As reported in early February, the outbreak and continuity of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has created unprecedented strain on shipping and travel relationships between China and the rest of the world. Most notably, air and ocean freight carriers are experiencing a sharp decrease in activity, as shippers relying on Chinese-sourced goods [...]
On January 16th, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation to overhaul the 25-year-old trade pact among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The deal, more commonly known as USMCA, passed by 89-10, now goes to the President’s desk for signature after which the bill will be passed to Canada for their [...]
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, United States President, Donald Trump, and Chinese Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Liu He, took significant steps towards de-escalating the nearly two-year trade war by signing a Phase One trade agreement. The long-awaited trade deal is comprehensive and covers everything from agricultural [...]
On Friday, December 13, 2019, after almost a year of tense negotiations and escalating trade penalties, the United States and China have finally announced progress with Phase One of a new ‘historic and enforceable agreement.' The United States first imposed tariffs on imports from China based on the findings of [...]
On Monday, December 2, 2019 the Office of United States Trade Representative released findings from a Section 301 investigation against France’s Digital Services Tax (DST) for discrimination against U.S. companies, inconsistency with prevailing principles of international tax policy, and creating unusual burdens for affected U.S. companies. In a Federal Register [...]
All cargo is screened before it enters the U.S., but you may be surprised to learn that not all cargo is physically inspected. The screening processing could begin at the U.S. port of entry or as early as the foreign port of exit (port of lading). Although very complex, cargo [...]
On October 11th, the U.S. announced a major step forward in the escalating trade dispute with China – that a “substantial” Phase 1 deal has been agreed to covering intellectual property, financial services, and the sale of American agriculture products. While there is doubt as to the full scope of [...]
On September 25, 2019 the United States and Japan reached an agreement which allowed for tariff reductions on agricultural, industrial and digital goods into both nations. The agreement will go into effect on January 1, 2020 with an additional round of reductions to be announced by April 1, 2020. Under [...]
After years of consideration, on September 13, 2019, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a Federal Register Notice “seeking public comment on its interpretation of the Shipping Act prohibition against failing to establish, observe, and enforce just and reasonable regulations and practices relating to or connected with receiving, handling, storing, [...]
On Wednesday, September 11, in a “gesture of good will,” United States President Donald Trump announced a 15-day postponement to the Section 301 tariff escalation, originally scheduled for October 1st, that will increase tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports from 25% to 30 percent. The Chinese government reciprocated, [...]
