Even though the Joe Biden administration will have a very different approach to trade than did the Trump administration, that will not mean a wholesale rejection of what its predecessors did, analysts said during a Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar Jan. 21.
The White House is freezing rules that have been published, but have not taken effect, as well as proposed rulemaking and interim final rules, for 60 days from Jan. 20, so that the new administration can review the policies. The Trump administration issued a similar order in 2017 (see 1701230031), as did previous administrations.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Jan. 21. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
Ramped up import enforcement efforts are likely here to stay under President Joe Biden, Sidley Austin's Ted Murphy said in an email. The multi-agency effort to crack down on import violations is expected to continue unencumbered and Murphy views these efforts as not administration-specific, particularly dealing with questions of forced labor, Section 301 tariff evasion and USMCA compliance.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Jan. 11-15 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The U.S. and Vietnam held “consultations” Dec. 23 on allegations that Hanoi deliberately devalued the dong against the dollar to the detriment of American commercial interests, it was disclosed in Friday’s Section 301 investigative report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ruling out tariffs on Vietnamese goods in the final days of the Trump administration (see 2101150052). The report shared nothing about the substance of the previously unknown talks, held roughly a week before USTR convened a virtual hearing Dec. 29 into Vietnam’s alleged currency misbehavior (see 2012290034). Agency representatives made no mention of the consultations during the hearing.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Jan. 11-17:
The U.S. and Vietnam held “consultations” Dec. 23 on allegations that Hanoi deliberately devalued the dong against the dollar to the detriment of American commercial interests, it was disclosed in the Section 301 investigative report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative ruling out tariffs on Vietnamese goods in the final days of the Trump administration (see 2101150053). The report shared nothing about the substance of the previously unknown talks, held roughly a week before USTR convened a virtual hearing Dec. 29 into Vietnam’s alleged currency misbehavior. Agency representatives made no mention of the consultations during the hearing.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative won't impose Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on Vietnam imports in the remaining days of the Trump administration for Hanoi’s allegedly improper devaluation of the dong against the dollar, said the agency Friday. USTR did find Vietnam’s practices “actionable” under Section 301 and "will continue to evaluate all available options,” it said.
The Biden administration should prioritize addressing the threat of international discriminatory taxes against U.S. companies, the Computer & Communications Industry Association said Thursday. CCIA noted that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released reports in its Section 301 investigations into digital services taxes, concluding that DSTs in the U.K., Spain and Austria are “discriminatory against U.S. tech firms.” CCIA President Matt Schruers said: “Absent a proportionate response, U.S. exports will be unfairly singled out in other countries. Moreover, the proliferation of unilateral national taxes undermines the crucial work being done by the community of nations at the [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development], and risks the ability of negotiators to achieve consensus.”