Government Affairs Canada released information June 16 about tariff preference levels for imports and exports of textiles and clothing under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The agency issued one notice to importers and another to exporters covering the TPL for goods including “1) wool and cotton or man-made fibre apparel; 2) cotton or man-made fibre fabrics and made-up goods; and 3) cotton or man-made fibre spun yarn.” The agency also issued three other notices to exporters of TPL goods, including: wool and cotton or man-made fiber apparel; cotton or man-made fiber fabric and made-up goods; and spun yarn and metalized yarn.

Canada began accepting applications for “16 new supply-managed tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for dairy, chicken and eggs and egg products effective June 15,” Government Affairs Canada said in a notice. The new TRQs are part of the coming implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The agency also posted a set of frequently asked questions about the TRQ process under the agreement.

Chinese meat importers are concerned about customs delays after Beijing’s main port announced mandatory coronavirus tests for all incoming containers, Reuters reported June 17. The Tianjin port began testing batches for every arriving container this week, including all meat and seafood imports, the report said. Importers are worried the increased tests will lead to a backlog and fear other Chinese ports might adopt the measure as the country begins to see a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, the report said.

The State Department approved a potential military sale to Canada worth about $862.3 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 16. The sale includes 50 “Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II Tactical missiles” and related equipment. The prime contractors are Raytheon, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Boeing and Collins Aerospace.

The CEO of an Iranian financial services company pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions, the Justice Department said June 16. Payment24 CEO Seyed Sajjad Shahidian used the company to help Iranian citizens avoid U.S. financial sanctions, which included purchases of U.S. computer software, software licenses and computer servers. Shahidian, a business partner and Payment24 were charged in May (see 2005190022).

Any future Section 301 exclusion renewals will only last until the end of the year, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told the House Ways and Means Committee as he testified June 17 about the administration's trade agenda, adding that “they will decide what happens after that.”

The United Kingdom began trade negotiations and released negotiating objectives for Australia and New Zealand June 17. The U.K. said the launch of negotiations with both countries is a “logical step” toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The deals will help the U.K. “diversify our trade, increase the resilience of our supply chains and ensure the UK is less vulnerable to political and economic shocks in certain parts of the world,” Trade Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said it intends to temporarily add the synthetic opioid isotonitazene to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. DEA can issue a final order temporarily adding the substance after a 30-day period. If issued, the final order will take effect immediately and stay in effect for a three-year maximum, pending completion of a permanent scheduling order.

President Donald Trump on June 17 signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 (see 2005280011), authorizing sanctions against Chinese officials for human rights abuses involving the country’s Uighur population. China has criticized the bill, warning that it will likely lead to heightened trade tensions (see 1912040046).

The U.S. on June 17 sanctioned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, members of his regime and other people and entities under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (see 1912270034). In total, the Treasury Department and the State Department sanctioned 39 people and entities for supporting the Assad regime. The designations are the start of a “sustained campaign of economic and political pressure” against the regime, the State Department said.