Search Results for keywords:"U.S. Trade Representative"

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the trade levels of sugar and syrup products from several countries, which affect their eligibility for duty-free entry under various trade agreements. For the 2025 calendar year, Chile, Morocco, the Dominican Republic, and Peru have negative trade surpluses, meaning their goods cannot enter the U.S. duty-free. Meanwhile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Panama have varying positive trade surpluses and can export limited quantities to the U.S. without tariffs, based on predetermined quotas.

The United States International Trade Commission has ended its investigation into the impact of the Canada-EU Trade Agreement on the U.S. lobster industry. This decision follows a letter from the U.S. Trade Representative revoking the request for the investigation, as the European Union recently removed tariffs on imported lobsters, which eliminated the need for such a report. The investigation was originally requested in July 2020, but officially terminated on December 23, 2020. The Commission will not be releasing a report on this matter.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that the United Kingdom (UK) can continue exporting under the U.S. tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) designated for European Union (EU) member countries in 2021. This decision comes after the UK's departure from the EU, which was finalized on December 31, 2020. These quotas, described in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, specifically include certain quotas for dairy products. The U.S. Trade Representative can adjust these quotas, and the UK is allowed to designate importers for cheese and other products as it has in previous years.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative has determined that Austria's Digital Services Tax (DST) is unfair or discriminatory towards U.S. companies and negatively impacts U.S. commerce. The DST applies a 5% tax on certain large companies' digital advertising revenues within Austria. The U.S. Trade Representative found that the tax discriminates against American digital companies and contradicts principles of international taxation. As a result, they plan to take further actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act to address these issues.

The U.S. International Trade Commission has initiated an investigation focusing on the effects of cucumber imports on the U.S. seasonal markets, particularly in the Southeast. This action follows a request from the U.S. Trade Representative and is part of Investigation No. 332-583. The investigation will analyze trade trends and price comparisons between domestic and imported cucumbers from 2015 to 2020. A public hearing will be held virtually on April 8, 2021, and the final report is scheduled to be transmitted to the USTR by December 7, 2021.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has determined that China's efforts to dominate the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors have been found to be unreasonable and negatively impact U.S. commerce, making it actionable under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The USTR's investigation revealed that China implements aggressive policies and industrial planning to gain a significant market share in these sectors, which disadvantages U.S. companies by reducing competition and creating dependencies that pose economic security risks. Public comments and a report underscore that these actions undercut U.S. business opportunities and investments, and restrict competition and choice, affecting vital supply chains. Future proceedings will decide on actions to counter China's practices under section 301(b).

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has announced a revision to the list of eligible countries for its Telecommunications and Electric Program purchases. Japan has been added to this list, and the update aligns with the November 2023 list issued by the U.S. Trade Representative. This list defines which countries can be treated similarly to U.S. products under the "Buy American" provision of the Rural Electrification Act. The new eligibility list is available through a specified USTR link, and further details can be obtained by contacting designated RUS officials.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has decided that Turkey's Digital Services Tax (DST) is unfair and discriminates against U.S. businesses, causing problems for U.S. trade. The tax targets companies based on digital services and revenue criteria, disadvantaging American companies. This conclusion came after an investigation and consultations with Turkey, during which public opinions and expert advice were considered. The USTR plans to take further actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act in response to these findings.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that there will be no change to the current strategy regarding the enforcement of U.S. rights in the World Trade Organization dispute over Large Civil Aircraft subsidies from some European Union member states. This decision comes after a recent review of the goods subject to additional duties, effective January 12, 2021, concluded that no revisions are necessary. The USTR will continue to evaluate the situation moving forward.

The U.S. International Trade Commission has announced an investigation into the impact of squash imports on U.S. seasonal markets, especially focusing on the Southeastern region. This investigation, requested by the U.S. Trade Representative, will examine trends and price differences between domestic and imported squash from 2015 to 2020. A public hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2021, and deadlines for related submissions are set between March and April 2021. The Commission emphasizes that no confidential business information will be included in the final report to the USTR, which is due by December 7, 2021.