On December 10, 2019, a revised version of the USMCA was agreed upon and signed by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The USMCA, which is set to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), was initially agreed upon and signed in 2018. USMCA updates provisions on agriculture, automobiles, textiles, apparel, rules of origin, communications technology, intellectual property rights, low-value shipments, digital trade, currency and other issues.
News / Kirsten Rysko
On Friday, December 13, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a Phase 1 Trade Agreement with China. This enforceable agreement requires structural reforms to China’s economic and trade regime in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer, agriculture, financial services, and currency and foreign exchange.
As we continue our transition to Noatum Logistics USA from MIQ Logistics, we’d like to update you on some upcoming format changes to our Supply Chain Alert and Logistics Link messages. The changes will be implemented with your next alert and monthly logistics link communications.
Reminder: On December 15, 2019, the China List 4B Tariffs will go into effect at 15%. These tariffs were first posted in the Federal Register Notice 84 FR 43304 dated August 20, 2019. This list was modified on August 30, 2019, in Federal Register Notice 84 FR 45821 increasing the tariff rate to 15% from 10%. List 4B includes products such as cell phones, laptop computers, video game consoles, certain toys, computer monitors, and certain items of footwear and clothing.
On Friday, November 29, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released a new list of product exclusions to the Section 301 List 3 products currently subject to a 25% tariff in the Federal Register Notice 84 FR 65882.
Source: Institute for Supply Management – December 2, 2019 Release
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November, and the overall economy grew for the 127th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.
On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released in Federal Register Notice 84 FR 64180 the results of the annual Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) review with respect to products considered for removal from the list of eligible products for certain beneficiary countries. This review includes the competitive needs limitations (CNLs), including petitions for waivers of CNLs and requests to reinstate/predesignate products previously excluded from GSP eligibility.
On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office released a new list of product exclusions to the Section 301 List 3 products currently subject to a 25% tariff in the Federal Register Notice 84 FR 61674.
This notice includes 36 specific product descriptions. Companies are encouraged to refer to the Annex in the notice to determine if any of their products are included in the 36 products specifically identified as exclusions. The scope of each exclusion is governed by the 10-digit level Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers and the descriptions identified in the notice. It is important to note that these exclusions are available for any product that meets the description in the official notice, regardless of whether the importer filed an exclusion request. If you import products that are consistent with these descriptions, you will be able to claim an exclusion using HTS 9903.88.34. Retroactive refunds of the Section 301 tariffs will not be automatic. Importers must submit a post-summary correction (PSC) for eligible entries made subsequent to September 24, 2018. If entries have already liquidated, importers may follow liquidation protest rules.
For more information, please contact your local Noatum Logistics USA (Formerly MIQ Logistics) representative.
Although Canadian National (CN) Rail and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC-CTY) have been in negotiations for the past six months, they failed to reach an agreement by the November 19, 2019, deadline. Christopher Monette, spokesperson for the Teamsters, advised yesterday that the strike will begin. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC-CTY) represents about 3,200 CN employees working as train conductors and railyard coordinators in Canada. Although CN deployed their qualified managers and engineers to run their train operations, they have determined they do not have enough qualified Canadian managers to maintain safe freight operations during the strike.