The head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam said businesses there don't know whether U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will conclude that Vietnam has been a trade cheat through currency manipulation but not put a tariff number on it; put a tariff number but not start collecting; or implement tariffs before the new administration takes over Jan. 20.

Provisions for new tariffs on certain goods from France were added to the tariff schedule the evening of Jan. 6, said an International Trade Commission spokesperson. New subheading 9903.90.01 and corresponding U.S. Note 22 implement the Section 301 tariffs announced by the U.S. Trade Representative in July in retaliation for France’s digital services tax. The additional 25% duty applies to French handbags, soaps and cosmetics. The new tariff provisions took effect Jan. 6, according to the ITC's change record.

CBP was correct when it found against an importer's use of price paid to a related factory in China, rather than the price paid by the importer's customers, the agency found in a Sept. 9 ruling. The director of the Industrial and Manufacturing Materials Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) requested an internal advice ruling after Mayer Brown asked for a further review of protest on behalf of the importer, World Wide Packaging. The import entry involved two line items of “plastic tubes used for personal care products, which were the subject of purchase orders from two unrelated U.S. customers of WWP.”

On the day that additional 25% tariffs were scheduled to go into effect on French handbags and cosmetics, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and CBP made no public statement about the tariffs' fate, leaving importers in the dark about what they should do.

The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 28 - Jan. 3:

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Dec. 28-31 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

The International Trade Commission posted the 2021 Preliminary Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of GSP benefits for many Thai products, as well as the redesignation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as eligible for African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits, and the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act until 2020. New statistical breakouts are also added for many medical products, including those used in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as for industrial turbines and hemp seed, among other goods. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories published in 2020 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference numbers.

The additional Section 301 tariffs on goods from the European Union announced late Dec. 30 (see 2012300062) will take effect “with respect to products that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 12, 2021,” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a notice. USTR said in a Dec. 30 news release that it would increase the tariffs as part of the ongoing World Trade Organization dispute over Airbus subsidies. The announcement disrupts settlement talks and “exceeds the amount of retaliation authorised by the WTO,” a European Commission spokesperson emailed. “The Commission is analysing the data in detail and will look at all options available on how to respond.”

The International Trade Commission posted the 2021 Preliminary Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The new HTS implements the removal of GSP benefits for many Thai products, as well as the redesignation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as eligible for AGOA, and the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act until 2020. New statistical breakouts are also added for many medical products, including those used in the treatment of COVID-19, as well as for industrial turbines and hemp seed, among other goods. Changes take effect Jan. 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.