USITC to Investigate Impact of USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin on the United States in Third Factfinding Report in Series - USITC
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) is seeking input for its third factfinding investigation on the automotive rules of origin (ROOs) under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the ROOs’ impact on the U.S. economy, effect on U.S. competitiveness, and relevancy considering recent technology changes.
The Commission instituted this investigation, USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 2027 Report (Inv. No. 332-608), for the purpose of preparing the third of five reports required by section 202A(g)(2) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. The report will be transmitted to the President, the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means no later than July 1, 2027.
As required, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will examine the USMCA automotive ROOs and their impact on the United States in an investigation and produce a report. The report will provide information on:
• The economic impact of the USMCA automotive ROOs on U.S. gross domestic product (GDP); U.S. exports and imports; U.S. aggregate employment and employment opportunities; production, investment, use of productive facilities, and profit levels in the U.S. automotive industries and other pertinent industries; wages and employment of workers in the U.S. automotive sector; and the interests of U.S. consumers
• The operation of the ROOs and their effects on the competitiveness of the United States with respect to production and trade in automotive goods, considering developments in technology, production processes, or other related matters
• Whether the ROOs are relevant in light of technological changes in the United States; and
• Other matters identified by the Commission as relevant to the economic impact of the ROOs, including prices, sales, inventories, patterns of demand, capital investment, obsolescence of equipment, and diversification of production in the United States
As part of its investigation, the Commission intends to conduct a survey and will post the associated questionnaire on its website at a later date.
The USITC is required to submit reports on the USMCA automotive ROOs every two years until 2031, for a total of five reports. The Commission’s first and second reports are posted on the Commission’s website.
Public Participation
The USITC expects to hold a public hearing in connection with this investigation on October 14, 2026, at U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. The hearing also will be streamed online. Key dates related to the investigation are as follows:
• September 29, 2026: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public hearing
• October 1, 2026: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and statements
• October 6, 2026: Deadline for filing electronic copies of hearing oral statements
• October 14, 2026: Public hearing
• October 21, 2026: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs
• November 2, 2026: Deadline for filing all other written submissions
Filings must be made through the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS).
Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for alerts from the USITC about Federal Register notices published with updates regarding USITC factfinding investigations like this one.
Further information on the scope of this investigation is available in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated February 19, 2026, which may also be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary.
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U.S.-Taiwan Deal Draws Praise from American Farmers, Ranchers, and Industry Leaders - USTR
February 17, 2026
WASHINGTON - Last week, Ambassador Jamieson Greer attended the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. American agricultural and industrial producers will reap the benefits from the U.S.-Taiwan trade deal as Taipei reduces non-tariff barriers and 99% of tariffs on U.S. exports.
Here are some of the top headlines:
Associated Press: Trump administration reaches a trade deal to lower Taiwan's tariff barriers
Reuters: US, Taiwan finalise deal to cut tariffs, boost purchases of US goods
Bloomberg: Taiwan, US Sign Trade Pact to Cut Tariffs, Boost Investments
CNBC: U.S. signs trade deal with Taiwan, lowering tariffs to 15%, while Taipei to boost American goods purchases
NBC News: Trump administration reaches a trade deal to lower Taiwan’s tariff barriers
Taipei Times: Taiwan and US sign trade agreement
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Pittsburgh CBP officers seize over $300,000 in counterfeit designer brand handbags, jewelry, and scarves from China - CBP
PITTSBURGH – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers remind consumers to be wary of counterfeit consumer products, including cheap knockoffs masquerading as high-end designer brands that will only separate you for your hard-earned savings, after officers seized a shipment of counterfeit handbags, jewelry, and scarves in Pittsburgh on Jan. 29.
This shipment, which was destined to an address in Pittsburgh, would have been valued at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $307,870, had it been authentic.
CBP officers inspected a parcel on Dec. 1 that arrived from China via air cargo. The parcel contained high-end designer brand products, including five handbags, five scarves, three bracelets, three necklaces, and a set of earrings bearing the brand names Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
CBP officers suspected the products to be counterfeit and detained the parcel for further investigation.
