CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative never publicly addressed the request of two dozen trade associations and business groups, including CTA and the National Retail Federation, to delay Tuesday’s Section 301 investigative hearing into Vietnam’s alleged currency manipulation practices to allow them time to digest the Treasury Department’s Dec. 16 report blasting Vietnam’s trade behavior (see 2012230008).

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announced late Dec. 30 (see 2012300062) will take effect “with respect to products that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 12, 2021,” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a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.”

Witnesses overwhelmingly argued against tariffs on Vietnamese imports, during a virtual hearing Dec. 29 hosted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, with numerous business representatives saying it was the choice not to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership, not any kind of currency issue, that makes it harder for U.S. exports to penetrate Vietnam. Trade groups representing importers from Vietnam noted that their members moved sourcing from China to Vietnam precisely to avoid Section 301 tariffs, and some said putting comparable tariffs on Vietnamese imports would cause companies to relocate back to China.

CTA views the World Trade Organization as “a more suitable option” than a Section 301 investigation for adjudicating allegations that Vietnam is deliberately undervaluing the dong against the dollar to gain an unfair economic advantage over the U.S., said Sage Chandler, CTA vice president-international trade, at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's virtual hearing Tuesday on what remedies it should impose if the investigation finds Vietnam’s alleged currency misbehavior is an actionable Section 301 offense.

The U.S. Trade Representative will impose additional Section 301 tariffs on goods from the European Union as part of the ongoing World Trade Organization dispute over Airbus subsidies, USTR said in an emailed news release Dec. 30. Products subject to the additional tariffs include “aircraft manufacturing parts from France and Germany, certain non-sparkling wine from France and Germany, and certain cognac and other grape brandies from France and Germany,” USTR said. The release didn't say when the changes would take effect.

The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Dec. 21-27:

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Dec. 21-24 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

Witnesses overwhelmingly argued against tariffs on Vietnamese imports, during a virtual hearing Dec. 29 hosted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, with numerous business representatives saying it was the choice not to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership, not any kind of currency issue, that makes it harder for U.S. exports to penetrate Vietnam. Trade groups representing importers from Vietnam noted that their members moved sourcing from China to Vietnam precisely to avoid Section 301 tariffs, and some said putting comparable tariffs on Vietnamese imports would cause companies to relocate back to China.

The 22-person witness list for Tuesday’s virtual Section 301 investigative hearing into allegations that Vietnam deliberately undervalued its currency to thwart U.S. economic growth is stacked heavily with people on record opposing remedial tariffs on Vietnamese imports. Prehearing submissions in docket USTR-2020-0037 foretell that some will also testify that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is singling out the wrong country for Section 301 currency manipulation review and is doing so for ulterior motives.