Trade in products that are in severe shortage during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic accounted for 1.7% of world trade in 2019, according to a new report from the World Trade Organization. Although many of the medical products that are traded face no tariffs in many countries -- medicines rarely face a tariff, and they account for more than half the traded value -- there are goods that still face high tariffs. The WTO said the average applied tariff for hand soap is 17% and the average tariff on protective gear such as gowns, gloves and masks is 11.5%.

U.S. importers sourced 5.81 million Chinese smartphones in February, according to Census Bureau data accessed April 5 through the International Trade Commission’s DataWeb tool. It was the lowest monthly volume from China since customs began tracking smartphone imports in 2007, and vivid evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic's upending of the Chinese supply chain after the world’s first outbreak in Hubei province in January.

The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 30 - April 5:

U.S. importers sourced 5.81 million Chinese smartphones in February, said Census Bureau data accessed Sunday through the International Trade Commission’s DataWeb tool. It was the lowest monthly volume from China since customs began tracking smartphone imports in 2007, and vivid evidence of COVID-19's upending of the Chinese supply chain after the world’s first outbreak in Hubei province in January.

Trade in products that are in severe shortage during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic accounted for 1.7% of world trade in 2019, according to a new report from the World Trade Organization. Although many of the medical products that are traded face no tariffs in many countries -- medicines rarely face a tariff, and they account for more than half the traded value -- there are goods that still face high tariffs. The WTO said the average applied tariff for hand soap is 17% and the average tariff on protective gear such as gowns, gloves and masks is 11.5%.

The Canadian Parliament is moving the successor to NAFTA along, so that a March ratification vote is still looking likely, news from Canada says. While the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be reviewed by the agriculture, natural resources and industry/science/technology committees, not just the trade committee, the other committees only have until Feb. 25 for that review, a report from ipolitics said.

The Canadian Parliament is moving the successor to NAFTA along, so that a March ratification vote is still looking likely, news from Canada says. While the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be reviewed by the agriculture, natural resources and industry/science/technology committees, not just the trade committee, the other committees only have until Feb. 25 for that review, a report from ipolitics said.

CBP published notices in the Customs Bulletin revoking or modifying numerous rulings in 2019. These ruling revocations and modifications also apply to “any treatment previously accorded by CBP to substantially identical transactions.” When revoking or modifying a ruling, CBP is required by 19 USC 1625(c) to publish notice of the proposed action, and allow a period—generally one month—for comment before finalizing the action. An importer’s failure to advise CBP of “substantially identical transactions” or of a ruling not identified by CBP in these notices “may raise issues of reasonable care on the part of the importer or its agents for importations of merchandise subsequent to the effective date of this notice.” Rulings CBP revoked or modified in 2019 are as follows:

The following is a selection of articles that appeared in International Trade Today in 2019 covering ruling letters. CBP frequently publishes rulings months after they are issued, so these articles are included based on the dates the articles were published, rather than the date the ruling letter was issued.

The Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) was updated on Jan. 28. The following headquarters rulings not involving carriers were modified on Jan. 27 or 28, according to CBP: