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.
NEW YORK -- Apparel import compliance professionals more used to thinking about bills of lading and purchase orders than the major questions doctrine had their hopes raised -- and dashed -- at the annual U.S. Fashion Industry Association conference.
The first class-action lawsuit against the president’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs was filed Nov. 4 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Smirk & Dagger Games v. Donald J. Trump, D.D.C. # 1:25-03857).
Two Trump appointees, along with the three liberal justices, had sharp questions for the Trump administration's advocate as the Supreme Court held a nearly three-hour hearing on the constitutionality of tariffs imposed around the world under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Pete Mento is joining consultancy Baker Tilly to “lead and develop” its customs and global trade practice, he said on LinkedIn. The practice will “be focused on client solutions to manage and reduce tariffs with a strict eye toward compliance and technology driven solutions,” he said.
Software developer Descartes found that the majority of the 434 freight forwarders and customs brokers it surveyed globally are taking a wait-and-see approach to company growth amid worldwide macroeconomic uncertainties, according to the company's annual Forwarder/Broker Benchmark Study released this week.
More than 100 House Democrats asked the U.S. trade representative to make significant changes to USMCA as part of its six-year review, arguing that imports from Mexico and Canada are undermining U.S. autoworkers, steelworkers, aerospace workers and farmers.
Importer Topcon Positioning Systems on Nov. 3 told the Court of International Trade that its "laser levels" are "surveying instruments," properly classified under duty-free Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 9015.30.4000, which provides for "levels" used for "surveying." In a motion for summary judgment, Topcon also argued that its accessories are, "in turn," classified under duty-free subheading 9015.90.0030, which covers accessories of surveying instruments (Topcon Positioning Systems v. United States, CIT # 14-00189).
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Nov. 4 implementing a cut in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%. The tariff cut takes effect Nov. 10, as expected (see 2511030005).
As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative considers whether the U.S. wants to continue the USMCA, it will evaluate more than 1,500 comments from farmers, manufacturers, retailers, civic society and broad business interests that operate in all three countries.