USTR Concludes Robust Public Engagement to Advance Supply Chain Resilience in Trade Policy Initiatives - U.S. Trade Representative
WASHINGTON – The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has convened four public hearings and received written comments to inform the development of trade and investment policy initiatives that promote supply chain resilience.
USTR initiated its request for public comment through a Federal Register notice published in March. In outlining a new trade policy vision, the notice explained that resilient supply chains provide a range of sourcing options; adapt, rebound, and recover with agility following shocks; uphold labor rights and environmental protections; and strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base and workforce.
To help achieve these objectives, the notice sought information on developing sector-specific policy tools, strengthening domestic manufacturing and services, collaborating with like-minded trading partners and allies, and measuring resilience, among other topics.
Over the course of May, USTR received testimony from 84 witnesses in Washington, D.C.; St. Paul, Minnesota; and New York, New York, as well as virtually. The comment docket, which closed June 4, is public and contains nearly 300 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders, including labor unions and labor rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, environmental NGOs, and companies and trade associations, as well as foreign governments.
“We are grateful to all stakeholders who participated in this public comment process at this inflection point in the development of U.S. trade policy,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “To drive supply chain resilience, we must reevaluate earlier policy approaches and think creatively and strategically. Gathering and evaluating public input is a major part of that process as the Biden-Harris Administration continues to use trade to benefit all Americans.”
“Because supply chain resilience is such a challenging and wide-ranging area of trade policy, we value this opportunity to engage with stakeholders and to understand their concerns and expertise,” said USTR Special Counsel Victor Ban, who chaired the hearings. “We look forward to reviewing the written submissions and revisiting the hearing testimony as we consider new policy tools and approaches.”
USTR expects to synthesize the public comments over the coming months and release additional information to the public here.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Thermal Paper From the Federal Republic of Germany: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2022
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Steel Racks From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes From India: Final Determination of No Shipments of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Mattresses From Indonesia: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From the Federal Republic of Germany: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Certain Glass Wine Bottles From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duy Determination and Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates From the People's Republic of China: Amended Preliminary Determination of the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Soft Projectile Launching Devices, Components Thereof, Ammunition, and Products Containing Same; Notice of Commission Determination To Review in Part a Final Initial Determination of Violation of Section 337; Schedule for Filing Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding; Extension of the Target Date
• Raw Flexible Magnets From China and Taiwan; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Non-Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Paper Shopping Bags From Cambodia, China, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Taiwan, and Vietnam; Scheduling of the Final Phase of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Quartz Surface Products From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Application for Duty Free Entry of Scientific Instruments: Fermi Research Alliance, et al.; Notice of Decision on Applicationfor Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From the Republic of Korea: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022
• Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire Rod From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Organic Soybean Meal From India: Preliminary Results, Preliminary Intent To Rescind, in Part, and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2021-2023
• Pure Magnesium From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From the Sultanate of Oman: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Aluminum Extrusions From the Republic of Türkiye: Amended Preliminary Determination of the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Large Top-Mount Combination Refrigerator-Freezers From Thailand Institution of Antidumping Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase Investigations
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Sensors With Pixels and Products Containing Same; Notice of Institution of Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From France: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of the Antidumping Administrative Review; 2022-23
• Non-Refillable Steel Cylinders From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results, Partial Rescission, and Intent To Rescind, in Part, of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Circular Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipe and Tube Products From Türkiye: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Certain Plastic Decorative Ribbon From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order
• Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Türkiye: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022
• Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From Belgium: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Türkiye: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Second Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order
• Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From Belgium: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Plastic Decorative Ribbon From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Expedited First Sunset Reviews of the Countervailing Duty Order
• Boltless Steel Shelving Units Prepackaged for Sale From Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Amended Final Affirmative Antidumping Duty Determination for Taiwan and Antidumping Duty Orders
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the People's Republic of China, India, Canada, Greece, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Türkiye: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Reviews of the Antidumping Duty Orders
• Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Second Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Türkiye: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
• Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From Italy: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
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USDA APHIS Announces Plans for Eradicating Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina - USDA
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing its plans for eliminating ALB from Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina in 2024.
“We need people looking for and reporting tree damage now more than ever,” said Josie Ryan, APHIS’ National Operations Manager for the Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program. “Please look at your trees and report any suspicious damage. You can help us find the beetle so we can eliminate it.”
APHIS and its partners are inspecting trees in quarantined areas in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. The program removes infested trees at no cost to property owners. And they will not use insecticide treatments on residential properties this year. They will continue to respond to calls for assistance and provide outreach.
APHIS continues its work developing new ways to eradicate the beetle. These include:
• Using a new dynamic approach to surveying to reduce the time spent re-inspecting trees that are low risk of becoming infested.
• Conducting an infested-tree removal study in wetland environments.
