With a month left to go before the expiration of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act benefits program, some lobbyists are starting to worry that a renewal won't get done. Beth Hughes, vice president of trade and customs policy for the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said Aug. 31 that her organization has been contacting the trade staffers at the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee since April or May, reminding them that the expiration is coming up. About a month ago, the trade staffers from both chambers were telling her that while they are aware of the deadline, they wanted to make sure that the administration supports renewal.
Section 301 (too broad)
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
After the first high-level review of the phase one trade deal, the principals talked about progress and ensuring the success of the U.S.-China trade agreement, but some believe the happy talk can't obscure that China and the U.S. are disentangling their mutual dependency in tech goods and services. “There is a re-alignment that is happening in real time,” Rideau Potomac Strategy Group President Eric Miller said in an Aug. 25 phone interview, the day after the call. U.S. and Chinese trade officials reemphasized their commitment to the phase one agreement during the Aug. 24 call, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Aug. 17-23:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Aug. 24. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories from Aug. 17-21 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2007 on Aug. 21, containing 416 Automated Broker Interface records and 77 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, it said in a CSMS message. The update covers recent Section 301 tariff exclusions and the Section 232 tariffs on aluminum from Canada. Further information: Jennifer Keeling, Jennifer.L.Keeling@cbp.dhs.gov
More companies are seeking drawback payments as the economic slowdown has increased the importance of cash on hand, CBP officials and industry executives said during the American Association of Exporters and Importers virtual conference Aug. 20. “In general, I would say COVID's had a major impact on our businesses and it's also made our company even more focused on getting cash in the door,” said Kathleen Palma, senior executive for international trade compliance at GE. “One of the levers that our leadership has been looking at has been drawback.” At the same time, Palma expects that because the company is bringing in fewer shipments, that will be reflected in fewer drawback claims going forward.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: