the Orange County Jail.
The next large seizure took place from September 9 to 17, when CBP Officers seized five shipments that contained counterfeit jewelry, which would be worth more than $48 million if they were genuine.
“When purchasing items from a vendor over the internet if it seems like too good of a deal it is,” said Thomas Mahn Jr., Louisville Port Director. “A Cartier bracelet listed online for $25 is definitely not authentic.”
Consumers should always be aware that counterfeit products are often manufactured in unregulated facilities and with substandard materials.
“Seizures, like these, will ensure inferior, often dangerous goods do not fall into the hands of every day Americans,” said Mahn. “Counterfeit jewelry is often forged with lead and other hazardous materials unbeknownst to the buyer. These seizures protect the rights of the intellectual property rights holder, health and safety of Americans, and the reputation of online marketplaces involved in these transactions.”
CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement program. Importation of counterfeit merchandise can cause significant revenue loss, damage the U.S. economy, and threaten the health and safety of the American people.
In 2017 CBP established an educational initiative at U.S. airports and online in order to raise consumer awareness and conscientiousness about the consequences and dangers that can be associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. Information about the Truth Behind Counterfeits campaign can be found at www.cbp.gov/fakegoodsrealdangers.
On a typical day in 2018, CBP officers seized $3.7 million worth of products with IPR violations. Learn more about what CBP did during "A Typical Day" in 2018.
OTEXA: Announcements - Office of Textile & Apparel
09/19/2019 – Limitations on Duty and Quota-Free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled in Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The new AGOA caps are for the one-year period from October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020.
Federal Register Notices:
- Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Silicon Metal From Russia; Notice of Commission Determination To Conduct a Full Five-Year Review
- Fabricated Structural Steel From Canada, China, and Mexico; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
- Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico: Suspension of Antidumping Duty Investigation
- Oil Country Tubular Goods From India: Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
- Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Oil Country Tubular Goods From India, Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam; Notice of Commission Determinations To Conduct Full Five-Year Reviews
- Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Acetone From the Republic of South Africa: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
- Acetone From Belgium: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
- Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and Authorizations To Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal Inventory Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act, and/or the Endangered Species Act
- Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Notice of Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
- Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod From Taiwan: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
Comment Period Extended for NPRM on Detention & Demurrage - Federal Maritime Commission
The Federal Maritime Commission has extended the deadline for submitting public comments on a proposed interpretive rule addressing demurrage and detention practices under the Shipping Act.
Comments to the Commission are now due not later than Thursday, October 31, 2019.
Instructions for submitting comments are contained in the proposed rule. While the Commission will provide confidential treatment for identified confidential information to the extent allowed by law, comments are considered to be part of the public record.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services - Bulletins and Alerts
Subject: Changes to CITES Species Listings - September 09, 2019
Subject: Amendments to CITES Appendix III - September 09, 2019