Key Trade Compliance Topics
On May 31, 2018, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Ukraine-Russia-related General License 13B, which replaced and superseded General License 13A in its entirety. General License 13B extends the expiration date of the general license to 12:01 a.m. August 5, 2018.
See https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180531_33.aspx
The Aluminum proclamation eliminates the exemptions from the 10% tariff granted to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the EU on behalf of its Member States, in earlier proclamations. In addition, quotas are established for aluminum imports from Argentina and steel imports from Argentina and Brazil, in addition to the quotas previously established for S. Korea.
On May 31, 2018, the President Trump issued Proclamation of May 31, 2018 – Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States (Aluminum Proclamation) and Proclamation of May 31, 2018 – Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States (Steel Proclamation).
Pursuant to the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, this document is U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) notice of intent to distribute assessed antidumping or countervailing duties (known as the continued dumping and subsidy offset) for Fiscal Year 2018 in connection with countervailing duty orders, antidumping duty orders, or findings under the Antidumping Act of 1921.
This document provides the instructions for affected domestic producers, or anyone alleging eligibility to receive a distribution, to file certifications to claim a distribution in relation to the listed orders or findings. Certifications to obtain a continued dumping and subsidy offset under a particular order or finding must be received by July 30, 2018.
This article appeared in the USA-Midwest Report in the South China Morning Post on February 26, 2016 (prepared by Discovery Reports).
Ulice Payne has an uncanny ability to understand the market and foresee its demands. In the same year that he founded Addison-Clifton in Chicago, Illinois, the company president set up a Shanghai representative office to help companies in China comply with global trade regulations. That was over one decade ago. The mainland had just joined the WTO, and Payne foresaw that many companies would need its expertise in meeting trade regulations on products related to aerospace, defence, vehicles and power generation.
“We have designed our business to serve society,” Payne says. “We blend our understanding of the global regulatory framework with the scientific and engineering know-how of products to meet market demands.”
The company anticipates big opportunities in the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) space. Addison-Clifton would likely capture the market for aspiring China MRO companies that are working on airworthiness certificates for jet engines and avionics manufactured by existing Addison-Clifton clients. The company is also cooperating with the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board to encourage foreign capital into the industrial zones with a special emphasis promoting aviation.
Furthermore, Addison-Clifton expects to play a significant role in the mainland’s burgeoning electric vehicles industry. For example, the firm was the official business consultant for the Ningbo Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau in connection with securing the participation of foreign electric car manufacturers for its clean energy vehicle summit. The firm continues to implement its plans to facilitate further support in this area due to China’s need for greener technologies.
Ultimately, Payne was right. He later expanded Addison-Clifton’s presence in China by opening a wholly foreign-owned enterprise subsidiary in Ningbo, thereby supporting two major port cities on the mainland. With his associations in the East, including India, Payne further increased Addison-Clifton’s capabilities in the region with its Asia Market Services practice. In addition to trade compliance services, Addison-Clifton provides multinational companies with quality assurance guidance along with supply chain support that includes actual product inspections and identifying and qualifying China suppliers.
“We have spent years in China building genuine relationships with customers and local governments,” Payne says. “By understanding the market and the role of the government, we can serve as a bridge between the private and public sectors.”
http://www.scmp.com/presented/business/topics/usa-report-midwest-edition/article/1918577/addison-clifton-carves-niche
Implementation Day Statement:
The Secretary of State’s action does not change the Export Administration Regulations. It does not suspend or terminate any of the license requirements or other controls in those regulations pertaining to Cuba. Cuba remains subject to a comprehensive embargo and the export or reexport of all items subject to the EAR still requires authorization from BIS.
