CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP reminded the trade community that the agency will deploy the second release of the "Section 321 – Does Not Exceed $800 in Aggregated Shipments" enhancement in ACE on Jan. 11.
The country of origin for Corning Optical Communications’ fiber optic cables is France, and as such, the cables aren't subject to Section 301 measures even though part of the manufacturing process occurred in China, a CBP ruling released earlier this month said.
The New York-based entity formerly known as Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has accused Hong Kong-based carrier BAL Container Line Co. of charging “unjust and unreasonable” demurrage and detention fees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a complaint released by the Federal Maritime Commission Jan. 8.
The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen's Association announced late Jan. 8 that both sides have agreed on a new six-year master contract, apparently avoiding a potential strike at ports on the East and Gulf coasts later this month.
U.K. lawmakers at a hearing held Jan. 7 described a Shein lawyer's immediate refusal to answer questions about cotton sourcing in the company's supply chains as "bordering on contempt."
The International Trade Commission is temporarily suspending enforcement of a limited exclusion order (LEO) banning importation and sale of plastic food trays by Ningbo Linhua Plastic Co., Ltd., that infringe patents held by Clearly Clean Products, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 10. The ITC originally issued the LEO in February 2021 (see 2103020015). The ITC is suspending the LEO because, "the subject patent claims were found unpatentable by the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board," overruling the complainant's opposition. However, the ITC has "determined to grant partial relief and to temporarily suspend enforcement of the LEO pending the cancellation of its subject patent claims or the reversal or vacatur of the Federal Circuit’s decisions," because the "LEO’s patent claims are still subject to U.S. Supreme Court appeal."
On Jan. 8, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts (after not having posted new ones for a number of days) on the detention without physical examination of:
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat who represents Laredo, Texas, said that if Donald Trump, once he becomes president, were to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico, it would be very disruptive to business in his district. Trump re-upped the threat of those tariffs in a press conference earlier this week (see 2501070027). He had said he would hike tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian goods if Mexico and Canada don't crack down to his satisfaction on migration and drug trafficking into the U.S.
American consumers should take President-elect Donald Trump seriously, but not literally, when it comes to his threats on tariff rates, said Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs.