The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Oct. 21 that the U.S. will not impose tariffs on goods from European countries over digital services taxes, as those countries have reached a settlement with the Treasury Department about the transition from DSTs to a new approach to taxing multinational firms. The agreement covers suspended tariffs on goods from Italy, Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Austria -- all those proposed tariffs will now be terminated, not just suspended.
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America say they know the administration cannot help with the spike in shipping costs, but it could ease inflation by removing Section 301 tariffs on children's shoes. In a letter sent Oct. 19, the group said, "Kids’ shoe prices have now reached the highest in over 70 years, causing massive sticker shock for those who can least afford it. The rising costs we see in the shoe supply chain are a contributing factor for shoe retail price increases. That has been the lead, but the real headline has been buried. Government import taxes now make up 30 percent of the price of certain types of children’s shoes at big box retailers where most working-class families shop."
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of Oct. 11-17:
An executive with a logistics company with more than 100,000 customers talked about tariffs as a contributor to supply chain strains. So did the owner of a 200-person candy manufacturer, and a board member from the National Association of Home Builders. While tariffs were not the top concern for businesses mentioned at the hearing on how global supply chain kinks are hurting small businesses, companies said lifting them, even temporarily, would ease the pain of high shipping costs.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Oct. 11-15 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
RANCHO MIRAGE, California -- Lawyers are seeing a rise in cases filed against customs brokers for failing to meet their fiduciary duties, said Cameron Roberts, a Roberts & Kehagiaras trade attorney. Many of the cases involve importers who allege their brokers didn’t correctly advise them about issues related to forced labor, Section 301 tariffs and certain agriculture imports, he said. “All of these issues are being put at the foot of the broker,” Roberts said, speaking during the Oct. 15 Western Cargo Conference.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative clarified that 80 products covered by COVID-19-related Section 301 exclusions (see 2109270031) are also part of the broader question of extending formerly granted Section 301 exclusions (see 2110070041). The office said that this review is based on different factors than the pandemic-related extension, "and may result in different effective dates. Accordingly, interested persons that commented on a product pursuant to the notice on extending exclusions for COVID-related products may also wish to submit comments for the product pursuant to the notice on possible reinstatement of China Section 301 exclusions."
Importers shouldn't cancel entries to "take advantage of pending or potential decreases in Section 301 duties and/or approval/extension of exclusions in violation of the applicable regulations," CBP said in a CSMS message. Cancellation requests are allowed in some instances but must comply with the appropriate regulations, it said.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from Oct. 4-8 in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The U.S. summary of a weekend call between U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and China's Vice Premier Liu He, the lead negotiator of the phase one agreement, did not use the word tariffs, though it said the two countries would "consult on certain outstanding issues."