TRADE DISPUTE

USTR Finds Undervaluation of Vietnamese Currency Burdens U.S. Commerce but Declines to Take Action

18 January 2021

USTR determined on 15 January that Vietnam’s acts, policies and practices related to currency valuation, including excessive foreign exchange market interventions and other related actions, are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. However, the agency declined to take action in connection with these findings at this time, noting that it will “continue to evaluate all available options.” More

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Sanctions Imposed on Mainland Chinese Oil and Graphite Electrode Companies

18 January 2021

The Bureau of Industry and Security on 14 January added mainland China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to the Entity List and mainland China’s Skyrizon to the new Military End-User List, sharply limiting their ability to do business with entities in the United States. Separately, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on a mainland China-based supplier of graphite electrodes, a key element in steel production. More

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All Cotton and Tomato Products from XUAR Subject to New Import Detention Order

14 January 2021

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced a new withhold release order that effective 13 January requires the detention at all U.S. ports of entry of all cotton products and all tomato products grown or produced by entities operating Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. These products include apparel, textiles, tomato seeds, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and other goods made with cotton and tomatoes. More

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Canada Unveils Strategy to Address Human Rights Violations in XUAR

13 January 2021

The Canadian government on 12 January unveiled a comprehensive strategy to address human rights abuses in mainland China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Made in parallel with the United Kingdom, the new strategy is aimed at addressing the risk of forced labour entering global supply chains. More

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Three Mainland Chinese Telecom Firms Delisted from New York Stock Exchange

13 January 2021

The New York Stock Exchange on 6 January announced the delisting of the American depositary shares of China Telecom Corporation Limited, China Mobile Limited and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited, effective 11 January. This announcement came after significant confusion, with policy reversals occurring twice in just one week. More

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Vietnam Labelled a Currency Manipulator

22 December 2020

Prospects for new tariffs, quotas or other restrictions on imports from Vietnam got a boost on 16 December when the U.S. Treasury Department issued a report finding that Vietnam has manipulated the value of its currency. More

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Defence Authorisation Bill Contains Provisions of Potential Interest to Hong Kong and Mainland China

22 December 2020

The National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report that was recently approved by Congress contains a number of provisions of potential interest to Hong Kong and mainland Chinese companies, including a clause that would create a whole-of-government strategy to impose costs on Beijing to deter industrial espionage and large-scale theft of personal information. More

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Report Assesses Rare Earth-Related Issues under Consideration by Congress

01 December 2020

The non-partisan Congressional Research Service recently issued a report on legislative changes being considered by Congress to enhance U.S. access to rare earth elements. The report notes that certain components and products containing REEs are used for defence applications, generating additional interest among U.S. legislators and policymakers in both political parties. More

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U.S. Debates Section 301 Tariffs on Vietnam

17 November 2020

Potential tariffs on imports from Vietnam got mixed reviews in public comments on the Trump administration’s on-going Section 301 investigations of timber and currency valuation in that country. More

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Business Groups Urge USTR to Extend Section 301 Tariff Exclusions

12 November 2020

In a 5 November letter to USTR Robert Lighthizer, the 160 trade association members of the Americans for Free Trade coalition requested a six-month extension of all Section 301 tariff exclusions expiring on 31 December 2020. More

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