The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments for its annual National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, which can cover goods, services, foreign direct investment and e-commerce access. Comments are due by Oct. 17, and should be submitted at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2024-0015.

The U.S. said that U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng talked dairy market access, trade in softwood lumber, and cooperation in USMCA. "Tai welcomed Canada’s recent announcement concerning electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum. The two ministers also discussed their shared commitment to strengthening North American supply chain resilience, especially for electric vehicles, and stressed the importance of collaboration on issues related to non-market policies and practices of other countries," the U.S. readout said. Canada's readout said: "Minister Ng raised the issue of U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber products and discussed the need to move forward in a mutually beneficial manner that would create greater predictability and stability in the forestry sectors of both countries."

With a dispute panel about to form at the World Trade Organization over China's complaints that Inflation Reduction Act tax provisions violate nondiscrimination principles (see 2403260036), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for comments on either the policies or China's assertions.

Tires made at Pirelli Neumaticos in Guanajuato, Mexico, will be subject to suspended liquidation, as the U.S. asks Mexico to investigate whether workers at that factory are being denied their labor rights.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is amending two exclusions from Section 301 tariffs to conform the tariff numbers in the descriptions of the exclusions to recent tariff schedule changes, it said in an Aug. 6 notice. The affected exclusions are found at U.S. Notes 20(vvv)(iv)(10) and 20(vvv)(iv)(11) to subchapter III of Chapter 99. The conforming amendments are effective July 1.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on how China and Russia are complying with their World Trade Organization commitments, including in its import regulation, export regulation, subsidies, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights enforcement, rule of law issues, and trade facilitation, or other issues.

Ecuador on Aug. 1 hosted the first in-person meeting of trade ministers of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, at which Western Hemisphere countries adopted a “Declaration on Good Practices for Pre-Arrival Processing” and made other trade commitments.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative seeks comments by Sept. 9 on how it should impose Section 201 safeguards on imports of polyester staple fiber, after the International Trade Commission in July found imports of the product are injuring U.S. industry. USTR said it may recommend tariffs or a tariff rate quota, export quota agreements, import licensing or other actions as part of the potential safeguard. Responses to comments are due Sept. 16. USTR will hold a public hearing Sept. 30, with requests to appear also due Sept. 9.

Eight former Volkswagen factory workers who were union representatives will be reinstated with back pay, and one fired worker will receive severance pay, according to a remediation plan for Volkswagen de México, the largest auto manufacturing plant in Mexico, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced July 30.

At the opening of the 2024 African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum, U.S. and African trade leaders emphasized the importance of reauthorizing AGOA before its expiration in 2025 and discussed changes they would like to see to it to increase utilization, strengthen supply chains and support economic growth.