Customs and Border Protection Issues Update On Enforcement Of Trade Orders
P. Lee Smith
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its AD/CVD Update for June/July 2016. As explained in the January 2015 and the August 2016 editions of the Trade & Manufacturing Alert, the AD/CVD Update is part of CBP’s outreach efforts and a way to publicize CBP’s progress on this Priority Trade Issue. The June/July 2016 Update highlighted two issues. The first concerned the agreement between the United States and Vietnam regarding imports of shrimp, pursuant to which one exporter will no longer be subject to antidumping duties. CBP reported that it will carry out the instructions of the Commerce Department to refund duties to the exporter. CBP also reported that a U.S. importer of glycine is suing its German supplier for selling glycine from China, which is subject to antidumping duties. Previously, CBP issued notices of action to the U.S. importer stating that the glycine it imported was Chinese origin and subject to antidumping duties. The German supplier informed the importer that it repacked and relabeled the glycine but could not provide information to support the country of origin.
U.S. Softwood Lumber Industry Files New Trade Case Against Canada
Richard Lutz
On December 16, the U.S. Commerce Department initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on softwood lumber from Canada. The case, which represents the fifth time that the U.S. industry has filed a trade action against Canada, targets more than $5 billion of annual imports used in housing construction. The case was filed by the Carpenters Industrial Council as well as a number of U.S. softwood lumber producers, including Weyerhaeuser Lumber, Swanson Group, Stimson Lumber, Sierra Pacific, Seneca Sawmill, Rex Lumber, Potlatch, Pleasant River Lumber, Collum’s Lumber, Hankins, Giustina Land and Timber, and Sullivan Forestry. The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination by January 9. The earliest date for the imposition of preliminary duties would be February 21, but that deadline is likely to be extended.
Energy Bill Fails To Pass Conference Before Congress Adjourns
Jordan Shepherd
The 114th U.S. Congress adjourned last month without any movement on the bipartisan energy reform bill called the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016. As we last reported in October, the bill was in conference as House and Senate lawmakers sought to reconcile the differences between their versions of the bill. While many differences appeared close to resolution, including the apparent removal of the provision to streamline the review procedures for liquefied natural gas exports, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that the bill would not be taken up during this lame duck session. Energy policy will likely be on the legislative agenda in the next Congress, and the issue of LNG export procedures may again be on the table.
