Navigating the Suez Blockade: A Trade Tirade
Editor’s Note: First, let us say that the humanitarian impacts and terrifying possibilities of a raging geopolitical storm leading to a global conflict are what really matter when eyeing Gaza. That is a concern well beyond this blog! We write this in the spirit of the annual budgets we are preparing (or will soon be […]
Continue Reading »USTR Extends Existing China 301 Exclusions until December 31, 2023
The Office of U.S. Trade Representative, USTR, previously announced that multiple Section 301 tariff exclusions would remain in effect until September. Yesterday the USTR announced that they will extend existing China 301 tariff exclusions until December 31st, 2023. There are two main sets of exclusions: one set of 77 COVID-related exclusions and another set of […]
Continue Reading »Labor Strikes
Labor Strikes Throwing Curveballs Why aren’t baseball players huge fans of labor unions? Because they don’t like to be called out on strikes! Now that we’ve “Cracker Jacked” that joke, let us take you out to the ballgame… If you haven’t checked the scoreboard lately, then you’ll be surprised to learn that the number of […]
Continue Reading »Update on the ILWU Strikes in Canada (July 20th)
After resuming strikes in British Columbia yesterday, ILWU workers are once again back at work today (July 20th) after a ruling from the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered dockworkers back for failing to provide a 72-hour strike notice. The ILWU is expected to resume its strike on Saturday, July 22nd. Shapiro will continue to monitor […]
Continue Reading »The ILWU Strikes in British Columbia Resume!
Last week, Canada’s Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan, and Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, issued a joint statement advising that the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) had accepted a joint deal with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). However, the leadership of the ILWU has now suggested that their members vote the recommended terms down. The leadership cited […]
Continue Reading »PMA and ILWU Officials Reach Tentative West Coast Agreement
Last night, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) revealed they had finally reached a tentative contract agreement after 13 long months of tumultuous and turbulent negotiations. According to the announcement, both sides have informally agreed to a six-year contract that covers all 29 West Coast ports. Although the […]
Continue Reading »CIT Issues Final Decision on Section 301 Goods from China
The Court of International Trade (CIT) released an initial ruling in 2022 that indicated that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) did in fact have the authority to impose Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. After careful deliberation, the CIT has determined that these duties placed on Chinese goods were appropriately implemented and supported. Some of […]
Continue Reading »USTR (Again!) Extends Certain Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Until May 15, 2023
With consideration to the production capacity of the United States, and the country’s continuing efforts to combat COVID, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would extend Section 301 tariff exclusions on 81 medical products used to treat COVID-19 until May 15, 2023. These exclusions were formerly scheduled to expire on February 28, […]
Continue Reading »USTR Requests Comments on Continuation of COVID Exclusions from Section 301 Tariffs
As you may already be aware, in November 2022, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would extend Section 301 tariff exclusions on medical products used to treat COVID-19 for an additional 90 days. With the exclusions set to expire on February 28th, the USTR announced they are seeking public comments […]
Continue Reading »USTR Extends Certain Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Until September 2023
Today, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it will extend Section 301 tariff exclusions on 352 products from China for an additional nine-months. The exclusions were previously set to expire on December 31, 2022. The exclusions from Section 301 tariffs include: The extensions announced in this notice will apply as of […]
Continue Reading »Biden Signs Legislation to Prevent Massive US Rail StrikeBiden Signs Legislation to Prevent Massive US Rail Strike
Today, President Joe Biden signed legislation—originally approved in Congress earlier this week—to prevent a massive rail strike from devastating the US economy. The bill passed in the House (290-137) on Wednesday (November 30); and was approved by the Senate (80-15) on Thursday. Biden had been urging lawmakers to pass the bill after railway workers announced […]
Continue Reading »USTR Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Certain Medical Products until February 28, 2023
Today, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it will extend Section 301 tariff exclusions on medical products used to treat COVID-19 for an additional 90 days. The 81 exclusions were originally set to expire on November 30, 2022; however, the exclusions will now apply to products meeting the specified criteria until […]
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