On December 23, 2020 the International Trade Administration (ITA) at Commerce, published in the Federal Register a final rule [Docket No. 201014-0270] that adopts the Aluminum Import Monitoring and Analysis (AIM) system by promulgating new regulations (19 C.F.R. Part 361) that establish a website for the AIM system that consists of an online aluminum import license application platform and public AIM monitor; require importers, customs brokers or their agents to apply for and obtain an import license for each entry of certain aluminum products into the United States through the AIM system website, etc. The final rule is effective January 25, 2021.

See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-23/pdf/2020-28166.pdf

On April 23, 2021, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published in the Federal Register a general notice that advises the public that the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties will remain the same from the previous quarter. For the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2021, the interest rates for overpayments will be 2 percent for corporations and 3 percent for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 3 percent for both corporations and non-corporations.

See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-04-23/pdf/2021-08465.pdf

On April 9, 2021, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) strengthened restrictions targeting Burma by adding Burma to the list of countries subject to the Export Administration Regulations’ (EAR’s) military-intelligence end-use and end-user controls and controls on certain support activities by US persons (“Interim Final Rule“). These controls were first issued on January 15, 2021 (“January Rule“), and became effective March 16, 2021.

See https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-04-09/pdf/2021-07357.pdf

On April 8, 2021, the US Treasury Department published an updated List of Countries Requiring Cooperation With An International Boycott  (the “Treasury List”). Significantly, Treasury announced that it had removed the UAE from the Treasury List following the UAE’s repeal of its law requiring participation with the Arab League Boycott of Israel and subsequent implementation of the new policy.

See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/08/2021-07244/list-of-countries-requiring-cooperation-with-an-international-boycott

Beijing announced on March 27 sanctions on US and Canadian individuals and an entity, urging the parties to redress their mistakes and stop political manipulation on Xinjiang-related issues. The Chinese penalties were in response to the two countries’ unilateral sanctions on individuals and entities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on March 22 based on rumors and disinformation.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the sanctions were placed on three individuals and one entity, namely Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Gayle Manchin, Vice-Chair of the USCIRF Tony Perkins, Canadian Member of Parliament Michael Chong, and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada. The individuals concerned are prohibited from entering the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with the individuals and having exchanges with the subcommittee.

See https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202103/29/WS60613085a31024ad0bab2288.html