NORTH AMERICA

U.S. Solar Industry Working to Minimise Exposure to Forced Labour Allegations

06 May 2021

The U.S. solar industry on 29 April unveiled a set of voluntary guidelines aimed at eradicating instances of forced labour in its global supply chain. The Solar Energy Industries Association is seeking to address concerns voiced by various U.S. lawmakers and other relevant actors that the U.S. solar industry is dependent on raw materials made with forced labour in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, particularly polysilicon. More

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Legislation Aimed at Countering Mainland China Advances in Senate

05 May 2021

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently voted 21-1 to advance the “Strategic Competition Act”, a package of measures intended to compete with mainland China. The bill now heads to the full Senate for passage, either on its own or as part of a broader legislative package. More

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Tai Says USTR Has Not Yet Commenced Mainland China Tariff Review

04 May 2021

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on 28 April that USTR has yet to begin an agency-level review of U.S. trade policy toward mainland China. The news further dampens hopes that the Biden administration will act anytime soon to modify or remove tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods imported from the mainland. More

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VIETNAM: US Cancels Currency Manipulator Designation

30 April 2021

Vietnam has been removed from the list of nations designated as currency manipulators by the US. The change in status was confirmed in the latest edition of the Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States report, as published by the US Treasury on 16 April. More

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Myanmar Sanctions Extended to Timber and Pearl Enterprises

27 April 2021

The Office of Foreign Assets Controls has expanded economic sanctions against Myanmar to two state-owned enterprises responsible for timber and pearl exports from Myanmar. More

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Lawmakers Seek Reinstatement of Section 301 Tariff Exclusion Process

27 April 2021

A bi-partisan group of 40 senators has asked U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to reinstate a process for granting exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs on imports from mainland China. Meanwhile, litigation seeking refunds of the Section 301 tariffs on List 3 and 4A goods from mainland China is moving forward, and U.S. importers of such goods can still preserve their rights to possible refunds by joining that lawsuit. More

heads-up

The E-Commerce Route into the US

26 April 2021

The COVID‑19 outbreak has led businesses to embrace e‑commerce as the key channel for domestic and overseas sales – including to the United States, the world’s second-largest online market. More

hktdc research

Section 301 Tariffs on Certain Mainland Chinese Watch Cases Could Be Removed

16 April 2021

A recent proposal from U.S. Customs and Border Protection would eliminate Section 301 tariffs on certain watch cases made in mainland China. This proposal would also affect continued eligibility for duty preferences when these components are manufactured under free trade agreements or preference programmes incorporating a substantial transformation rule of origin test. More

hktdc research

Court Rules Against Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminium Derivative Products

09 April 2021

A new ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade may invalidate the additional tariffs imposed under Section 232 on steel and aluminium derivative products, with refunds ordered for any tariffs paid on those products by the plaintiff. The CIT ruled that the Section 232 tariffs established on steel and aluminium could not be extended beyond the basic products originally covered by Proclamations 9704 and 9705 of 8 March 2018. More

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USTR Highlights Mainland Chinese Policies, Other Concerns in Annual Trade Barrier Reports

07 April 2021

USTR recently issued its annual National Trade Estimate report, which describes significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, foreign direct investment and e-commerce as well as the actions being taken to address those barriers. More

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