The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Oct. 13:
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs began a review of a Commerce Department proposed rule involving "connected software applications." The proposal falls within Commerce's efforts to secure the Information and Communications Technology and Services supply chain, according to the description. Some industry groups have voiced concern over the breadth of products that would be included within the ICTS supply chain rules (see 2104290065).
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Oct. 8:
The Commerce Department seeks public comments on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, paid by certain countries that exported softwood lumber to the U.S. Jan. 1 through June 30, 2021, it said in a notice released Oct. 7. The Softwood Lumber Act of 2008 requires Commerce to submit a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by nations exporting softwood lumber or softwood products to the U.S., including subsidies for stumpage. Commerce is seeking input on subsidies paid by countries whose exports composed at least 1% of total U.S. softwood imports by quantity, as classified under tariff schedule subheadings 4407.10.01, 4407.11.00, 4407.12.00, 4407.19.05, 4407.19.06 and 4407.19.10, the agency said. International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb information indicates that six countries -- Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Romania and Sweden -- exported that much softwood lumber to the U.S. during that six-month period. Comments are due Nov. 8.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Oct. 5:
The Commerce Department this week announced the official launch of its early alert system to better manage semiconductor supply chain disruptions (see 2109240029). The Microelectronics Early Alert System, which will be administered by the International Trade Administration, will pull from information voluntarily submitted by companies about ongoing supply chain issues, including COVID-19-related plant closures, which will help the government coordinate resources to address those problems. This may include “engagement” with foreign governments or other activities to “safely reopen these critical microelectronics and semiconductor facilities,” Commerce said. The agency hopes the alert system can help it better address real-time supply chain issues, especially those related to the global chip shortage.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Sept. 29:
European Union Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters that because of the work that needs to happen within the EU to get it done before retaliatory tariffs are scheduled to double, the U.S. and the EU need to reach an agreement by the beginning of November. Tariffs on the retaliation list are supposed to double on Dec. 1. Dombrovskis said this on Bloomberg TV; he also suggested to reporters that the import and export monitoring that was part of the removal of steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico is something that the EU is open to.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Sept. 28:
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board issued the following notices Sept. 23: