News / Supply Chain Alerts

On September 17, 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the third list (List 3 Final) of approximately $200 billion worth of imports from China that will be subject to additional tariffs. This recent action is part of the Section 301 U.S. response to China’s unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of American technology and intellectual property.

Unlike previous Section 301 actions, this third list of additional tariffs will be implemented in two phases, with effective dates of September 24, 2018, and January 1, 2019. This third list follows the first list of tariffs on approximately $34 billion of imports from China which went into effect on July 6, 2018, and the second list of approximately $16 billion of imports from China which went into effect on August 23, 2018.

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On September 13, 2018, H.R. 4318: Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2018 (MTB) was signed into law. This bill suspends or reduces through December 31, 2020, import duties on approximately 1700 products generally not made in the United States. Most of the products listed were recommended by the International Trade Commission (ITC) pursuant to a process established in the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016. The products covered include specified chemicals, as well as other items such as certain agricultural products, textiles, fabrics, apparel, bags, gloves, footwear, and some equipment and machinery.

For additional information, contact your local MIQ Logistics representative.

The ports along the U.S. East Coast (USEC) are currently operating but have begun to prepare for Hurricane Florence’s arrival over the next 48-72 hours. Florence is forecasted to be a dangerous major hurricane making landfall near the southeast U.S. east coast by late Wednesday or early Thursday. The storm winds had increased to 130mph as of late yesterday.

Ocean carriers advise they are in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, ports, terminals, and the rail and trucking industry to ensure they have the latest updates. The carriers are recommending customers with high value reefer and other import cargo to pick it up from your local port as soon as possible, due to the risk of flooding and port closures in the days ahead.

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On August 29, 2018, the President of the United States signed a proclamation allowing for targeted relief from quotas on steel from Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea and aluminum from Argentina, imposed under Section 232. Importers can apply for product exclusions based on insufficient quantity or quality available from U.S. steel or aluminum producers.

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In a conference call this morning the United States White House announced that it had reached a preliminary trade deal with Mexico. The new agreement would be called the “United States – Mexico Trade Agreement”.

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MIQ Logistics is a proud member of the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. C-TPAT is joint government-business initiative directed at companies who participate in international trade and transportation.

C-TPAT is one of the many layers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) multi-layered cargo enforcement strategy. Through C-TPAT, CBP works with the trade community to strengthen international supply chains and improve United States border security.

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Typhoon Rumbia, the eighteenth typhoon of the year, and fourth to affect East China in less than 30 days is forecasted to make landfall between August 16 and 17, local China time. Approximately 50,000 people have been evacuated from China’s Zhejiang Province ahead of the storm. Typhoon Rumbia, like the previous three typhoons in recent weeks, will impact the ocean ports of Shanghai and Ningbo, airports at Shanghai-Pudong and Shanghai-Hongqiao, as well as others in the region. As with previous storms, airports and ocean terminals will close until the storm passes. This will affect the sailing and flight schedules and lead to possible delays.

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The next FDA Renewal period begins October 1, 2018. All domestic and foreign food and medical device facilities, along with the companies that source from them, are required to renew their registration during the period from October 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. 

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On August 1, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a Federal Register Notice announcing that CBP is adjusting certain customs user fees, pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for Fiscal Year 2019 in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act as implemented by CBP regulations.

The adjusted amounts will be effective October 1, 2018.

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On August 7, 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the second list (List 2 – Final) of approximately $16 billion worth of imports from China that will be subject to a 25 percent additional tariff as part of the U.S. response to China’s unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of American technology and intellectual property. This second list of additional tariffs under Section 301 follows the first list of tariffs on approximately $34 billion of imports from China, which went into effect on July 6, 2018.

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