Global Trade Alerts

Tradeflow monitors how the global trade landscape is constantly changing so you don't have to.

12 March 2024
AAFA Calls on President Biden to Restart Labor Negotiations for East Coast, Gulf Coast Ports

The American Apparel and Footwear Association called on President Joe Biden to help restart labor contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, in a letter dated March 12. The labor contract covering East Coast and Gulf Coast ports expires at the end of September, and the negotiations have been stalled since March 2023, the AAFA said.

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12 March 2024
Commerce Dept. Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Notices for March 12

The Commerce Department published notices in the Federal Register March 12 on the following AD/CV duty proceedings (any notices that announce changes to AD/CV duty rates, scope, affected firms or effective dates will be detailed in another ITT article).

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12 March 2024
EU 'Committed' to Passing New Supply Chain Due Diligence Rules, Belgian Presidency Says

Members of the European Parliament this week disagreed on the best path forward for new EU-wide supply chain due diligence rules, although an official with the Belgian presidency said it believes the EU can reach a compromise before the end of the current parliament’s term in April.

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12 February 2024
New and Revised FDA Import Alerts for Feb. 7

On Feb. 7, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of: 99-38: Low-Acid Canned Foods or Acidified Foods due to Inadequate Process Control.

More details can be found Here.
08 January 2024
CBP Issued Harmonized System Update

CBP created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2400 Jan. 5, containing 397 ABI records and 77 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records, as well as HSU 2401 on Jan. 8, containing 383 ABI records and 73 Harmonized Tariff Records. HSU 2400 and 2401 include the missing 2024 HTS updates that were part of the end of year 484(f) changes, CBP said in a CSMS message on Jan. 8.

The CSMS message can be found here.
08 January 2024
China launches antidumping investigation on brandy from EU

On 5 January 2024, the Ministry of Commerce of China (“MOFCOM”) initiated an antidumping investigation of brandy imported from the European Union (“EU”).

Key facts about the investigation can be found here.
11 December 2023
DHS Adds 3 to UFLPA Entity List, Including 2 Outside Xinjiang

DHS is adding three more Chinese companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act entity list for their participation in forced labor transfer programs, including two based outside the Xinjiang province of China. One, Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group, based in Sichuan, produces “magnetic devices including network transformers, network filters, power transformers, inductors, radio frequency filters, and other devices,” DHS said in a news release. “Jingweida Technology is a documented participant in government-sponsored labor transfer programs,” working with the government of Awati County in Xinjiang to “transfer persecuted ethnic minorities from Awati County to Jingweida Technology,” DHS said. Another, Anhui Xinya New Materials, is based in Anhui. It produces “functional fibers, special fiber yarns, other textile materials made with hemp and materials made with cotton, wool, Tencel, and other products,” DHS said. “Xinya New Materials worked with an established government-sponsored labor transfer program, Xinjiang Aid, to recruit and transfer persecuted minorities from Pishan County in Xinjiang to work in its facility in Anhui Province.” The third company, Cofco Sugar Holdings, is headquartered in Xinjiang. The sugar refiner, producer and importer also “trades and produces various agricultural products, including sugar, fruit (including tomatoes), and vegetable processing.” DHS said Cofco “participated in government-sponsored poverty alleviation and cooperated with the local government to complete labor transfers.” The company “has visited the homes of persecuted minorities in a Xinjiang village for recruiting these persecuted minorities to work in one of its facilities,” DHS said.

More details here.
14 November 2023
CBP Releases Tip Sheet for Filing EPA Hydrofluorocarbons

On November 14, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published an updated tip sheet on new filing obligations for importing bulk hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. This tip sheet provides an overview of HFC regulatory requirements, a current list of Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes for HFCs, instructions on how to file in Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and examples of documents to upload in the Document Image System (DIS). CBP confirmed in a companion Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) message that HFC ACE filing requirements are expected to be in production in early January 2024.

The published ‘Tips for Filing an HFC Import in ACE’ sheet can be found here.
06 October 2023
CBP Issues Guidance for Reinstated Section 301 Exclusions

On October 5, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided guidance on conforming amendments to reinstated exclusions associated with Section 301. On July 19, 2023, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice in the Federal Register which made the conforming amendments for HTS 6802.99.0060 and 6802.99.0090 to adjust for the tariff schedule updates on July 1, 2023. The guidance provided on October 5th provides additional information for importers on the product exclusions and how to request a refund of Section 301 duties by filing a post summary correction (PSC). Importers may submit a PSC to request a refund of duties for entries filed on or after the effective date of July 1, 2023.

The issued guidance, Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) #57959304, can be found here.
07 September 2023
Section 301 Exclusion Extensions

On 9/6/2023, USTR announced the extension of all active Section 301 exclusions under 9903.88.67 and 9903.88.68. Both sets of exclusions were scheduled to expire on September 30th and are now extended through December 31st. CBP has not yet updated the tariffs with the new expiration date.

Here's the link to the notice.