U.S. Services Providers Remain Competitive in the Global Services Market, Reports USITC - US International Trade Commission
The United States is the world's largest services market and was the world’s leading exporter and importer of services in 2016, reports the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in its new publication Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2018 Annual Report.
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, compiles the report annually. Each year's report presents a qualitative and quantitative overview of U.S. trade in services and highlights some of the services sectors and geographic markets that contribute substantially to recent services trade performance.
This year’s report focuses on electronic services and includes chapters on three specific industries: audiovisual services, computer services, and telecommunication services. Each chapter analyzes global market conditions in the industry, examines recent trade performance, and summarizes the industry’s outlook.
The report describes trade in services via cross-border transactions through 2016 and via sales by and purchases from affiliates of services firms through 2015 (latest available data). Highlights include:
•In 2016, the value of U.S. cross-border commercial services exports was $733.6 billion, while imports totaled $483.1 billion. The leading markets for cross-border U.S. services exports were the UK, China, Canada, Ireland, and Japan. Similarly, the UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, and India supplied the largest single-country shares of U.S. services imports. Preliminary data also indicate that in 2017, U.S. cross-border services exports increased to $761.7 billion, while imports rose to $516.0 billion.
- In 2015, sales by foreign affiliates of U.S. services firms totaled $1.4 trillion, while purchases from U.S. affiliates of foreign services firms totaled $952.5 billion. The largest markets for sales of services by U.S.-owned foreign affiliates were the UK, Canada, and Ireland. The largest shares of purchases were from firms based in Japan, the UK, and Germany.
- Electronic services accounted for 12.7 percent ($93.4 billion) of total U.S. cross-border services exports and 11.2 percent ($54.3 billion) of imports in 2016. Foreign affiliates of U.S. electronic services firms represented 18.5 percent ($270.1 billion) of sales by U.S.-owned foreign affiliates in all industries in 2015, while U.S. affiliates of foreign electronic services firms represented 13.9 percent ($132.7 billion) of purchases from foreign-owned U.S. affiliates in all industries.
- In 2016, value added by the U.S. electronic services sector was $989 billion, and the sector accounted for 6.9 percent of U.S. private sector GDP. Electronic services accounted for a small share of total U.S. private sector employment in 2016, with 3.7 million full-time equivalent employees (3.2 percent of total private sector employment). The sector had average output per worker of $265,717, and electronic services workers earned an average wage of $106,052.
- Audiovisual services are growing rapidly worldwide, and the Chinese market is of growing interest to U.S. filmmakers, though state censorship and foreign film quotas limit market access. In emerging markets, computer services are becoming widely available via mobile devices; additionally, goods manufacturers are increasingly building computer-enabled services into their production processes. U.S. telecommunications carriers are investing in network infrastructure, connecting a growing array of devices to the internet, and entering content and advertising markets.
- The USITC hosted its 11th annual services roundtable on October 25, 2017. The discussion, summarized in the report, focused on the relationship between goods and services trade, and recent developments in the tradability of services.
Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade, 2018 Annual Report (Investigation No. 332-345, USITC publication 4789) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4789.pdf.
Air Cargo Advance Screening Program Goes into Effect - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration announced that the Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program went into effect today requiring the submission of advanced air cargo information on shipments arriving in the United States from a foreign location. Previously a voluntary process in which many airlines already participated globally, the program requirements are now mandatory for airlines flying to the United States. This is a necessary measure as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to raise the baseline on aviation security worldwide.
As part of the ACAS program, participating carriers submit a subset of required pre-arrival air cargo data to CBP at the earliest point practicable and prior to loading the cargo onto aircraft destined to or transiting through the United States. ACAS leverages DHS threat information and other data to employ a risk-based approach to improve air cargo security through targeted vetting. At the National Targeting Center, CBP and TSA jointly target and mitigate any cargo identified as high-risk before it is loaded aboard aircraft destined to the United States.
“The ACAS program is a vital component for CBP to prevent illicit contraband from entering, while expediting lawful commerce,” said CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. “It was built on partnership with the express and air cargo industry and represents the government and private sector working together to solve challenging problems. The formalization of ACAS will enhance and support the security of the small parcel and air cargo industry for years to come.”
“TSA and CBP continue our strong partnership in securing the homeland, and the screening of inbound air cargo is improved with these new regulations,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Our joint procedures with the industry will allow for effective and efficient screening of the high volume of cargo transported daily to the United States.”
CBP and TSA work together to employ a layered security approach to secure inbound air cargo, including using various risk assessment methods to identify high-risk cargo and to mitigate any risks posed. When this high-risk cargo is identified, enhanced cargo screening is performed pursuant to TSA-approved or accepted security programs.
While there is no current specific terrorist threat to cargo bound to the United States, terrorists continue to target the aviation sector. CBP and TSA continue to work closely with our partners in law enforcement and the shipping industry to ensure our nation's ports and cargo facilities are secure.
In October 2010, the global counterterrorism community disrupted a potential terrorist attack when concealed explosive devices were discovered in cargo onboard aircraft destined for the United States. This incident demonstrated the importance of advance information in identifying and disrupting the attempts of terrorists to exploit the global supply chain. CBP and the TSA collaborated with express consignment carriers and launched the ACAS pilot in December 2010. The pilot quickly expanded to include participation by relevant stakeholders in the air cargo community such as passenger carriers and freight forwarders.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen signed the Air Cargo Advance Screening interim final rule on May 23, certifying ACAS as a program. The program officially goes into effect June 12, 2018.
