SECTION 201

The Senate Finance Committee on 3 March unanimously approved the nomination of Katherine Tai to serve as U.S. trade representative in the Biden administration. Her nomination will now be considered by the full Senate, which is expected to approve it. Among other things, Ms. Tai believes the Section 301 tariffs are a very important tool in the U.S. trade remedies arsenal but seemingly favours a revamped product exclusion process. More

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has posted to its website the lists of derivative steel and aluminium articles that will face safeguard tariffs of 25 percent (steel) and 10 percent (aluminium) from 8 February. These tariffs are being implemented following a decision by President Trump to expand the scope of the current safeguard tariffs on steel and aluminium ostensibly to thwart on-going efforts by foreign producers to circumvent those tariffs. More

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has determined to withdraw an exclusion in place for bi-facial solar panels from the safeguard measures on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and other CSPV products containing these cells. As a result, these products will be subject to the safeguard measure from 28 October. More