A bipartisan bill led by a House Ways and Means Committee member would allow warehouses and brands located in foreign trade zones to send goods that were imported into the zones to consumers and have those packages qualify for de minimis treatment.
Gzuniga Ltd., a luxury handbag seller, its founder Nancy Teresa Gonzalez de Barberi and Gonzalez's associate, Mauricio Giraldo, were sentenced to prison for illegally importing to the U.S. goods made from protected wildlife from Colombia, DOJ announced April 22.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website April 22, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at CBP's ADCVD Search page.
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.
Hemp cones, tubes and wraps marketed for use with “tobacco-free herbal blends” and featuring warning statements that they shouldn’t be used with illegal drugs or tobacco aren’t restricted merchandise and may be imported into the U.S., CBP said in a recent ruling.
The Canada Border Services Agency will delay its next deployment of its Customs Assessment and Revenue Management system until October, the agency said last week. CBSA had been scheduled to launch the automated duty collection system on May 13, but will now only do so internally, pushing back the release of the trade-facing aspects of CARM.
The Energy Department is amending its energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers, it said in a final rule April 22. DOE “has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified,” it said. Compliance with the amended standards is required for distribution transformers manufactured or imported on or after April 23, 2029, the agency said. The final rule goes into effect July 8.
The International Trade Commission seeks comments by May 1 on a request for a Section 337 limited exclusion order banning imports of high-strength aluminum or aluminum alloy-coated steel from VinFast, as well as cars made using the steel, the ITC said in a notice. ArcelorMittal filed the underlying complaint April 17, alleging that VinFast, a Vietnam-based car manufacturer, is including the high-strength aluminum-coated steel in its cars, including the VF-8, which VinFast has been exporting to the U.S. “since at least 2022,” the complaint said. ArcelorMittal also seeks cease and desist orders against VinFast and its affiliates.
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register April 22 on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article):