Three automakers are changing their blanket coverage period for USMCA documentation, the Automotive Industry Action Group said in an emailed alert. Ford, GM and Honda had been issuing blanket documentation that covered the period July 1 to June 30 each year, as a result of the USMCA’s July 1, 2020, effective date. The three automakers will now switch to blanket periods that run for the calendar year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, the AIAG said. The change will “better align with other trade agreements” and “make it easier for suppliers to manage their trade documentation processes,” the AIAG said. The change will take effect for GM and Honda Jan. 1, 2024, and for Ford Jan. 1, 2025, the AIAG said.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is issuing a final rule listing the western fanshell (Cyprogenia aberti), a freshwater mussel species from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and the Ouachita fanshell (Cyprogenia cf. aberti), a freshwater mussel species from Arkansas and Louisiana, as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing includes a 4(d) rule for these species that prohibits importation and exportation without a permit. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect July 27.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to bring back its practice of imposing blanket restrictions on importation and exportation of species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the agency said in a notice released June 21.
The International Trade Commission has seen its workload outpace its staffing in recent years, according to several current and former commissioners. Speaking on a panel at Georgetown Law's annual International Trade Update, Chairman David Johanson said that the agency's workload keeps going up despite its small staff of just over 400 employees.
Major shipping line Maersk is mulling whether to appeal a recent order by the Federal Maritime Commission that fined its subsidiary, Hamburg Sud, nearly $10 million for violating the Shipping Act’s anti-retaliation provision and refusing to fulfill contract terms (see 2306080062), a spokesperson said. “We are reviewing the decision and considering next steps,” the person said in a June 9 email.
The International Trade Commission recently released Revision 7 to the 2023 Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which added subheadings 9903.81.82, 9903.81.83 and 9903.81.84. The subheading extends exclusions for a variety of derivative Ukrainian iron and steel products, if accompanied by certificates of origin, from 25% Section 232 tariffs under subheadings 9903.80.01 and 9903.80.03 entered after June 1.
The suspension of Section 232 duties on steel articles from Ukraine has been extended for another year and now includes steel from the EU melted and poured in Ukraine, CBP said as part of its guidance on June 5. The suspension is now set to expire on June 1, 2024. Importers must report the certificate of origin for Ukrainian steel or steel articles into the CBP’s Document Imaging System (DIS), the announcement said. If steel or steel deratives are not accompanied by certificates of origin from Ukraine, those items will be subject to the "25 percent ad valorem duty," the guidance said. Importers also must submit the steel mill certificate required by 19 CFR 141.89, the guidance said. The suspension of Section 232 duties is available in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the guidance said. The extension of the suspension was announced on May 31. The suspension was first announced on May 27, 2022, (see 2205310061).
Vessel-operating common carriers must file all service contracts and amendments to the Federal Maritime Commission's SERVCON system "no later than" 30 days "after the effective date," the FMC reminded industry June 2. A failure to file contracts could result in "fines or other penalties," the FMC said. Filers must make sure that they have the right effective date in SERVCON and that amendments to contracts have a "prospective effect," the FMC said. Contracts also cannot reference terms that are not "explicitly contained in the service contract, unless those terms are readily available to the parties and the Commission," the FMC said. The FMC also provided a link to a webpage for information on how to file service contracts.
The International Trade Commission recently released Revision 6 to the 2023 Harmonized Tariff Schedule, which added subheading 9903.88.68. The subheading extends exclusions for a variety of medical products from 7.5% and 25% Section 301 tariffs under subheadings 9903.88.01, 9903.88.02, 9903.88.03, and 9903.88.15 if entered between June 1 and October 1, 2023, as announced by the U.S. Trade Representative in May (see 2305120054).