The government is considering how quickly it can get through a legislative fix to U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement implementation provisions that allow for duty refunds on post-importation preference claims, but not a refund of merchandise processing fees, said Maya Kumar, director of textiles and trade agreements at CBP. She said on May 22 that CBP officials “do not think that was the intent of the law.” Kumar, who was speaking at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones virtual conference, said that if it's at all possible, CBP would like to see that fixed by Congress before USMCA's entry into force July 1. “We’re trying to work with [the office of the U.S. Trade Representative] as well as Congress and see how quickly they can do that,” she said.

A new law being considered by China’s National People's Congress could trigger U.S. export controls and cause the U.S. to revoke Hong Kong’s special customs status, said Jude Blanchette, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The new national security law, which is expected to be proposed during China’s current NPC session, would criminalize “treason, sedition and secession,” Blanchette said, and will likely cause the U.S. to enact measures under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which passed in November 2019 (see 1911290012).

The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding 33 companies and governmental bodies to the Entity List for their roles in military and proliferation activities and human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang province, BIS said May 22. The two agency press releases do not mention an effective date.

The executive director of the Port of Portland, a port that's dominated by exports, said tonnage is down, and while he thinks there will be some rebound later this year, he expects it will take two to three years to fully return to normal. Curtis Robinhold was speaking on a Washington International Trade Association webinar May 21. He said that grain exports are down 10% and automotive goods are down much more sharply -- by 30%. That includes parts for Toyota, Hyundai and Honda that are imported and exports of completed Ford vehicles, he said.

The World Customs Organization issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:​​

Austria recently announced measures to support its economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including tax exemptions for certain imports and reduced value-added tax rates, according to a May 15 KPMG post. The measures include a customs procedure that “provides a tax exemption for imports concerning delivery of another [European Union] country,” KPMG said. The country will also eliminate the VAT rate for supplies of protective masks supplied after April 13 and before Aug. 1, 2020.

China will simplify customs procedures for imports of iron ore, according to an unofficial translation of a May 20 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The measures aim to deregulate inspections of iron ore imports and “optimize the port business environment” by conducting on-site inspections and quarantine procedures, China said. The measure will take effect June 1.

China announced changes to electronic manifest submissions for inbound and outbound cargo on freight trains, according to an unofficial translation of a May 29 notice from China’s General Administration of Customs. The measures impact filing procedures, time limits for submissions of documents, declaration requirements, merging manifests and more. The changes will take effect July 1, China said.

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has completed an interagency review of an interim final rule that will consolidate certain definitions within the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The review was completed May 20.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security postponed its annual Washington, D.C., export control conference (see 2004300049) to July 26-28, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BIS said May 21. The conference was scheduled to run June 29 through July 1. Washington has stay-at-home orders in place through at least June 8. The agency previously canceled its April Los Angeles conference (see 2003120045) and postponed a series of export control seminars (see 2004140030).