USTR Announces Katherine White as Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator

April 22, 2024, the Office of the U.S. Trade Reprentative announced that Katherine White will serve as USTR’s Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator. Ms. White joins USTR from the House Ways and Means Committee in the United States Congress where she served as International Trade Policy Advisor. In this capacity, she advised Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) and Democratic Members of the Committee on trade policy matters, shaped U.S. trade laws, and participated in the negotiation, implementation, and enforcement of U.S. trade agreements, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). She has worked closely with the textile and apparel industry during the development of trade legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions - Guidance on Marking of Goods of Hong Kong – Executive Order 13936

Every article of foreign origin or its container imported into the Customs territory of the United States shall be marked in a conspicuous place and in such manner as to indicate to the ultimate purchaser in the United States the English name of the country of origin of the article (19 U.S.C. §1304 and 19 CFR 134.11).

Imported goods that are produced in Hong Kong that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption into the United States after the transition period must be marked to indicate that their origin is “China” for purposes of 19 U.S.C. § 1304.

Goods that are not marked properly after the transition period may be brought into a Foreign Trade Zone to be properly marked under a permit to manipulate issued by the Port Director.

Similarly, goods which are improperly or falsely marked may be brought into an FTZ under a permit to manipulate to correct or remove such marking so as to comply with the laws and regulations (19 CFR 134.13(b)).

The change in marking requirements does not affect country of origin determinations for purposes of assessing ordinary duties under Chapters 1-97 of the HTSUS or temporary or additional duties under Chapter 99 of the HTSUS. Therefore, goods that are products of Hong Kong should continue to report International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code “HK” as the country of origin when required.

RRead more HERE.

Initiation of Section 301 Investigation: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance

On April 22, 20214, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative published in the Federal Register (89 FR 29424 Initiation of Section 301 Investigation: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Targeting the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance.

On March 12, 2024, five labor unions filed a Section 301 petition regarding the acts, policies, and practices of China to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sector. The petition was filed pursuant to section 302(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2412(a)(1)), requesting action pursuant to Section 301(b) (19 U.S.C. 2411(b)).

The five petitioners are the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO CLC (USW), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO/CLC (IBB), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO (MTD).

Polyester Textured Yarn from India was not Sold in the United States at Less than Normal Value in 2022

On April 18, 2024, the International Trade Administration published in the Federal Register (89 FR 27713 Polyester Textured Yarn From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that polyester textured yarn (yarn) from India was not sold in the United States at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

Production Authority Not Approved; Foreign-Trade Zone 38; Teijin Carbon Fibers, Inc.

On April 17, 20245, the Foreign-Trade Zone Board published in the Federal Register (89 FR 27413) Production Authority Not Approved; Foreign-Trade Zone 38; Teijin Carbon Fibers, Inc.; (Carbon Fiber); Greenwood, South Carolina.

The Board adopted the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report, and found that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations have not been satisfied.

Therefore, the Board did not approve the application, as amended, requesting to remove the restriction requiring that all foreign status 24,000 tow PAN fiber admitted for production activity be re-exported (entry for U.S. consumption was not authorized) within FTZ 38 at the facility of Teijin Carbon Fibers, Inc., located in Greenwood, South Carolina, as described in the application and Federal Register notice.

Men's Uniform Dress Coat Contract Awarded

April 19, 2024, Fechheimer Brothers Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a maximum $16,355,700 modification (P00012) exercising the third one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-21-D-1466) with four one-year option periods for men's uniform dress coats. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Illinois, with an April 26, 2025, ordering period end date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2024 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Maternity Blouse and Trouser Contract Awarded

April 18, 2024, American Apparel Inc.,* Selma, Alabama, has been awarded a maximum $14,060,405 modification (P00009) exercising the first one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-23-D-0047) with four one-year option periods for maternity blouses and trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The ordering period end date is April 24, 2025. Using military service is Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2024 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

*Small Business