A chemical manufacturer is requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on melamine from China (A-570-020/C-570-021) and Trinidad and Tobago (A-274-806/A-274-807). In a petition filed Nov. 12 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission, Cornerstone Chemical, which purports itself to be the online U.S. manufacturer of melamine, says it has lost a “substantial volume” of sales and market share, and has been forced to lower prices because of “significant and pervasive” underselling by exporters in China and Trinidad and Tobago. It also says subsidy programs in the two countries have encouraged growth and overcapacity, creating “a significant likelihood” that low-priced imports of melamine from China and Trinidad and Tobago “will continue their rapid penetration of the U.S. market.”
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.
The Commerce Department issued Federal Register notices on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on welded line pipe from South Korea (A-580-876/C-580-877) and Turkey (A-489-822/C-489-823). The agency will determine whether imports of welded line pipe, which is used in the oil and gas industry, are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value or illegally subsidized.
The U.S.-Japanese bilateral negotiations over Trans-Pacific Partnership market access may force a poor agriculture access arrangement on New Zealand, said New Zealand’s Trade Minister Tim Groser in comments that followed the latest TPP talks in Sydney, according to The New Zealand Herald (here). Trade analysts are divided over whether those remarks indicate TPP partner fears are spiking because the end of negotiations is actually on the horizon. But those analysts, as well as TPP trade officials and some lawmakers, admit that significant agriculture market access provisions still need to be hashed out before the 12 parties finalize a TPP text.
The Commerce Department is seeking comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the U.S. during the period Jan. 1 through June 30, 2014 (here). Comments are due by Nov. 26.
A group of U.S. companies on Oct. 16 requested new antidumping and countervailing duties on welded API line pipe from South Korea and Turkey. In a petition filed with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission, American Cast Iron Pipe Company; Energex; Maverick Tube Corporation; Northwest Pipe Company; Stupp Corporation; Tex-Tube Company; TMK IPSCO; and Welspun Tubular LLC USA allege Turkish and South Korean companies are being illegally subsidized and are underselling product in the United States. According to the companies, their U.S. market share and prices have been falling, despite an uptick in demand over the past several years, because of imports from Turkey and South Korea.
The Commerce Department issued its final affirmative countervailing duty determination on non-oriented electrical steel from China (C-570-997). Although this final determination takes effect Oct. 14, suspension of liquidation has been lifted for all entries on or after July 23, and Commerce will only require CV duty cash deposits on future entries if it issues a CV duty order.
The Commerce Department issued its final countervailing duty determination on non-oriented electrical steel from Taiwan (C-583-852). Commerce continued to find China Steel Corporation and its affiliates did not receive illegal subsidies, so the China Steel group will be exempt from any CV duty order. For all other Taiwanese companies, suspension of liquidation (and CV duty liability) is currently not in effect for entries on or after July 23, but Commerce will require cash deposits of estimated CV duties on future entries if it issues a CV duty order.
The European textile and apparel industry is pushing for regulatory harmonization with the U.S. through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, namely by streamlining labeling rules and customs procedures, a European Union association called Euratex said in a position paper released during the last TTIP talks. The latest round wrapped up on Oct. 3, and negotiators focused on progress made in services trade and some technical regulations (see 14100616).
President Barack Obama on Oct. 3 officially removed Russia from the list of countries that benefit from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Russia has economically advanced and developed its trade competitiveness to a point that no longer justifies its inclusion in the preference program, said Obama. The Trade Act of 1974 will be modified and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule will be amended to reflect the removal of Russia, Obama said in the statement. Obama told Congress in May that he intended to remove Russia from the program (see 14050805). The termination is effective Oct. 3. The GSP program has been expired for more than a year.
The outdoor apparel industry is again ramping up efforts to enact legislation that would eliminate tariffs on outerwear, following the introduction of bills in recent days in both chambers of Congress. The measures, HR-5646 and S-2838, are basically identical to bills introduced in both the two previous Congresses, said Outdoor Industry Association Trade Policy Advisor Rich Harper in an interview. This Congress will end in January 2015, so supporters are eyeing an omnibus trade package in the coming lame duck session for passage.