The European Union announced May 17 that it would not hike tariffs on American goods that are on its retaliation list for Section 232 tariffs, such as whiskey, bourbon, orange juice, cigarettes, steel, motorcycles and yachts. Some items on the list have had a 25% additional tariff since June 2018, others, an additional 10% tariff since then. Europe had been scheduled to double the tariffs on June 1.

The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit removed a preliminary injunction against the State Department in an April 27 decision, allowing the agency move 3D-printed weapons off the U.S. Munitions List and onto the Commerce Control List. A State rule issued in 2020 would have made that change, but it was partly blocked as part a lawsuit filed by 20 states.

The Bureau of Industry and Security added seven Chinese “supercomputing” entities to the Entity List for procuring U.S.-origin items in a way that harms U.S. national security and supports China’s military, BIS said in a final rule that takes effect today. The rule imposes a license requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations, and BIS will impose a license review policy of presumption of denial. No license exceptions will be available.

The Senate approved House Ways and Means Chief Trade Counsel Katherine Tai to be the U.S. Trade Representative with no opposition. The Senate voted 98-0 in favor of the confirmation.

The European Union published an official notice that it is lifting tariffs for four months, starting March 11. The EU was levying retaliatory tariffs of 15% on aircraft and 25% on rum, vodka, brandy, cheeses, potatoes, nuts, fruits, juices, chocolate, ketchup and agricultural equipment from the U.S.

The European Union will drop its tariffs on U.S. exports on the Boeing retaliation list, and the U.S. will drop its Section 301 tariffs on EU products under the Airbus dispute, including food, wine and liquor, for four months, the EU announced March 5.

The Bureau of Industry and Security added one Chinese entity to its Entity List, another to its Military End User List and removed two Russian entities from the MEU List, the agency said in a final rule that is effective as of Jan. 14. The rule added China National Offshore Oil Corp. Ltd. (CNOOC) to its Entity List and designated Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment Co., Ltd. as having ties to China’s military. It also removed Russia-based Korporatsiya Vsmpo Avisma OAO and Molot Oruzhie from the MEU List.

The Bureau of Industry and Security will add China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Company and more than 60 companies to the Entity List for actions “deemed contrary” to U.S. national security. BIS said SMIC, China’s top chipmaker, has concerning ties to China’s government and risks transferring imported U.S. technology to the country’s military. Other companies will be added to the Entity List for human rights abuses, for supporting China’s militarization of the South China Sea, for diverting U.S. products to China’s military and for the theft of U.S. trade secrets. BIS did not immediately say when the restrictions will take effect.

Following reports that President-Elect Joe Biden will be nominating House Ways and Means Chief Trade Counsel Katherine Tai for U.S. Trade Representative, Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer hailed the decision.“This is a fantastic pick from President-elect Biden. Katherine Tai has played an invaluable role leading the Ways and Means staff while working with members and outside groups on the renegotiated NAFTA and other critical trade issues," said Blumenauer. "She’s knowledgeable, patient, creative, and will be the first woman of color to hold this important job."

The Bureau of Industry and Security plans to add 47 entities to its Entity List for “acting contrary” to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The additions include entities in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. BIS designated the entities for a range of illegal procurement and nuclear-related activities, including sending nuclear-related items and other products to Iran. BIS will also correct four existing entries under China.