Administration officials still seem to be at odds over what to do with Section 301 tariffs. While several officials have publicly touted the potential deflationary benefits of lowering tariffs, there have been no signals from the Office of the US Trade Representative that it would support this approach. Read more
Enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will begin promptly on June 21—there will not be a grace period. In the first of three webinars to...
Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined US policy toward China in a long-awaited speech. The speech did not announce any new initiatives but instead explained the administration’s rationale for existing ones. Investment screening, export controls, and adjusting supply chains are among the administration’s areas of focus moving forward. Read more
Blinken acknowledged that competition with China does not need to lead to conflict nor decoupling. He highlighted the...
Senate leadership is pushing to finalize the China package by the end of next month. According to our sources, the expiration of Trade Adjustment Assistance and the impending August recess might be what’s upping the urgency of getting the bill over the finish line. Read more
President Biden will officially launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) during his Japan trip. Last week, the White House pledged $150 million toward the framework, but it is still...
In this update:
Biden administration drafts executive order on protecting American data China bill meeting affirms divisions, negotiations still in early stages US and EU officials to convene in Paris for the second Trade and Technology Council meetingBiden administration drafts executive order on protecting American data
On Wednesday, Reuters reported on a draft executive order (EO) prepared by the White House designed to protect American data online. According to the...
USTR initiated a review of Section 301 tariffs to prevent them from expiring in July. The two-part process is expected to run from now until after the election, when USTR will make a decision on continuing, revising, or lifting certain tariffs. Read more
While there is strong support in the Senate to include a robust tariff exclusions process in BIA, it is still unclear if it will make it into the final bill. USCBC understands that some House Democrats believe it...
The United States hinted it could be lifting some Section 301 tariffs but might be weighing new ones, too. Multiple officials hinted this week that the administration could reduce or remove some Section 301 tariffs. However, following those statements, USCBC has learned that meaningful tariff relief is unlikely in the near term. Additionally, it seems the administration plans to soon launch a new Section 301 investigation. Read more
Treasury’s pilot program bill to...
Experts and industry continue to share concerns about the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act ahead of the June implementation date. Companies remain concerned by the lack of guidance for proving that their supply chains are free of forced labor. Read more
The Biden administration continues to court Indo-Pacific countries to build its regional economic framework. A meeting between President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the latest in a series of...
Courts direct USTR to justify Trump-era tariff expansions. While the tariffs in question were not overturned, greater scrutiny of USTR’s next steps could impact its upcoming re-assessment of Section 301 tariffs that will otherwise expire. Read more
Yesterday, reporters leaked the list of conferees for the China legislative package. While some of the 105 conferees are active on China issues, many are not. Read more
The Biden administration wants to launch Indo-...
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s testimony reaffirmed the administration’s support for an outbound investment review mechanism. It is uncertain if such a mechanism will be passed as part of a comprehensive China bill, future legislation, or through executive action. Read more
The House and Senate set the stage for a China bill conference to take place in early April. While lawmakers were previously hoping to pass the bill by Memorial Day, they may now be...
On Wednesday, USTR reinstated some of the Section 301 tariff exclusions that had expired. While this is a welcome move, many stakeholders, including USCBC, believe it does not go far enough to ease the burden on US companies, farmers, and consumers. Read more
This week, lawmakers continued to signal that a China bill conference will begin within the next few weeks. Some, including the administration, hope and expect that a version of the bill will pass this summer,...