• Using risk-based models to project the beetle’s spread and plan survey efforts.
• Evaluating new tools to find the beetle sooner, such as using trained dogs and remote-controlled technology to help find tree damage or host trees.
• Conducting studies to understand when and under what conditions adult beetles emerge.
• Improving data collection methods in each state.
As a reminder, people living and working in quarantine zones may not move regulated items out of the area. This includes items such as firewood, nursery stock, woody debris, and green lumber from all ALB host trees, unless the person has a compliance agreement along with a permit, or certificate. The trees the beetle attacks are regulated. This includes maple, elm, willow, birch, poplar, buckeye / horsechestnut, ash, sycamore, mimosa, goldenrain tree, katsura, and mountain ash.
Program officials track wood movement inside and around each infested area. They conduct training sessions for compliance agreement holders. Individuals and businesses may receive fines if they do not follow the regulations. A business or person can enter into a compliance agreement with the program if they want to move regulated items out of the quarantine. Doing this will get them the needed permit or certificate for those items. Or they can request that program staff inspect the items and issue the permit or certificate. To register for free compliance training, please call your local office:
• In Massachusetts, call 508-852-8110.
• In New York, call 631-962-0243.
• In Ohio, call 513-381-7180.
• In South Carolina, call 843-973-8329.
People who live in an ALB-quarantined area can help by:
1. Allowing program officials property access to inspect trees and remove any infested trees.
2. Hiring companies that have compliance agreements with the program.
3. Contacting the program or municipality to learn how to dispose of or move yard waste.
4. Contacting the program if you have any tree materials that might have ALB.
5. Buying or gathering firewood where you will burn it. Or use certified heat-treated firewood.
Currently, 278.3 square miles are under federal quarantine for ALB in the United States: 110 square miles in Worcester County, Massachusetts; 42.9 square miles in central Long Island, New York; 49 square miles in Clermont County, Ohio; and 76.4 square miles in Charleston and Dorchester counties, South Carolina. For more information about ALB and program activities, please call 1-866-702-9938 or visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/alb.
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Popular prescription drug Ozempic seized by Cincinnati CBP - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
CINCINNATI – Many people know Ozempic for its prescribed use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Over the last few years, the medication has grown in popularity for alternative means of weight loss with incredible results. Ozempic is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati recently seized 11 shipments packed full of the pre-filled prescription medication.
Officers at the Port of Cincinnati were conducting inspections on freight out of Colombia when they discovered shipments containing pre-filled injection pens containing Ozempic. A total of 11 FDA-regulated Ozempic shipments have been seized so far this calendar year at the Port of Cincinnati, with the first shipment detected in February. Each shipment originated in Colombia and were destined to New York, Massachusetts, and Texas. Most of the shipments held over 100 pre-filled injection pens. Had all 11 shipments been legitimate with FDA approval, they would have had a combined value of $887,000.
Officers reached out to FDA to confirm the drug cannot be imported into the United States without going through the proper steps and presenting the required documentation. Unfortunately, very few online pharmacies are compliant with the U.S. pharmacy standards. This poses health risks to consumers who purchase what they believe is a genuine product at a much lower cost. The product they receive may be inferior. Risks posed by using medications from unfamiliar sources include unknown ingredients, unusual side effects, and lack of effectiveness of the product.
“Prescription drugs that are smuggled from outside the U.S., particularly injectable products that should be sterile, can present a serious health risk to those who use them. The drugs have not undergone the proper import processes and may contain unknown or dangerous ingredients,” said Dan Solis, FDA Assistant Commissioner for import operations. “We will continue to be vigilant at ports of entry to interdict these potentially dangerous products, preventing them from reaching U.S. customers and protecting the public health.”
“Collaborative work with FDA has proven to help combat the soaring sales in E-commerce of illegal medications from overseas entities that fail to abide by the rules set in place,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director Field Operations-Chicago. “One of CBP’s mission priorities is to facilitate lawful trade. Stopping illegal shipments of Ozempic saves consumers a substantial amount of money and potentially dangerous health risks.”
CBP enforces laws for partner agencies including FDA. CBP works jointly with the FDA to combat the importation of illegal medications and beauty products that pose health risks for consumers. If you would like to find out more information, the FDA provides guidance on how human drugs can be legitimately imported into the United States.
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CSMS # 60840588 - APHIS Extends Protections for World’s Plants Through Implementation of Revised Lacey Act Provisions - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the implementation of Phase VII of the Lacey Act provisions. APHIS is finalizing the associated declaration requirement required by Congress for plant and wood products. In this phase, declarations will be required for all remaining plant product Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are not 100-percent composite materials.
