Members of the Federal Maritime Commission are traveling to the Panama Canal this week to examine the supply chain aftereffects from a recent drought (see 2401180050). The FMC also will review the measures the Panamanian government and the Panama Canal Authority “have identified to improve the infrastructure of the Canal and make it more resilient to any future disruptions, particularly droughts.”
Canadian traders should prepare for increased scrutiny from the country’s customs agents for a range of imports in the coming months, and should consider conducting an “internal compliance review” to make sure they’re complying with all duties and trade laws, Baker McKenzie said in a July 25 client alert.
The Court of International Trade denied Seko Customs Brokerage's bids for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against its temporary suspension from the Entry Type 86 Test and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programs. Judge Claire Kelly found Seko already received all the relief it sought when it was conditionally reinstated into the programs and told why it was originally suspended.
Industry players and a law professor argued that the International Trade Commission's power to stop imports that are found to be infringing on domestic patents has become a form of blackmail by foreign companies against domestic companies, and that its original reason for being is no longer true.
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 Commerce Department issued its final determinations in the antidumping duty investigations on mattresses from India (A-533-919), Kosovo (A-803-001), Mexico (A-201-859) and Spain (A-469-826). Cash deposit rates set in these final determinations take effect July 22.
The Treasury Department published its spring 2024 regulatory agenda for CBP. The agenda continues to list a proposed rule to amend CBP’s regulations on the entry of “certain low-value shipments not exceeding $800 that are eligible for an administrative exemption from duty and tax.”
The Hyshield brand plant fertilizer produced by British Columbia-based Sipco Innovations ultimately should have China as its country of origin for marking purposes. However, the country of origin for the Hyshield product is Canada for Section 301 purposes, and it qualifies for preferential tariff treatment under USMCA, according to a May 8 ruling addressed to CBP’s Pharmaceuticals, Health and Chemicals Center of Excellence and Expertise in Newark, New Jersey, and recently released by CBP.
CBP has released its July 17 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 58, No. 28). Among a number of general notices published in the bulletin are a notice of issuance of a final determination concerning a DisplayPort male-to-female video adapter (see 2407010033), and a notice of the revocation of nine ruling letters and the revocation of treatment relating to the tariff classification of wireless headphone sets from China, Mexico and an undisclosed country of origin (see 2404240061).
Dan Ujczo, senior counsel in Thompson Hine's trade practice, said he expects a second Biden or Trump administration to say it won't authorize USMCA to continue for another 16 years in 2026, when the trade pact is up for review.