The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's senior vice president for international policy said that when the trade ministers for the G-20 nations meet in India later this week, they should pledge not to hike tariffs, impose new export restraints or add digital trade barriers.
India's Ministry of Finance on Aug. 19 imposed a 40% export duty on onions effective immediately, according to an unofficial translation. Onions, traded under tariff item subheading 0703 10, will be hit with the duty, which is set to expire Dec. 31. The Indian government said it was "necessary in the public interest" to levy the tax.
Mexico raised tariffs for imports of steel and other items from non-free trade agreement countries, the country announced Aug 16, according to an unofficial translation. The increased tariffs -- which could subject certain products to duties "of up to 25%," the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said -- will apply to merchandise from certain “strategic industries,” including steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, aluminum, tires, plastics, glass and ceramics.
New Indian import restrictions on computers and other electronics could “significantly disrupt” trade, including U.S. exports, eight industry groups wrote in a letter this week to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The groups -- representing the American semiconductor, electronics, manufacturing and retail industries -- asked the Biden administration to raise the issue with the Indian government “as a matter of urgency.”
A World Trade Organization dispute panel rejected China's claim that its retaliatory tariffs in response to Section 232 tariffs were justified because the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs were a safeguard in disguise.
Russia will raise its export duty on oil by $4.50 to $21.60 per ton starting Sept. 1, the Russian Finance Ministry announced. According to the state-owned news agency Tass, the export duty per ton will amount to $6.40 on light oil products and oils, $21.40 on dark oil products, $6.40 on commercial gasoline and $11.70 on straight-run gasoline. The duty for liquefied natural gas will remain at zero, while the coke duty will be $1.30 per ton.
The Federal Maritime Commission is investigating the Mediterranean Shipping Company for violating U.S. shipping regulations, including by using “overbroad” merchant clauses in its bills of lading, mishandling fees and failing to publish tariff rates. The agency may fine MSC if it determines the carrier violated the Shipping Act.
The World Trade Organization released panel reports covering two disputes between the U.S. and India after both countries came to a mutual solution. The countries in July told the Dispute Settlement Body they reached a solution in the disputes, including one disagreement over U.S. tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum and another involving India's imposition of additional duties on certain goods from the U.S. The mutually agreed solution came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in June and was announced in conjunction with the resolution of other spats between the nations at the WTO (see 2307190064).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on how Russia is complying with its World Trade Organization commitments, including in its import regulation, export regulation, subsidies, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights enforcement, rule of law issues, and trade facilitation, or other issues.
The U.S. needs to better protect agricultural technology from Chinese theft and push Beijing to reduce tariffs on U.S. crops, American farmers told lawmakers last week. Speaking during a panel in Iowa organized by the House Select Committee on China, at least one farmer said U.S. trade policy should focus more on securing free trade deals, which would help exporters become less reliant on China.