CBP officers submitted documentation and photographs to CBP’s trade experts at the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis. CBP’s trade experts worked with the trademark holders and verified that the products were counterfeit and subject to seizure pursuant to CBP’s statutory and regulatory authorities.
“Unfortunately, today’s global marketplace has provided an attractive platform for bad actors in China to export their illegal and dangerous knockoff goods to unwitting Americans”, said Jason Hamilton, CBP’s port director at the Port of Pittsburgh. “Make no mistake, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will resolutely protect the homeland, American consumers and businesses by intercepting these, poor quality, fake goods.”
Trade in counterfeit consumer goods is illegal. It threatens the health and safety of American consumers, steals revenues from trademark holders and tax revenues from the government, and it funds transnational criminal organizations. Counterfeit consumer goods may also be sourced or manufactured in facilities that employ forced labor.
Counterfeiters manufacture consumer goods using substandard materials and parts that could prematurely break or harm consumers. Protect your families by purchasing authentic consumer products from reputable retailers. Learn more about the consequences of counterfeits by visiting CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage.
CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program. During fiscal year 2025, CBP seized over 78,000,000 counterfeit goods with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price worth over $7.3 billion, had the goods been genuine.
News media can search for additional enforcement details by viewing CBP’s IPR webpage or by viewing CBP’s IPR Dashboard and CBP’s Annual IPR Seizures Reports.
U.S. trademark and copyright owners can register with CBP to have their intellectual property protected at the border through the through the e-Recordation program (https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/).
CBP encourages anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the United States to submit an anonymous tip to CBP’s e-Allegation Program.
CBP's border security mission is led at our nation’s Ports of Entry by CBP officers and agriculture specialists from the Office of Field Operations. CBP screens international travelers and cargo and searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds and pests, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality. Learn more at www.CBP.gov.
Follow the Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office on Twitter at @DFOBaltimore for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos, and CBP’s Office of Field Operations on Instagram at @cbpfieldops.
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In the News:
• Trump's potential steel, aluminum rollback would be latest tariff reversal amid broader affordability push [Yahoo Finance]
• Trump tariffs live updates: Japan commits $36B to US energy projects, critical minerals in first phase of trade deal [Yahoo Finance]
• US Open to Changing Steel and Aluminum Tariffs, Greer Says [Bloomberg]
• China to grant zero-tariff access for 53 African nations from May 1 [The Nation]
• Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a JPMorganChase Institute study shows [AP Press]
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Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From the Kingdom of Bahrain: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Canada and India: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Active Anode Material From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Active Anode Material From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
• Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Canada and India: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Power Converters, Circuit Board Assemblies, and Computing Systems Containing the Same; Notice of Institution of Investigation
• Fatty Acids from Indonesia and Malaysia; Revised Schedule for the Subject Investigations
• Hard Empty Capsules From Brazil, China, India, and Vietnam; Determinations
• Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products (Solar Panels) From China and Taiwan; Scheduling of Expedited Five-Year Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From the Republic of Korea: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances Review
• Certain Aluminum Foil From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico: Final Clarification of the Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order
• Fresh Mushrooms From Canada: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation
• Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Thailand: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results
• Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From Bahrain: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Polycrystalline Diamond Compacts and Articles Containing Same; Notice of Commission Determination To Institute a Modification Proceeding and To Grant a Joint Motion for Limited Service of Confidential Exhibit; Modification of the Limited Exclusion Order; Termination of Modification Proceeding
• Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From the Republic of Korea: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar From Mexico: Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Paper File Folders From the Kingdom of Cambodia: Countervailing Duty Order
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs From India; Determinations
• Ceramic Tile From China; Determinations
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Customs Bulletin Weekly, Vol. 60, February 18, 2026, No. 07
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Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes from China Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC - USITC
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of polypropylene corrugated boxes from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.
Chair Amy A. Karpel and Commissioners Jason E. Kearns and David S. Johanson voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order and a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from China.
The Commission’s public report, Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-757 and 731-TA-1737 (Final), USITC Publication 5709, March 2026), will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by March 30, 2026; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website.
Status of proceedings, links to relevant documents, and more information about the investigations can be found at the Commission’s Investigations Database System (IDS).