Trade groups and major companies that make electric cars, light trucks and heavy trucks told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that domestic industry is not ready to take over from Chinese suppliers of graphite, artificial graphite and electric vehicle battery cells on the timelines the Section 301 tariff modifications propose.

Witnesses at the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility review hearing contradicted an earlier comment from the Ethiopian government, which argued that Tigray has been relatively peaceful since November 2022, and basic services such as electricity, water, phone service, education and healthcare have been restored in the region. "Following widespread and substantial reforms of the food assistance structure, which allowed for enhanced oversight and beneficiary selection, USAID resumed food assistance across Ethiopia," Ethiopian representatives wrote.

Sandler Travis & Rosenberg, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America's Educational Institute, Global Trade Professionals Alliance/E-Merchants Trade Council, International Compliance Professionals Association and TrüTrade Solutions have been chosen by CBP to provide continuing education hours for customs brokers renewing their licenses.

CBP Executive Director for Trade Policy and Programs Brandon Lord told an audience during a Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee meeting that its work groups had offered "very thoughtful, forward-leaning recommendations," and that he was particularly excited about their new vision of a customs brokers exam.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the content of a rule on connected vehicles made by Chinese companies hasn't been decided yet, but she said the more she learns about the ability for surveillance by advanced cars, the more it scares her.

A union request that the government impose a fee on Chinese-made vessels docking at U.S. ports via a Section 301 action confronting subsidization in China's shipbuilding sector (see 2404170029) was mentioned favorably by Democrats and Republicans at a House Select Committee on China hearing that covered Chinese efforts in that sector, semiconductors and drones.

The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee Broker Modernization Working Group has reached consensus and is recommending, among other things, that the Customs Broker License Exam be offered at least quarterly; that the exam should not vary in its difficulty: and that CBP consider whether it's possible to offer the exam, which has a remote-test-taking option, on demand.

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Almost 20 trade groups and a handful of companies disagreed on how to ensure supply chain resilience -- many arguing that liberalizing trade with allies is crucial to reduce the likelihood of shortages, or weaponization, but others asserted that friendshoring will undermine domestic production already under stress.

The official proclamation implementing an announcement in mid-May on changes to the 14.25% tariffs on imported solar panels and the tariff rate quotas on imported cells was issued by the White House on June 21.