Commerce Department

A Senate Appropriations Committee spending bill approved this week instructs the Commerce Department to publish the non-confidential aspects of the administration’s Section 232 report on auto and auto parts imports and contends that the president cannot unilaterally decide to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

A suspension agreement covering fresh tomatoes from Mexico, reached by Mexican growers and the Commerce Department last month and expected to be signed this week, is still facing criticism from both Mexican producers and domestic importers concerned about the increased border inspections the deal would mandate.

“Tell China to forget about it. Don’t let China exclude our nation’s security and Huawei from the negotiations.”

Mexican tomato growers and the Commerce Department have reached an 11th-hour deal that will suspend an antidumping investigation into fresh tomatoes from Mexico, raise reference prices and include additional enforcement provisions.

The Cause of Action Institute is trying to pry the document loose via the Freedom of Information Act.

President Trump’s decision to delay and remove certain tariffs on Chinese imports was made unilaterally, without any concessions from Beijing, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday.

“We cannot ignore the threat carbon pollution poses to agricultural markets, industry, and other sectors of our economy. Nor can we ignore international trade exacerbating carbon dioxide emissions. We respectfully ask you to provide us with an update.”

Ongoing negotiations over a new suspension agreement covering tomatoes from Mexico are hung up over border inspections, which Florida growers defend as necessary for enforcement but Mexican growers and officials call “unacceptable.”

The U.S. has criticized the Appellate Body for continuously failing to meet its 90-day deadline in appeals.