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.
Cotton and textile manufacturers, mining companies and manufacturers producing solar modules with polysilicon were among those targeted for inclusion in the Department of Homeland Security's list of companies flagged for using forced labor or sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region in China.
The Department of Homeland Security has added 37 more companies to its list of entities that may be using forced labor from the Xinjiang region of China, bringing the total number of companies on the list to 144. Three energy companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List in the category of companies allegedly harboring or using forced labor, while 35 companies within the textile, energy and solar industries were added for sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region or participating in government-supported poverty alleviation schemes. One company, a zinc manufacturer, was flagged for using forced labor and sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region. The listings take effect Jan. 15, according to a Federal Register notice.
Auto sector manufacturers and importers will have 425 days to cut Chinese software that enables automated driving systems or enables a vehicle to connect to the outside world at a frequency above 450 MHz from their supply chains, according to a final rule from the Bureau of Industry and Security set to be published Jan. 16.
Alejo Cabranes, former senior policy adviser with the Treasury Department, is joining DOJ as an attorney in its National Security Division, he announced on LinkedIn. Cabranes has worked at Treasury since 2023, where he helped implement sanctions and anti-money laundering policies.
The National Chamber of the Textile Industry of Mexico and the U.S.-based National Council of Textile Organizations sent a Jan. 13 joint letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing their gratitude to the Mexican government's recent tariff changes for apparel goods.
The Federal Highway Administration will be following Buy America requirements for manufactured products used in highway projects that use federal aid, according to a final rule that will be effective on March 17.
The International Trade Commission published notices in the Jan. 13 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 Jan. 13 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 is beginning an anti-circumvention inquiry on allegations that standard steel welded wire mesh made in the U.S. using low-carbon steel wire from Mexico is circumventing the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on standard steel welded wire mesh from Mexico (A-201-853/C-201-854), the agency said in a notice.