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 country of origin of a Whirlpool food waste disposer is Mexico and Section 301 duties don't apply, CBP said in a customs ruling dated May 15. The agency found that, despite the motor in the garbage disposal being of Chinese origin, the manufacturing process in Mexico substantially transformed the original components into subassemblies, which were then combined to make the final food disposer.
Africa Bell was sworn in as the new port director for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport on May 23. CBP said in a May 24 news release. The agency said Bell will oversee the international cargo and cruise ship operations and agricultural compliance. She previously directed CBP's Base Metals Center of Excellence and Expertise in Chicago.
The Aluminum Association, in its weekly newsletter emailed May 24, said it had expected aluminum products that aren't subject to any Section 301 tariffs to be included in a new 25% tariff, but only 31 HTS codes will be covered (see 2405220072).
The Council of the European Union last week officially adopted new EU-wide supply chain due diligence rules that will require certain companies to conduct specific due diligence on their supply chains, including to root out forced labor.
Importers who have been bringing in Russian uranium through contracts approved under the Russian Suspension Agreement may also apply to the Energy Department if they haven't been able to find a viable alternative source of low-enriched urianium for the nuclear reactor that uses the fuel. The general waivers importers have used up until now no longer will be valid after Aug. 10.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the May 24 Federal Register on the following AD/CVD injury, Section 337 patent or other trade proceedings (any notices that warrant a more detailed summary will be in another ITT article):
The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register May 24 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):
The Commerce Department issued its final determinations in its countervailing duty investigations on paper shopping bags from China (C-570-153) and India (C-533-918). Suspension of liquidation is currently not in effect for entries on or after March 5, 2024, and Commerce will only require cash deposits of estimated CV duties on future entries if it issues a CVD order.
The Commerce Department issued its final determinations in the antidumping duty investigations on paper shopping bags from Cambodia (A-555-002), China (A-570-152), Colombia (A-301-805), India (A-533-917), Malaysia (A-557-825), Portugal (A-471-808), Taiwan (A-583-872) and Vietnam (A-552-836). Cash deposit rates set in this final determination take effect May 24, when the notices were published in the Federal Register.