U.S. issues additional Chinese Tariffs – Is Your Product on the List?

U.S. issues additional Chinese Tariffs – Is Your Product on the List?

On June 15, President Trump kept true to his May 29th promise of imposing additional tariffs against Chinese goods. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has officially released the “Section 301 Product List”. The additional duties are effective on or after July 6, 2018. History We previously proved advised our readers of President’s Trump directive is…

Site Selection/Ports Update: Rising Economic Tide Boosts North American Ports

Site Selection/Ports Update: Rising Economic Tide Boosts North American Ports

By Derik Andreoli, Director of Economic Analysis and Forecasting, Mercator International The logistics landscape is ever-evolving as shippers adopt new supply chain strategies and adapt to diverse and variable market pressures. Ports, too, are adapting to succeed in today’s changing market and rise to the challenges associated with the rapid upsizing of container ships (see sidebar)….

Tariffs: Manufacturers are Ill-equipped for Raw Material Cost Hikes

Tariffs: Manufacturers are Ill-equipped for Raw Material Cost Hikes

The import tariffs on steel and aluminum, as confirmed by President Trump on May 31, exacerbated worries for B2B manufacturers—and their customers. The implications for employment and the economy are significant, but most manufacturers are also grappling with practical questions, such as: How will this impact my per-unit costs? How can we effectively pass these changes on? How will customers react…

Trade Briefing: Consumer Impact of Potential U.S. Section 232 Tariffs & Quotas on Imported Automobiles & Automotive Parts

Trade Briefing: Consumer Impact of Potential U.S. Section 232 Tariffs & Quotas on Imported Automobiles & Automotive Parts

The U.S. Department of Commerce is currently investigating whether U.S. automobiles and automotive parts constitute a national security threat under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) estimates that consumers will see the price of all new vehicles rise by $455 to $6,875 depending on…

Cybersecurity a Top Concern as Automated Technologies Gain Traction

Cybersecurity a Top Concern as Automated Technologies Gain Traction

Cybersecurity must be a priority as manufacturers begin rolling out more automated driving systems, transportation industry groups told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency closed a public comment period last month focused on regulations may need to be modified or eliminated to facilitate the safe introduction of automated driving systems in commercial vehicles….

Where Fireworks Are From In the US [Infographic]

Where Fireworks Are From In the US [Infographic]

For people aiming to “buy American” for Independence Day this year, it might prove difficult to obtain U.S.-manufactured fireworks. Most of the bottle rockets, roman candles, and other fireworks on sale across the country trace their origin to China. Last year, China accounted for nearly 96 percent of total U.S. fireworks imports, amounting to approximately…

Trade War Own Goal

Trade War Own Goal

What do World Cup football and international trade policy have in common? Not much, really, but for each, the desire to avoid an “own goal” – scoring against yourself – is paramount. Morocco found that out the hard way in its first-round match with Iran. My expectation is that the Trump administration will as well,…

Why is Trade Compliance operating like its 1999?

Why is Trade Compliance operating like its 1999?

Reflections on AAEI 2018 – Why is Trade Compliance operating like its 1999? As always AAEI puts together an agenda that is meaningful for the trade compliance community.  The sessions are highly informative and relevant to the current trade environment and provide really good insights into what CBP, Commerce, and the PGAs are working on….

Global State of Supply Chain Security: Evolving Threats

Global State of Supply Chain Security: Evolving Threats

  This is Part One of a three-part interview | Kristina Tanasichuk World Customs Organization Director of Compliance and Facilitation Ana Hinojosa brought 28 years of customs experience to the global body when elected to her post in 2015. The former U.S. Customs and Border Protection deputy assistant commissioner-international affairs also served as director of field…

World Cup Better Than Expected for Logistics

World Cup Better Than Expected for Logistics

Automotive Logistics | Vladislav Vorotnikov The FIFA World Cup 2018 has caused a temporary shortage of transport capacities in certain regions of Russia, with a local rise in tariffs and some delays at customs, according to Irina Novikova, the inland transport department director of Gefco. However, fears of Russia ceasing to import automotive components including…

Contracts with Foreign Companies May Require a Rewrite

Contracts with Foreign Companies May Require a Rewrite

Hwan Kim | Neil A.F. Popović | Sheppard Mullin Law Firm A recent California case may force companies doing business with foreign entities to reconsider—and maybe rewrite—their contracts. In Rockefeller Tech. Invs. (Asia) VII v. Changzhou Sinotype Tech. Co., No. B272170, 2018 WL 2455092 (Cal. App. June 1, 2018), the California Court of Appeal held that…