The U.S. is eliminating 15% tariffs on Ecuadoran bananas and cocoa, and 10% tariffs on Guatemalan coffee and Argentinian beef, as the three countries have reached framework agreements on reciprocal trade.
House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, introduced a bill that would either require the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to seek a dispute settlement panel over Mexican energy policies, or to make compliance with USMCA in energy a condition of continuing a pact.
Arkansas’ six-member congressional delegation urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Nov. 6 to delay implementation of the new U.S.-EU trade deal (see 2507280027 and 2508210017) until the EU revises its deforestation reporting requirements. In a letter to Greer, the lawmakers reiterated their view that the regulation would harm American timber exports (see 2503170052). Greer’s office didn't respond to a request for comment.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
There are probably five justices who will find that the reciprocal tariffs were not permissible under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that the president used to impose them, according to Georgetown University Law Center Professor Marty Lederman. Lederman, a senior fellow in the Supreme Court Institute at Georgetown, was one of two guests on the weekly Washington International Trade Association podcast that aired Nov. 7.
The American Sheep Industry Association formally asked that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative initiate a safeguard investigation on lamb imports, the group announced last week. The trade group's request follows a request by two Utah members of the House in July for the same action (see 2507240058).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has rescheduled a public hearing on how USMCA has been working to Dec. 3 through Dec. 5. Each day will begin at 9 a.m. at the International Trade Commission's main hearing room. The hearing was originally scheduled for Nov. 17.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting comments on the one-year suspension of ship docking fees and logistics-related tariffs, such as on chassis from China. The fees and tariffs are in abeyance until Nov. 10, 2026.
Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced a bill to create an interagency working group to monitor imports of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
NEW YORK -- Although the president's obsession with domestic manufacturing doesn't extend to apparel, there are no signs the administration will adjust tariff policy to make clothing imports more affordable, or even adjust rules of origin to privilege nearshoring, an old Washington hand told the U.S. Fashion Industry Association annual conference audience.