The Commerce Department is launching a pair of Section 232 investigations into imports of drones and polysilicon from China, according to notices released July 14. Comments are due on Aug. 6 for polysilicon and its derivatives and for drones and their parts.
The following lawsuit was filed recently at the Court of International Trade:
Power supply and cables importer PowerTec Solutions agreed on July 8 to the government’s partial motion to dismiss the importer's case seeking a duty refund (PowerTec Solutions International v. United States, CIT # 22-00322).
Five different groups of amici on July 8 filed briefs in the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. All five briefs argued against the tariffs, though they differed in their specific approach or legal arguments (V.O.S. Selections v. Donald J. Trump, Fed. Cir. # 25-1812).
President Donald Trump posted a letter to Brazil's president, telling him: "Due in part to Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans," Brazilian exports will face a 50% reciprocal tariff on Aug. 1.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau ordered the Hampton Inn and Suites in Renton, Washington, to explain its alleged improper use of a part 90 signal booster that was found to interfere with 806-817 MHz band communications by the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network. “Unauthorized or improper operation of signal boosters creates a danger of interference to important radio communications services, including communications of first responders and violates the Commission’s rules and section 301 of the Communications Act,” said a notice in Monday’s Daily Digest.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with CNBC on July 3 that the Vietnam deal is "finalized in principle" and that 20% will replace the current 10% reciprocal tariff. As for which goods will be subject to 40% tariffs, Bessent didn't add any clarity. "A huge amount of the trade that comes from Vietnam is what’s called transshipment from China," he said. "We’ll see what happens with the transshipment."
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated between June 17 and June 23 with the following headquarters rulings (ruling revocations and modifications will be detailed elsewhere in a separate article as they are announced in the Customs Bulletin):
Importer Cyber Power System's accessory cables are general "power cables," not "telecommunications cables," the U.S. said in a cross-motion for judgment June 27 (Cyber Power Systems (USA) v. U.S., CIT # 21-00200).
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of June 23-29: