The Commerce Department released its report on miscellaneous tariff bill (MTB) petitions (here). The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 (see 1605200041) requires Commerce to send the report to the International Trade Commission, and Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees this week. The report details domestic production of petitioned articles and whether domestic producers object to specific petitions, any technical changes needed and possible areas of overlap between MTB petitions and U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty orders.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is a reference manual that provides duty rates for almost every item that exists. It is a system of classifying and taxing all goods imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is a global standard for naming and describing trade products, and consists of a hierarchical structure that assigns a specific code and rate to each type of merchandise for duty, quota, and statistical purposes. The HTS was made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States. It is maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission, but the Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.
A domestic manufacturer filed a petition on April 11 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on tool chests and cabinets from China, and new antidumping duties on tool chests and cabinets from Vietnam. The petition, filed by Waterloo Industries, requests AD/CVD investigations that would cover "tool top chests, intermediate chests, cabinets, side cabinets, mobile work benches, work stations, and metal storage units with two or more drawers," but would exempt non-metallic tool boxes, portable tool boxes and industrial grade chests and cabinets.
CBP is seeking comments by June 5 on an existing information collection for cost submissions. CBP proposes (here) to extend the expiration date of this information collection with no change to the information collected or to the estimated burden hours associated with the collection.
A domestic manufacturer, North American Steel & Wire (ISM), filed a petition on March 30 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on carton-closing staples from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin an AD duty investigation on carbon-closing staples, which are used to secure or close the flaps of corrugated and solid paperboard cartons and boxes.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigations on silicon metal from Australia (A-602-810), Brazil (A-351-850) and Norway (A-403-805) (here), and countervailing duty investigations on silicon metal from Australia (C-602-811), Brazil (C-351-851) and Kazakhstan (C-834-808) (here).
A group of domestic steel producers recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus, Italy, South Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and new countervailing duties on carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Italy and Turkey. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on steel wire rod from these countries.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on aluminum foil from China (A-570-053/C-570-054). The agency will determine whether imports of Chinese aluminum foil are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or are illegally subsidized. The CV duty investigation covers entries Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016. The AD duty investigation covers entries July 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2016.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 6-10 in case they were missed.
Globe Specialty Metals recently filed a petition with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on silicon metal from Australia, Brazil and Norway, and new countervailing duties on silicon metal from Australia, Brazil and Kazakhstan. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on silicon metal.
The Aluminum Association filed a petition on March 8 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum foil from China. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on aluminum foil that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. "We did not come to this decision lightly, but felt that action was needed not only to address the acute challenge facing the foil market but also to signal the industry’s continued commitment to ensuring that trade laws are enforced to create a level playing field for domestic producers," said Heidi Brock, CEO of the association, in an email (here).