Perspectives on International Trade & Investment

On August 5, 2019, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO), freezing all assets in which the Government of Venezuela has an interest that are in US hands and prohibiting US persons from transactions with the Government of Venezuela, unless specifically exempted or authorized.

On Friday, August 2, 2019, the US State Department announced the issuance of another round of sanctions on the Russian Government in relation to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (CBW Act), which will go into effect on August 19, 2019.

On August 1, 2019, Trump posted a tweet that beginning on September 1, 2019, importers can expect a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese goods.

Earlier this month, members of Arent Fox’s Export Controls & Economic Sanctions team published analysis in WorldECR that identified problems with the application of secondary sanctions.

At a press conference at the G20 Summit in Japan on June 29, President Trump said he will not lift current Section 301 tariffs on China, but also would not add tariffs on any additional Chinese imports “for at least the time being” as part of an agreement to resume negotiations with China. 

On February 26, 2019, Darling Industries, Inc. (Darling) entered into a $400,000, 18-month consent agreement with the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) to settle six alleged violations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

On June 20, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice outlining the procedure for requesting exclusions from List 3 of the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports via a new web portal.

Because of the length of time since China Section 301 duties were first imposed on July 6, 2018, many 2018 entries first covered by the duties are approaching their liquidation date (if they have not liquidated already).

The 2019 edition of Legal 500 US has rated 49 Arent Fox LLP attorneys as national leaders in their field. In addition, 15 of the firm’s practice areas were ranked among the best in the country.

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), issued a final rule that added five recently developed or developing technologies that are essential to the national security of the United States to the Export Administration Regulations’ (EAR) Commerce Control List (CCL).

In response to the increasing numbers of illegal border crossers, primarily from the Central American countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, crossing into the US along the US – Mexico border, President Trump has previously indicated he would “shut the border.”

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is currently drafting the implementing regulations for the FIRRMA which was enacted this past August and represents the most sweeping set of changes to the processes and jurisdiction of CFIUS in its 44-year history.

A federal appeals court has delivered potentially good news for companies whose imported products US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) insists are within the scope of an ambiguous antidumping or countervailing duty (AD/CVD) order.

On May 21, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on the proposed exclusion process for List 3 of the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports.

Between the addition of Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, to the Entity List and a new EO declaring a national emergency related to information and communications technology and services, last week proved to be nonstop excitement for the export control world.

For these tariffs to become effective, the US Trade Representative will need to publish a final notice after public comment and hearing.

Yesterday, May 8, 2019, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) authorizing broad new sanctions with respect to the steel, aluminum, iron, and copper sectors of Iran.

On Sunday, May 5, President Donald Trump announced that the Section 301 tariffs on List 3 products will increase from 10 percent to 25 percent on Friday, May 10, and to expect a fourth list of $325 billion in Chinese imports to be taxed at 25 percent.

Fashion accessory and luxury goods importers of fine jewelry and costume jewelry containing gemstones and/or precious metals (e.g., gold), should be aware of a current proposal being considered by State Department officials.

WASHINGTON, DC – Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized 31 Arent Fox LLP attorneys as leaders in their field.

Companies have been on high alert since hearing about a potential shut down of the US-Mexican border, which we reported on in our prior alert. We provide the most up to date information on the situation on the border below:

After years and years of waiting, it popped out of the hat like a Bunny just in time for Easter. The new 22 CFR 126.4 ITAR license exemption for transfers of defense articles and defense services by or for the US Government (USG) went into effect on April 19, 2019.

On April 8, 2019, the USTR announced that it is initiating an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to enforce the rights of the United States in the WTO dispute involving subsidies provided to the large civil aircraft industry by the European Union.

Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the President has the authority to impose tariffs on imports to counter trade practices that the US Trade Representative finds either to violate or conflict with a trade agreement or to burden or restrict US commerce unjustifiably.

Companies have been hearing about a potential shut down of the US-Mexican border and we have compiled the latest information available.