U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh held their first meeting with the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy, and, according to a summary provided of the meeting, held "robust discussions" on USMCA implementation, digital trade, and "how China’s non-market policies undermine American workers and domestic sectors. Ambassador Tai reiterated her commitment to re-aligning the U.S.-China bilateral trade relationship in a way that strengthens the American middle class and allows our workers and businesses to compete fairly."
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Oct. 18 on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article)::
Heavy truck parts destined for a U.S. assembly plant cannot qualify for USMCA benefits under tariff shift rules, CBP told Mitsubishi Electric's Automotive division. Under USMCA, the original equipment starter must have 60% North American content under a net cost method, or 70% under a transaction value method; that percentage will go up in July 2024 to 64% or 74%, respectively, and 70% or 80% in 2027.
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Sept. 24. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
Mexico will use the Electronic Certification System (eCERT) for transmitting certificates of eligibility for textile and apparel entries that are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under a tariff preference level, CBP said. The USMCA requires member countries to use "an electronic system for the transmission of a certificate of eligibility and other documentation related to TPLs for goods imported into the" U.S., CBP said. "Specified quantities of certain textile and apparel imports from Mexico that are eligible for preferential tariff treatment under a TPL must have a valid certificate of eligibility with a corresponding eCERT transmission in order for an importer to claim the preferential duty rate," it said. Upon entry, the goods "must match the eCERT transmission of a certificate of eligibility from Mexico in order for an importer to claim the preferential duty rate," it said. "The transition to eCERT will not change the TPL filing process or requirements. Under this process, importers will continue to provide the certificate of eligibility numbers from Mexico in the same manner as when currently filing entry summaries with CBP. The format of the numbers of certificates of eligibility will not change as a result of the transition to eCERT. CBP will reject entry summaries that claim a preferential duty rate under a TPL when filed without a valid certificate of eligibility in eCERT."
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register Sept. 28 on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):
The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated Sept. 24. The following headquarters rulings were modified recently, according to CBP:
A panel of trade experts said managed trade doesn't have to be a dirty word, but that the conflation of national security and economic security is dangerous. The Washington International Trade Association decided to host a discussion on managed trade after an essay was published by Edward Alden called, "Free Trade Is Dead. Risky ‘Managed Trade’ Is Here."
CBP released details on the timelines used for responding to allegations of forced labor in a supply chain, in a July 30 report to Congress posted to the Department of Homeland Security website Sept. 22. The timelines “generally reflect the lifecycle of CBP responding to a petition; however, responding to a petition is a law enforcement investigation and not a linear administrative process,” DHS said. As a result, “extraordinarily complicated investigations, case prioritization, available resources, and other significant factors may affect the actual timeline of certain case,” DHS said.
A day after the White House's primary spokesperson said that if there's an opportunity to renegotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that's a discussion the U.S. could join, a former White House trade negotiator said the path to reentering the TPP is so steep that he doesn't think it's likely in the next few years.