Weekly Trade Briefing: May 10-15, 2021

Trade Update • May 17, 2021

Aweekly roundup of news reports, government announcements, and other information about current and emerging developments in international trade and customs compliance.

CBP Issues Guidance on Section 301 List 3 Technical Amendment

On May 10, U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued on the Section 301 List 3 technical amendment originally announced here. The amendment allows product exclusions under 9903.88.13, 9903.88.18, 9903.88.33, 9903.88.34, 9903.88.35, 9903.88.37, 9903.88.38, 9903.88.40, 9903.88.41, 9903.88.43, 9903.88.45, 9903.88.46, and 9903.88.48 to be applied to eligible products entered between May 10, 2019 and June 15, 2019 under section 301 tariff 9903.88.09.

USITC Finds Dumping of Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand Injuring U.S. Producers

The United States International Trade Commission on Tuesday determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of prestressed concrete steel wire strand from Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, and Ukraine that Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value. The USITC also made negative critical circumstances findings with regard to certain imports of this product from Indonesia. A report detailing the Commission’s views and information developed during the investigations will be released on June 14.

Finance Eliminates Duties on Certain Manufacturing Inputs

Following requests for tariff relief by domestic industry, the Government of Canada has announced in the May 12 Canada Gazette the elimination of customs duty on certain products used in manufacturing that are currently unavailable from Canadian sources. Specifically, OIC P.C. 2021-318 covers stainless steel parts used in the manufacture of cookware (7323.93.10) and forged wheels used for producing wheel sets (8607.19.21). The tariff exemptions came into force as of April 23, 2021.

FDA Opens Industry Portal for FSVP Records Submission

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week opened the FSVP Importer Portal for FSVP Records Submission for importers of human and animal food into the U.S. The FDA established the Portal to serve as a dedicated, streamlined way for importers to submit records associated with the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs electronically to the FDA, if they choose. with an active FDA Account ID and password can access the Portal on the FDA’s Unified Registration and Listing System page.

USITC Finalizes HTSUS Modifications

The USITC on Wednesday announced its recommended modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States needed to bring it into conformity with World Customs Organization amendments to the global Harmonized System. The modifications cover more than 350 products of new or emerging commercial significance including, for example: flat panel display modules; 3D printers; unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones); and electric vehicles. The amendments are set to enter into force on January 1, 2022.

Tai Sees TPA Renewal as Opportunity to ‘Rethink’ Trade Objectives

USTR Katherine Tai told House lawmakers on Thursday that the administration believes it has the opportunity now to rethink the “fast-track” Trade Promotion authority for negotiating trade deals in terms of what U.S. negotiating objectives “should accomplish for the U.S. economy but also for a global recovery.” Tai asked members of the House Ways and Means Committee to look at TPA, which expires this July, through the lens of President Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ economic plan. While stating that a quick start to renewing the TPA was needed in order “to send a strong signal to the rest of the world that America will lead on trade,” she declined to set a timeline for doing so.