President Donald Trump extended exemptions from Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum until June 1 for the European Union, Canada and Mexico. He also announced the U.S. has reached agreements in principle on exemptions from tariffs for Brazil, Argentina and Australia, alongside a final agreement on steel tariffs with South Korea.
Benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) mostly won't apply to goods subject to recently implemented tariffs on solar panels, washing machines, aluminum and steel, said CBP in on its website. President Donald Trump imposed new Section 201 safeguard tariffs on imports of large residential washers and solar cells and modules in January and Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum in March.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released a proposed list of tariffs on some $50 billion worth of Chinese imports. "Sectors subject to the proposed tariffs include industries such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics, and machinery," said the USTR in a news release.
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum March 22 instructing the U.S. Trade Representative to ready a list of goods imported from China that will be subject to tariffs because of that country's policies of forced technology transfer, forced joint ventures, intellectual property theft and technology licensing restrictions.
The White House released the full text, including annexes, of Presidential Proclamation 9704 and Presidential Proclamation 9705 setting across-the-board Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel, respectively. The proclamations create new subheadings 9903.85.01 and 9903.80.01 for aluminum and steel products covered by the tariffs, as well as new notes to chapter 99 detailing the scope of the Section 232 actions.
CBP doesn't expect the Treasury Department to approve proposed regulations for coming changes to drawback procedures before the Feb. 24 effective date, a CBP spokesman said by email. The changes are the result of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, which allowed for two years of preparation before the drawback overhaul became effective. "CBP will, however, accept TFTEA drawback claims in" ACE, "with processing to occur once the regulations are finalized," the spokesman said.
CBP will split the ACE deployment planned for Dec. 9 into two separate deployments, said Monica Crockett, CBP director-entry summary, accounts and revenue during a Dec. 4 conference call. The agency will push its deployment of statements to Jan. 6, while still deploying e214 foreign-trade zones admissions in ACE and manufacturer ID creation on Dec. 9, she said.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America filed a petition for reconsideration with the Federal Communications Commission over recent agency rule changes involving radiofrequency device imports.
CBP issued a long awaited final rule to make various changes to the in-bond regulations. "The changes in this rule, including the automation of the in-bond process, will enhance CBP’s ability to regulate and track in-bond merchandise and ensure that in-bond merchandise is properly entered or exported," it said. The final rule includes several changes from the proposal, which CBP issued in 2012.
CBP will postpone until Dec. 9 the mandatory use date for e214 foreign-trade zones admissions in ACE, Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference on Sept. 11 in Washington. The delay of the deadline, previously set for Sept. 16, comes in response to concerns from industry, McAleenan said. CBP will make a formal announcement on Sept. 11, he said.