China will place export controls starting June 1 on various military and dual-use equipment, software and technology, including items used in the aerospace and shipbuilding industries, along with “ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers,” the country’s commerce Ministry said May 30, according to an unofficial translation.
A final rule that will allow the FDA to dispose of low-value medical devices and medicines more easily will take effect June 30. Currently, importers of medical devices valued at $2,500 or less have the option of re-exporting the device if it is barred from entering the U.S. In the case of drug shipments under that dollar threshold, the FDA has to prove the medicines are counterfeit, misbranded, adulterated or not approved in the U.S.; with the change, the agency will be allowed to destroy the drugs if it appears they are counterfeit, etc., unless the owner or consignee asks to testify on the medicines' admissibility.
The Treasury Department made a range of updates to its Cuba sanctions regulations this week, including one change that will allow U.S. banks to open accounts for certain Cuban nationals and authorize payments to those Cuban nationals for imports to the U.S. of certain goods and services.
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.
China’s Foreign Ministry this week criticized the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, calling it “bullying” and a “double standard” one day after the Senate Finance Committee accused several major automakers of poor UFLPA compliance (see 2405200009).
Senators and witnesses focused on de minimis and CBP's data collecting authorities -- both sides agreeing that data collection, particularly from partner government agencies, needs to be refined, and that de minimis is a useful trade facilitation tool.
The Drug Enforcement Administration issued a proposed rule May 21 to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. If the transfer is finalized, regulatory controls applicable to Schedule III substances would apply, though “existing marijuana-specific requirements” will continue to apply and “additional controls … might be implemented,” including import and export authorization requirements under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the DEA said. Marijuana would also remain subject to FDA regulation, and a “drug containing a substance within the CSA's definition of ‘marijuana’ would need FDA approval” to be introduced into interstate commerce, unless an investigational new drug application is in effect. Marijuana is currently classified in Schedule I. Comments are due July 22.
A Federal Register notice that will be made public this week will announce decisions on which of the current Section 301 tariff exclusions can continue, according to Brian Janovitz, chief counsel for China trade enforcement in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on alkyl phosphate esters from China (A-570-168/C-570-169). The CVD investigation covers entries Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2023. The AD investigation covers entries Oct. 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.
The Commerce Department has issued the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review on 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from China (A-570-044). The agency continued to find the 23 companies under review didn't demonstrate independence from Chinese government control, assigning them to the China-wide entity, which has an AD rate of 167.02%. Commerce will order liquidation for subject merchandise entered April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, at the China-wide rate of 167.02%.