Customs Releases Textile Enforcement Statistics

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recognizes the importance of textile trade and the critical need for enforcement in this sector. Textile and apparel goods have some of the highest duty rates of all commodities imported into the U.S. making them susceptible to fraud. Textile risks include: schemes designed to circumvent textile tariff and trade laws include false invoicing, false marking and labeling, false claims of origin, illegal transshipment, misdescription, undervaluation, false declarations of right to make entry, false trade preference claims, and outright smuggling. Therefore, textiles have long been a CBP Priority Trade Issue (PTI) for CBP enforcement efforts.

CBP maintains a robust and comprehensive enforcement strategy to effectively minimize and analyze the various textile risk areas. Both textile importers and the U.S. domestic manufacturing industry have a substantial interest in the Textile PTI enforcement results. The Textile Enforcement Statistics reflect the results of the various CBP enforcement activities.

See the statistics HERE.

CBP Launches the United States-Mexico-Canada Center to Coordinate Implementation of USMCA

To help coordinate implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which enters into force on July 1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently opened the USMCA Center.

Staffed with CBP experts from operational, legal, and audit disciplines, as well as with virtual representatives from Canadian and Mexican customs authorities, the USMCA Center is a cornerstone of CBP's USMCA implementation plan and will serve as a central communication hub for CBP and the private sector community, including traders, brokers, freight forwarders and producers, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition from the North American Free Trade Agreement to USMCA.

USMCA is a new trade agreement that modernizes certain NAFTA provisions, reflecting developments in technology and 21st Century supply chains. USMCA calls for new approaches to rules of origin, agricultural market access, digital trade, and financial services while protecting the labor rights of workers in key industries, and strengthening the protection of intellectual property rights.

The USMCA Center staff will be CBP's experts on the trade provisions of USMCA, providing guidance to private and public sector stakeholders. Center staff will facilitate a smooth transition from NAFTA by coordinating and scheduling outreach events, responding to training requests, developing and distributing information resources, and updating CBP regulations on pending USMCA topics/issues, while also providing clear and transparent technical guidance on USMCA's new compliance obligations. Center staff will work closely with Centers of Excellence and Expertise and the ports to ensure CBP’s implementation is uniform and supports U.S. economic security.

Please note: NAFTA rules will continue to apply until July 1 when USMCA enters into force.

Read more HERE.

The U.S. - Mexico - Canada Agreement (USMCA) Interim Implementing Instructions Available Now

CBP has provided interim implementing instructions to aid the importing community HERE

Noah Clothing Recalls Men’s Reverse Fleece Hoodies Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard; Burn Hazard

This recall involves Noah Clothing-branded men’s 100% cotton brushed reverse fleece, long sleeve, hooded sweatshirts. The hoodies were sold in black, Kelly green, bright red and light blue colors and in men’s sizes XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL. They have a drawstring around the collar of the neck, color contrasting stitching and “NOAH” embroidered on the front pocket. The reverse fleece hoodie is sewn so that the fleece typically seen on the inside of the hoodie is shown on the outside (reverse) everywhere but the pocket and hood. The sewn-in label at the neck states "NOAH" with a red cross underneath. The sewn-in care label has additional information that states “RN 150322.”

Product Description	Colors	Sizes
Reverse Fleece Hoodie   (Style Number SS4FW19)	Black, Kelly Green, Bright Red, Light Blue	Men’s sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, and XXL

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled reverse fleece hoodies and contact Noah Clothing for a full refund plus a $20 gift card upon sending Noah a photo of the garment cut in half. Noah Clothing is directly contacting all known purchasers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Sold At: Noah Clothing’s New York City  store  and at Dover Street Market’s Los Angeles, Calif., store and online at www.noahny.com from August 2019 through March 2020 for about $150.

Importer(s): Noah Clothing LLC, of New York

Manufactured In: Canada

Recall number: 20-119

More information and photos HERE.

USTR Considers 12 Month Extension of China 301 List 3 Tariff Exclusions

Effective September 24, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative imposed additional duties on goods of China with an annual trade value of approximately $200 billion as part of the action in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation (China 301 List 3). The U.S. Trade Representative initiated an exclusion process for the $200 billion action in June 2019, and as of March 26, 2020, has issued 11 product exclusion notices under this action. The product exclusions granted under these notices are scheduled to expire on August 7, 2020. The U.S. Trade Representative has decided to consider a possible extension for up to 12 months of particular exclusions granted under these initial 11 product exclusion notices. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) invites public comment on whether to extend particular exclusions.

The U.S. Trade Representative has decided to consider a possible extension for up to 12 months of particular exclusions granted under the initial 11 product exclusion notices under the $200 billion action. At this time, USTR is not considering product exclusion notices issued after March 26, 2020. Accordingly, USTR invites public comments on whether to extend particular exclusions granted under the following notices of product exclusions:

• 84 FR 38717 (August 7, 2019)
• 84 FR 49591 (September 20, 2019)
• 84 FR 57803 (October 29, 2019)
• 84 FR 61674 (November 13, 2019)
• 84 FR 65882 (November 29, 2019)
• 84 FR 69012 (December 17, 2019)
• 85 FR 549 (January 6, 2020)
• 85 FR 6674 (February 5, 2020)
• 84 FR 9921 (February 20, 2020)
• 85 FR 15015 (March 16, 2020)
• 85 FR 17158 (March 26, 2020)

To be assured of consideration, you must submit your comment between the opening of the public docket on the portal on May 1, 2020 and the June 8, 2020 submission deadline.

ITC Releases Report on Imported Products Related to the Response to COVID-19

On May 4, 2020, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) released the results of its investigation to identify imported products related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide trade-related information for them, including their 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers and the source countries and applicable rates of duty of those HTS numbers.

U.S. and UK Launch Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

On May 5, 2020, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss announced the formal launch of trade agreement negotiations between the U.S. and the UK.

Statement of USTR Robert Lighthizer on the Launch of U.S.-UK Trade Negotiations

Joint Statement of USTR Robert Lighthizer and UK Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss