A staff report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says that Congress should consider that "current customs and tariff levels disproportionately benefit Chinese e-commerce firms," and that packages sent to U.S. consumers "are frequently not inspected. Those that are inspected are often subject to rudimentary visual checks without the technology or screening to trace fabric origin and other violations."
Despite the success of its Section 321 data pilot, which has taught CBP lessons on the types of data on de minimis shipments it may find helpful and reduced hiccups for industry participants providing the additional data, CBP still has “quite a bit we can learn,” CBP’s Christopher Mabelitini said during a webinar April 12. In addition to expanding the number of participants covered by the pilot, CBP is looking to increase the universe of data and transactions.
The chair and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, along with the lead sponsors of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, told Homeland Security Undersecretary Robert Silvers that they're concerned about the implementation of UFLPA, and that they intend to call Silvers to testify at a hearing in the near future, along with "a panel of experts on trade, labor trafficking, and supply chain mapping."
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.
CBP has started to shift its enforcement focus to Type 86 entries as use of the relatively new entry type for de minimis shipments grows and the agency sees a "large percentage of violations" related to use of the entry type, CBP's James Moore said during an April 5 webinar hosted by the agency.
Starting April 18, consumers buying electric cars and trucks manufactured in North America that do not have enough friend-shored critical minerals or North American battery components no longer will qualify for a $7,500 tax credit.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai reassured the members of the National Council of Textile Organizations that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has no interest in loosening rules of origin for clothing made in Central America and the Dominican Republic. Some have argued that the CAFTA-DR has not lived up to its potential because its rules are too restrictive (see 2112030045 and 2104140047).
In more than four hours of questioning during a hearing March 24 before the House Ways and Means Committee, no member of Congress advocated for lessening tariffs on Chinese goods under Section 301, or for reopening exclusions applications.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: