The State Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative soon will hold the 15th meeting of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Environmental Affairs Council, the agencies said in a notice this week. State and USTR are accepting written comments ahead of the public portion of the meeting, which will be held Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to noon. Confirmations of attendance and comments are due by Oct. 2.

Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Canada recently announced antidumping and countervailing duty actions and decisions on certain products from mainland China, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Aug. 11.

Canada recently announced new, temporary import control measures on certain handguns, which will remain in place until proposed amendments to the country’s Firearms Act take effect Aug. 19. The measures will require importers of certain handguns to obtain an “individual import permit” before bringing the gun into the country, Canada said this month. Applications to import the “restricted handguns” will generally be denied except for certain circumstances, such as for law enforcement use.

CBP and the customs administration of Uruguay will recognize each other's trusted trader programs under a new mutual recognition arrangement that was signed July 19, the agency said the same day. CBP also signed a Joint Work Plan (JWP) with the customs administrations of Guatemala and Colombia that is meant to lead to a MRA between the U.S. and each of the other countries, it said.

Although tensions over Mexico's discouragement of foreign investment in its energy sector and the perennial problem of migration are likely to be front and center, panelists at a Wilson Center Mexico Institute program previewing the Mexican president's visit to Washington said nearshoring ought to be a focus as well.

Mexico recently postponed a planned tariff reduction on certain imported steel products, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 11. The country had planned a series of staggered duty reductions for the steel goods starting June 30, but Mexico delayed one of the dates to June 1, 2023, the report said. On that date, Mexico will reduce duties on certain steel products from 15% to 10%. Other planned duty reductions are expected to continue on schedule, HKTDC said.

Costa Rica recently enacted an amendment to its general customs law, which put in place new “trade facilitation tools,” improved customs procedures to stop smuggling and new fines, KPMG said July 5. The new trade facilitation tools include deferred payments, advance rulings and “accumulated declaration,” KPMG said. The country will also bolster its customs procedures to better “exercise control and inspection of trade,” KPMG said, and introduced a new $4,000 fine for certain violations.

Ahead of a meeting of the top trade officials of Canada, Mexico and the U.S., business groups from all three countries said each country is taking "steps that have undermined or risk undermining the benefits negotiated through enactment of the USMCA." The Business Roundtable, the Business Council of Canada and the Consejo Mexicano de Negocios did not specify what actions they find troubling. They did say that governments and business interests should work together since "[b]usinesses, workers, farmers, and families are navigating many challenges and risks, including rising costs due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages."

Brazil, Argentina and Canada recently announced antidumping duty actions and decisions on certain products from mainland China, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 6.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Deputy USTR Jayme White will travel to Vancouver, Canada, for meetings July 7-8 with Canada's trade minister Mary Ng and Mexico's Economy Secretary Tatiana Clouthier.