http://bis.doc.gov/index.php/licensing/embassy-faq#subcat198
OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL Executive Order 13685 of December 19, 2014 Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to the Crimea Region of Ukraine GENERAL LICENSE NO. 9 Exportation of Certain Services and Software Incident to Internet-Based Communications Authorized (a) Except as provided m paragraph (d) of this general license, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine of services incident to the exchange of personal communications over the Internet, such as instant messaging, chat and email, social networking, sharing of photos and movies, web browsing, and blogging, is authorized, provided that such services are widely available to the public at no cost to the user. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this general license, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukfaine of software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this general license is authorized, provided that such software is designated EAR99 under the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 774 (the “EAR”), or is classified by the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) as mass market software under export control classification number (ECCN) 5D992 of the EAR, and provided further that such software is widely available to the public at no cost to the user. (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this general license, the exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to persons in the Crimea region of Ukraine of software that is not subject to the EAR because it is of foreign origin and is located outside the United States that is necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this general license is authorized, provided that such software would be designated EAR99 if it were located in the United States or would meet the criteria for classification under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR if it were subject to the EAR, and provided further that such software is widely available to the public at no cost to the user. (d) This general license does not authorize: (1) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of services or software with knowledge or reason to know that such services or software are intended for any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13660 of March 6, 2014, Executive Order 13661 of March 17, 2014, Executive Order 13662 of March 20, 2014, or Executive Order 13685 of December 19, 2014; (2) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of any goods or technology listed on the Commerce Control List in the EAR, 15 CFR part 774, supplement No. 1 (CCL), except for software necessary to enable the services described in paragraph (a) of this general license that is classified by Commerce as mass market software under ECCN 5D992 of the EAR; (3) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of commercial-grade Internet comiectivity services or telecommunications transmission facilities (such as dedicated satellite links or dedicated lines that include quality of service guarantees); or (4) The exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly, of web-hosting services that are for commercial endeavors or of domain name registration services. (e) Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis for the exportation or reexportation of services or software incident to the exchange of personal communications over the Internet not specified in paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this general license, and for the exportation or reexportation of hardware incident to the exchange of personal communications over the Internet. Note to General License 9: Nothing in this general license or in any license issued pursuant to paragraph (e) of this general license relieves the exporter from compliance with the export license application requirements of another Federal agency. John E. Smith Acting Director Office of Foreign Assets Control Dated: May 22, 2015
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/ukraine_gl_9.pdf
January 16, 2015
NEW BIS LICENSE EXCEPTION C62 – SUPPORT FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE (SCP)
On Friday, January 16, 2015, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security published a final rule that will become effective immediately. As a result of this rule, the following changes will be made to the Automated Export System (AES) in order for exporters and authorized agents to successfully report electronic export information in the AES.
The Addition of a New License Type (C62) for Support for the Cuban People (SCP) has been added to the Automated Export System.
A new license type (C62) SCP was created in AES for the reporting of certain items exported and re-exported to Cuba that are intended to improve the living conditions of the Cuban people; support independent economic activity and strengthen civil society in Cuba; and improve the free flow of information to, from, and among the Cuban people.
United States Principal Parties in Interest (USPPIs) and their authorized filing agents (AES filers) must follow the following new reporting requirements regardless of value when using C62 to prevent the return
of fatal errors from AES.
Report SCP in the license number field.
Report Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) having a reason for control of Anti-Terrorism only or EAR99 (see appendix F (link provided below) of the AES Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) for acceptable ECCNs).
The country of destination and ultimate consignee country must show Cuba (CU).
Report Export Information Codes: All except UG, FS, FI.
Report any mode of transportation.
A complete list of all of the AES License Type codes and reporting instructions for these types can be found here.
For questions regarding these AES changes, please contact the Bureau of Industry and Security by email at ECR_AES@bis.doc.gov or at (202) 482-4933.
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/01/16/2015-00590/cuba-providing-support-for-the-cuban-people?eml=gd&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
The European Union (“EU”) has recently agreed to an additional higher level of sanctions against Russia. A big impact is to be expected from the new “sectoral sanctions” set out in EC Regulation No. 833/2014 which was published on July 31, 2014 and will go into effect immediately.
Effective as of August 1, 2014, this new regime:
Further, the Regulation prohibits a number of ancillary services in relation to the aforementioned (including brokering and direct or indirect financial or technical assistance in relation to goods that are objects of the embargo).
These prohibitions apply not only within the territory of the EU, its vessels and aircrafts, but also to EU incorporated businesses and nationals of EU Member States, as well as with respect to any business done within the EU.
Learn more at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:JOL_2014_229_R_0001.