Despite the Trump administration's pause (see 1805200002) in adding Section 301 tariffs on goods from China, it's too early to end efforts toward product exemptions, Baker & McKenzie lawyer Ted Murphy said in a blog post. "While this is a positive development, it is also subject to change," he said. "As a result, for now, we are recommending that companies continue to pursue exclusions just in case."

Despite the Trump administration's pause (see 1805200003) in adding Section 301 tariffs on goods from China, it's too early to end efforts toward product exemptions, Baker & McKenzie lawyer Ted Murphy said in a May 21 blog post. "While this is a positive development, it is also subject to change," he said. "As a result, for now, we are recommending that companies continue to pursue exclusions just in case."

The Trump administration's decision to stop the implementation of Section 301 tariffs while the U.S. and China formalize a deal has left many wondering which country is coming out ahead. China economics expert Derek Scissors, an American Enterprise Institute scholar who briefly advised the Trump administration on the Section 301 investigation, thinks it's too early to say. "I didn’t think he would agree to a deal where we have nothing on the table. I’m shocked at that. I assume more is coming," he said. "Right now this is an IOU for a deal."

The Trump administration's decision to stop the implementation of Section 301 tariffs while the U.S. and China formalize a deal has left many wondering which country is coming out ahead. China economics expert Derek Scissors, an American Enterprise Institute scholar who briefly advised the Trump administration on the Section 301 investigation, thinks it's too early to say. "I didn’t think he would agree to a deal where we have nothing on the table. I’m shocked at that. I assume more is coming," he said. "Right now this is an IOU for a deal."

Proposed new tariffs on products from China will be put "on hold while we try to execute the framework" of a deal with China, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a May 20 interview on Fox News Sunday. "I'm pleased to report that we've made very meaningful progress and we've agreed on a framework, which is important to understand, and the framework includes their agreement to substantially reduce the trade deficit by increasing their purchasing of goods," he said.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau resolved an investigation into whether 19-year-old Cameron Thurston violated Communications Act sections 301 and 303 by operating without authorization on spectrum licensed to the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), said a Wednesday order. Thurston pleaded guilty in court earlier this year, but due to his age, the nature of offenses and his willingness to tell Michigan State Police how he gained access, the court didn’t convict and instead named him a “youthful trainee” under Michigan statute, the bureau said. Under the consent decree, Thurston promised not to operate on or interfere with MPSCS, surrendered his amateur radio license and agreed not to apply for another license for two years. Thurston agreed to pay a $3,000 civil penalty, but would pay $17,000 for future such violations.

The FCC Enforcement Bureau resolved an investigation into whether 19-year-old Cameron Thurston violated Communications Act sections 301 and 303 by operating without authorization on spectrum licensed to the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), said a Wednesday order. Thurston pleaded guilty in court earlier this year, but due to his age, the nature of offenses and his willingness to tell Michigan State Police how he gained access, the court didn’t convict and instead named him a “youthful trainee” under Michigan statute, the bureau said. Under the consent decree, Thurston promised not to operate on or interfere with MPSCS, surrendered his amateur radio license and agreed not to apply for another license for two years. Thurston agreed to pay a $3,000 civil penalty, but would pay $17,000 for future such violations.

The Trump administration’s proposal to impose 25 percent Trade Act Section 301 tariffs on finished flat-panel TVs imported from China “will not be effective in addressing” China’s alleged unfair trading practices, said Best Buy Chief Merchandising Officer Mike Mohan in written testimony that the company furnished us from Mohan’s appearance Monday at the U.S. Trade Representative office’s hearing on the proposed tariffs (see 1805150069)

Potential tariffs under the Section 301 investigation should be considered "a means to an end," said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which represents U.S. steelworkers. "The end result is not to have tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, that are escalating and spiraling, but they should result in some sort of change," Paul said as a panelist at a May 17 Washington International Trade Association event. "Tariffs can't be the only solution. It's not easy to win a trade war, it's not easy at all, but we shouldn't back away from it, because if we do, we're really playing into Beijing's hands."

The Section 301 tariffs list should not be used to "pick winners and losers in the free market," the American Apparel and Footwear Association announced just after the National Council of Textile Organizations testified to a review panel that it wants clothing added to the tariff list. In 2017, the U.S. imported nearly $100 billion more in apparel and textiles than it exported, the NCTO said in its submission to the panel, and Chinese exports in these categories account for about 12 percent of the overall bilateral trade deficit. China's exports are responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of mill and garment factory jobs, they said, and "the remaining vestiges" of the apparel industry won't ask for antidumping investigations because they are held hostage by their customers, who import the bulk of what they sell, the submission said.