If an importer imports items that contain plant products, but do not currently file a Lacey Act declaration, they likely will need to file under Phase VII. Phase VII includes the broadest range of items, items as varied as industrial or medicinal plants, handbags, plywood, laminated wood, tools, matches with natural wood stems, products of natural cork, products of bamboo and rattan, footwear and more. Plant and wood products included in past phases include timber, some furniture, essential oils, wood cases and trunks, and woodwind instruments and their parts and accessories.
The full enforcement schedule is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/lacey-act.
Phase VII of the enforcement schedule will begin 6 months after publication in the Federal Register. The public can comment on the products to be covered under Phase VII of the enforcement plan, as well as on whether any additional Harmonized Tariff Schedule chapters should be included in the current phase-in schedule. You can view the products included in Phase VII in the Federal Register notice: Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Implementation of Revised Lacey Act Provisions
APHIS will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 30, 2024. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2008-0119 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
Stakeholder Announcement_Lacey Act Phase VII (002).pdf
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OTEXA: Announcements - international Trade Administration
• 05/30/2024 – The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has determined to provide a 14-day transition period for all current 429 product specific Section 301 exclusions, extending them through June 14, 2024, and to extend certain exclusions listed in Annex C through May 31, 2025. USTR has found that extending these exclusions will support efforts to shift sourcing out of China, or provide additional time where, despite efforts to source products from alternative sources, availability of the product outside of China remains limited. The exclusions listed in Annex D are not being extended beyond the 14-day transition period. For more information see 89 FR 46948.
• 06/03/2024 – The Department of Commerce seeks public comment to inform its work on assessing and analyzing risk in global supply chains. This includes input into a determination of an initial list of “critical sectors” and “key goods” as provided under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement Relating to Supply Chain Resilience (Supply Chain Agreement). In addition, will also inform other analytical tools and methodologies developed by ITA’s Industry & Analysis unit to support resilient supply chains for U.S. industry. Public comments are open through Friday, June 21. For more information see 89 FR 47536.
• 06/06/2024 – April 2024 Textile and Apparel Import Report
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CBP Reminds Summer Travelers to Stay ‘Travel Ready' - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
WASHINGTON — As summer approaches and families prepare for their international trips, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds the traveling public to use the agency’s official mobile applications to secure and streamline their travel and expedite their reentry into the United States.
Throughout 2023, CBP expanded use of its technology, processing over 394 million travelers at ports of entry in fiscal year 2023, a 24-percent increase over last year, and has already reached almost 100 million travelers in the first quarter of FY2024, totaling more than 527 million travelers to date using biometric facial comparison technology at entry, exit and Preclearance locations, with a match rate of more than 98 percent.
Additionally, memberships in CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs in FY2024 has reached 14 million. For those looking to complete an interview before their summer travel, CBP currently has more than 158,000 interview appointments available within the next 90 days. Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) remains the best option to complete a GE interview. Applicants can complete their interview without an appointment and with just the entry documents they would normally carry when arriving from international locations.
CBP has also introduced a complement of mobile applications with technological enhancements to help speed up the travel process when entering the U.S. via air, land, or sea. Global Entry, for example, launched a new mobile app in September 2023 that allows members to complete their entry processing on their phones before even leaving the plane. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play, and is currently available for use at 47 airports, with more locations coming soon. To date around 348,000 Global Entry users have processed their arrival using the app.
International travelers who are not Global Entry members can take advantage of the Mobile Passport Control app, which allows travelers to submit their passport and travel information in advance with a mobile device, resulting in less congestion and more efficient processing. MPC is available at 51 ports of entry, including 14 Preclearance locations and four seaports. It can be used by all U.S. citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, B1/B2 Canadian Citizens, and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers. The app was used by 4.1 million travelers in FY2023, and has already had over 4.2 million uses in FY2024.
Non-U.S. citizens planning travel into the U.S. also have the option of using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization mobile app or the CBP One mobile app. The ESTA Mobile app was implemented June 1, 2023, and has been used almost 422,000 times to submit an ESTA application for authorization to travel to the U.S. In the first quarter of FY2024, the app has been used almost 338,000 times to apply. The CBP One™ app may also be used by visitors to the U.S. to apply and pay for the I-94 online. In FY2023, visitors used the CBP One app more than 458,000 times to complete a provisional I-94 application and almost 195,000 times in the first quarter of FY2024.
Additionally, U.S. citizens who are required to declare agriculture and biological products upon arrival into the United States may also use CBP One to provide advanced notification that they will need an agriculture inspection. Categories for declaration include:
• Biological materials that may require permits issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Pets, specifically birds and dogs, accompanying travelers in various capacities that carry the potential of introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. or other public health concerns
• Cleaning and disinfection of shoes
• Hunting trophies
All CBP applications can be downloaded free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. For more information about CBP’s suite of mobile apps, visit Mobile Apps Directory | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)
For more information on preparing to travel abroad, visit the Know Before You Go page on the CBP website.