AD/CVD Investigations: Steel Propane Cylinders from China, Taiwan, and Thai - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
On June 11, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated its less-than-fair-value and
countervailing duty investigations on “Steel Propane Cylinders from the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Thailand” (Initiation Notices). These investigations have been assigned the following case numbers: A-570-086 and C-570-087 (China); A-583-864 (Taiwan); and A-549-839 (Thailand).
The Scope of Merchandise covered by these investigations reads as follows:
The merchandise covered by these investigations is steel cylinders for compressed or liquefied propane gas (steel propane cylinders) meeting the requirements of, or produced to meet the requirements of, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Specifications 4B, 4BA, or 4BW, or Transport Canada Specification 4BM, 4BAM, or 4BWM, or United Nations pressure receptacle standard ISO 4706. The scope includes steel propane cylinders regardless of whether they have been certified to these specifications before importation. Steel propane cylinders range from 2.5 pound nominal gas capacity (approximate 6 pound water capacity and approximate 4-6 pound tare weight) to 42 pound nominal gas capacity (approximate 100 pound water capacity and approximate 28-32 pound tare weight). Steel propane cylinders have two or fewer ports and may be imported assembled or unassembled (i.e., welded or brazed before or after importation), with or without all components (including collars, valves, gauges, tanks, foot rings, and overfill prevention devices), and coated or uncoated. Also included within the scope are drawn cylinder halves, unfinished propane cylinders, collars, and foot rings for steel propane cylinders.
An “unfinished” or “unassembled” propane cylinder includes drawn cylinder halves that have not been welded into a cylinder, cylinders that have not had flanges welded into the port hole(s), cylinders that are otherwise complete but have not had collars or foot rings welded to them, otherwise complete cylinders without a valve assembly attached, and cylinders that are otherwise complete except for testing, certification, and/or marking.
These investigations also cover steel propane cylinders that meet, are produced to meet, or are certified as meeting, other U.S. or Canadian government, international, or industry standards (including, for example, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), or American National Standard Institute (ANSI)), if they also meet, are produced to meet, or are certified as meeting USDOT Specification 4B, 4BA, or 4BW, or Transport Canada Specification 4BM, 4BAM, or 4BWM, or a United Nations pressure receptacle standard ISO 4706.
Subject merchandise also includes steel propane cylinders that have been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to, attachment of collars, foot rings, or handles by welding or brazing, heat treatment, painting, testing, certification, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope steel propane cylinders.
Specifically excluded are seamless steel propane cylinders and propane cylinders made from stainless steel (i.e., steel containing at least 10.5 percent chromium by weight and less than 1.2 percent carbon by weight), aluminum, or composite fiber material. Composite fiber material is material consisting of the mechanical combination of two components: fiber (typically glass, carbon, or aramid (synthetic polymer)) and a matrix material (typically polymer resin, ceramic, or metallic).
The merchandise subject to these investigations is properly classified under statistical reporting numbers 7311.00.0060 and 7311.00.0090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
Requirements For Submitting Comments On The Scope Of The Investigations: Please be sure to comply with all three requirements established below.
Deadline for Submitting Comments:
As announced in the Initiation Notices, Commerce is setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (scope). The period for scope comments is intended to provide Commerce with ample opportunity to consider all comments and to consult with parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations, as appropriate. If scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such factual information should be limited to public information. Commerce requests that all such comments be filed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on July 2, 2018, which is the next day after 20 calendar days from the signature date of the notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on July 11, 2018, which is 10 calendar days after the initial comments deadline. Commerce requests that any factual information the parties consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigations may be relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on the records of each of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations identified above.
Required Entry of Appearance:
Parties wishing to participate in this segment and be included on the public service list must file a letter of appearance. Section 351.103(d)(1) of Commerce’s regulations states that “with the exception of a petitioner filing a petition in an investigation, to be included on the public service list for a particular segment, each interested party must file a letter of appearance.” The letter of appearance must be filed separately from any other document (with the exception of an application for APO access). Note, the letter of appearance must state how the party qualifies as an interested party (e.g., an exporter, producer, importer of the subject merchandise) and must include a point of contact, including address, telephone/fax number and email address.
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time, typically 5 p.m., and date when it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) with Enforcement and Compliance’s APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by the applicable deadlines.
Steel Wire Garment Hangers From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2017 - International Trade Administration
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty order (CVD) on steel wire garment hangers from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.
DATES: Applicable June 12, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Conniff, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1009.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 16, 2018, based on a timely request for review by M&B Metal Products Company, Inc. (the petitioner),\1\ Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the CVD order on steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam covering the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.\2\ On April 24, 2018, the petitioner withdrew its request for all companies listed in its request and the Initiation Notice.\3\ No other party requested a review of these producers and/or exporters of subject merchandise.
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\1\ See Letter from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP to the U.S. Department of Commerce, regarding Steel Wire Garment Hangers
from Vietnam: Request for Fifth Administrative Review,'' dated February 28, 2018.
\2\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 83 FR 16,298 (April 16, 2018) (Initiation Notice).
\3\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Fifth Administrative Review of Steel Wire Garment Hangers from Vietnam--Petitioner's Withdrawal of Review Request,'' dated April 24, 2018.
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Rescission of Review
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party that requested
the review withdraws its request within 90 days of the publication of the notice of initiation of the requested review. In this case, the petitioner timely withdrew its request by the 90-day deadline, and no other party requested an administrative review of the CVD order. As a result, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), we are rescinding the administrative review of the CVD order on steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam for the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, in its entirety.
Assessment
Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess CVDs on all appropriate entries. Because Commerce is rescinding this administrative review in its entirety, the entries to which this administrative review pertained shall be assessed CVDs at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated CVDs required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders
This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary information in this segment of the proceeding. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction. This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4).
Dated: June 7, 2018.