Imports are not covered by a 90-day extension to deadlines for excise taxes payable to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a CBP spokeswoman said by email. “Federal excise taxes are NOT being deferred for imported TTB products,” she said. TTB recently postponed by 90 days all due dates for paying excise taxes to TTB on wine, beer, distilled spirits, tobacco products, cigarette papers and tubes, firearms, and ammunition (see 2004020061).

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is postponing due dates for payments of federal excise taxes to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s still unclear whether imported products will benefit from the extension. “Effective immediately, all due dates for paying Federal excise taxes to TTB on wine, beer, distilled spirits, tobacco products, cigarette papers and tubes, firearms, and ammunition are postponed 90 days from the due date otherwise prescribed,” TTB said in a guidance posted March 31. But the extension applies only to excise tax payable to TTB, and the guidance directs importers to contact CBP for information about imported products.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is finalizing changes to its regulations on labeling and advertising of wine, distilled spirits and malt beverages. The agency’s final rule adopts “certain liberalizing and clarifying changes that were proposed, and that could be implemented quickly to provide industry members greater flexibility,” it said. The final rule takes effect May 4.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hasn't talked specifically to cargo airlines' executives, though he said with regard to passenger airlines “I've had conversations around the clock with all the airline CEOs.” Mnuchin spoke to reporters after leaving the Senate Republicans luncheon. “Essential travel, we want to have airlines that operate, maybe on a reduced basis. Airlines have a short-term liquidity issue, and absolutely, that's something we talked about today” with Senate Republicans. “I've also spoken to the [House] Speaker about that,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, testifying on the president's budget at a hearing Feb. 12, was asked repeatedly about what the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development might do on taxing digital companies, precluding France's digital services tax.

The Treasury Department announced that China is a currency manipulator after the Chinese yuan fell to its lowest level compared to the dollar in 11 years.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposed some changes to the labeling requirements and container standards for malt beverages and distilled spirits. The agency said in a notice that it plans to "eliminate all but minimum and maximum standards of fill for distilled spirits containers and thus eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements and provide consumers broader purchasing options." The proposal would also provide that distilled spirits and malt beverages may be labeled with a U.S. standard of measure in addition to the "mandatory metric measure." While such labeling is already allowed, "it is not explicitly stated in current regulations," the agency said. The agency also proposed to eliminate all but a minimum standard of fill for wine containers. Comments on the proposals are due Aug. 30.

Brent James McIntosh, the general counsel at the Department of the Treasury, has been nominated by the White House to be undersecretary for international affairs, replacing David Malpass, who resigned. Malpass participated in many rounds of China trade negotiations.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is increasing the maximum penalty for violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act, it said in a notice. The ABLA requires a health warning statement on alcoholic beverages manufactured, imported or bottled for distribution in the U.S. or for units of the U.S. armed forces outside the country. The maximum penalty was previously $20,251 per day. Now TTB is increasing it to $21,039 per day to account for inflation. The new maximum penalty takes effect April 11.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is extending until June 26 the period for comments on a proposed overhaul of its regulations on the labeling and advertising of wine, distilled spirits and malt beverages. The Nov. 26 proposed rule would reorganize the regulations “to simplify and clarify regulatory standards,” and would also incorporate requirements currently set by guidance and policy documents directly into the regulations (see 1811230015). Comments on the proposal were originally due March 26.