Because China makes 90% of anode and cathode materials, and dominates processing of critical minerals, no matter where they are mined, recent hikes in tariffs on Chinese minerals will do little, trade experts agreed.

Domestic steel producer Zekelman Industries filed a lawsuit on Oct. 21 in a Washington, D.C., federal court alleging that the Mexican government breached its 2019 agreement with the U.S. to slow imports of Mexican steel products. The company argued that Mexico's breach of the deal "has devastated the U.S. steel industry," forcing the company to close two plants due to the oversupply of cheap steel (Zekelman Industries v. United States, D.D.C. # 24-02992).

SAN DIEGO -- As brokers and their clients rely more and more on online methods and the cloud to conduct customs operations and everyday business, they should be aware that it’s practically inevitable that a cyberattack will one day hit them, panelists said at the Pacific Coast Council’s Western Cargo Conference (WESCCON) last week.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Oct. 23 ruled that steel tubing with insulating material imported by Shamrock Building Materials is classifiable as steel tubes of heading 7306, rather than insulated conduit of heading 8547, subjecting the steel tubing to 25% Section 232 tariffs.

The Federal Maritime Commission needs more employees and funding to investigate and penalize violators of shipping laws, especially for costly cases that move to U.S. courts, the commission’s enforcement division director told the FMC this week. Commissioners also said the FMC is closely scrutinizing ocean carriers and terminal operators accused of unfair surcharge practices stemming from the recent labor strikes at U.S. East and Gulf coast port terminals.

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

SAN DIEGO -- The FDA is ramping up scrutiny on food importers that aren't fully complying with Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirements, said Dan Solis, assistant commissioner for import operations with the agency's Office of Regulatory Affairs.

SAN DIEGO -- Although CBP has yet to indicate exactly when the agency will publish details on the new continuing education requirement for customs brokers, the agency's final rule will come out in the "near term," an official said during an Oct. 19 panel discussion at the Western Cargo Conference (WESCCON). In the meantime, partner government agencies including the FDA are still hammering out details about what offerings they will provide for continuing education credit.

A group of parents and other family members of those who overdosed on fentanyl are asking the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to double the 25% Section 301 tariffs on lists 1 and 2 under the existing Section 301 action, combined with no de minimis eligibility for all Chinese goods.

Officials from Squire Patton Boggs said that if Donald Trump returns to the presidency, a 10% tariff or higher on a vast swath of imports could come very quickly, but what wouldn't be subject to the tariffs is not yet clear.