Customs and Border Protection

Steel industry associations and a group representing a cross-section of U.S. sectors are calling on U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to resume the collection of tariffs after the agency announced last week it would approve delayed payments of estimated duties, taxes and fees “on a case by case basis” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wyden: “I hope that this administration will continue to work with human rights organizations and the business community to ensure this loophole stays closed and enforce our tough trade policies that protect American workers and values.”

A coalition of companies operating foreign trade zones in the U.S. is calling for legislation amending U.S. law to allow de minimis entry eligibility to apply to goods withdrawn from those zones, arguing that doing so would reduce imports from China and support U.S. jobs.

Laredo, TX, Mayor Pete Saenz: “We can secure border security but not at the expense of commerce and trade.”

A three-judge panel this week questioned the level of discretion afforded to the executive branch in Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the constitutionality of which is being challenged by an international steel group that is taking aim at steel tariffs imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year.

Customs and Border Protection and the Treasury Department this week issued a new set of duty drawback regulations banning producers from recouping tariffs on imported products if they export similar U.S.-made items that are exempt from taxes, claiming that U.S. industry is mistaken in its criticism of the change.

Proposed changes to duty drawback rules issued by the Treasury Department and Customs and Border Protection are drawing fire from a number of industry groups that fear the new rules would limit companies' ability to recoup paid tariffs and taxes.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 1 outlined an “absolute” quota system for South Korea to follow when exporting steel products to the U.S., an approach that analysts and trade lawyers say may not leave Seoul with much flexibility and one that signals a departure from previous quota deals agreed to by the U.S.

A confirmation vote could be held next Thursday or the following Monday.