TRADE DISPUTE

The European Commission has presented a proposal that seeks to allow the EU to enforce international trade rules in circumstances where the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) is no longer able to render binding dispute settlement decisions. The proposal has been presented as a reaction to the blockage of the operation of the WTO Appellate Body by the United States. Moreover, the Commission has also created the Office of the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer. More

The U.S. Defense Department recently issued two rules that amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement – which applies to contractors doing business with the Defense Department – to restrict the purchase of certain sensitive products from mainland China. More

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has amended a number of product exclusions that had been granted to List 1 and List 2 goods. The amendments, which mostly involve changes to the language describing the product subject to the exclusion, are intended to correct ministerial errors as well as to conform to USTR’s intent to grant certain requested exclusions. More

Additional exclusions from the Section 301 additional 25 percent tariff on List 3 goods from mainland China were recently announced by USTR. Affected products include certain fruits, satin woven fabrics, man-made fibre ropes, non-woven rug pads, steel gates for confining children or pets, steel electrical boxes, aluminium ladders, digital electronic scales, electronic calculators, brake drums and chairs. More