The Bureau of Industry and Security is extending a public comment period for an information collection involving Section 232 investigation requests. BIS said that, after receiving a request, it investigates the “effects of imports of specific commodities” on U.S. national security, including by distributing surveys, and may provide those findings to the president for possible adjustments to import tariffs. The collection helps BIS “account for the public burden associated with the surveys distributed to determine the impact on national security.” The agency had requested public comments in April and is now allowing for another 30 days of comments.
The Bureau of Industry and Security has sent a rule for interagency review that could propose new import restrictions on certain Chinese connected vehicle parts. BIS sent the proposed rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Aug. 20. An agency official in July said BIS was planning to release the rule sometime this month (see 2407170043 and 2408050044), building on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking released in February (see 2402290034).
The Bureau of Industry and Security has further defined the scope of its upcoming proposed rule restricting imports of certain Chinese connected vehicle parts, Reuters reported this week.
The Bureau of Industry and Security plans to release a rule next month to propose new restrictions on certain Chinese connected vehicle imports, including certain software, sensors and cameras used in those cars, said Alan Estevez, BIS undersecretary. The rule, which would build on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking released by the agency in February (see 2402290034), is expected “sometime in August,” Estevez said during an event this week hosted by the Aspen Institute.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is preparing to launch a survey of the pharmaceutical industry to gain a better understanding of the “supply chain network that underpins U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities,” the agency said in a July 9 news release. BIS will survey hundreds of U.S. manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and customers involved in the U.S. “active pharmaceutical ingredient industrial base” in part to identify supply chain vulnerabilities and better plan for potential supply shortages. The Department of Health and Human Services requested the survey.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is eliminating 12 general approved exclusions from Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, it said in a final rule released May 17.
Automakers and their trade groups cautioned the Bureau of Industry and Security to tailor its restrictions narrowly -- and allow a phase-in -- if they want manufacturers to stop buying information technology components from China for cars with advanced features, including electric cars.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
President Joe Biden said a regulatory effort from the Commerce Department to curtail the use of software, sensors and cameras in automobiles made by Chinese firms is one of the actions the administration is taking "to make sure the future of the auto industry will be made here in America with American workers."