International Trade Commission News

When U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration approved the country’s first major offshore wind farm this month, it billed the move as the start of a new clean energy industry that by the end of the decade will create over 75,000 U.S. jobs.Industry executives and analysts do not contest that claim, but they make a clarification: For the first several years at least, most of the manufacturing jobs stemming from the U.S. offshore wind industry will be in Europe.Offshore wind project developers plan to ship massive blades, towers, and other components for at least the initial wave of U.S.

Brazilian coffee exporters are struggling to find shipping capacity to transport a bumper crop from the world's top producer, which could result in supply delays to roasters worldwide.Abundant overall supplies in consuming countries, however, will limit any near-term impact from shipping delays of Brazil's new crop and are not yet seen impacting coffee prices that are 12-year lows.Farmers in Brazil are finishing what the government and industry expect to amount to a record coffee…

China and the United States sank into a deepening trade conflict that roiled financial markets Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese products, prompting Beijing to accuse Washington of starting a trade war.Trump said Monday his threat was retaliation for China's decision to raise tariffs on $50 billion of U.S. goods over the weekend, a move that itself was in response to additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese…

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, today released a statement in response to the sheer number of factual errors in the recent report published by the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure’s (Aii) – Jones Act: Protectionism v. Global Trade. “The publication is littered with fabrications intended to mislead policymakers and we demand a retraction of the report," said Tom Allegretti, Chairman of AMP. “It is shocking that a nonprofit organization led by former senior members of the U.S. military would produce such a factually inaccurate report and take such a myopic view of an important national security issue. They have failed to even acknowledge the fact that the U.S.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday set duties on imports of rail and road transport containers from China after finding the goods were sold below cost in the United States. Under the department's preliminary decision, 53-foot domestic dry containers will face anti-dumping duties of up to 153.24 percent after a complaint from Stoughton Trailers. Some containers, including those produced by China International Marine Containers, face a lower 24.27 percent rate. In 2013, about $184 million worth of such containers were imported from China.

The U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed steep duties on imports of refrigerant gas from China on Wednesday, saying the goods were sold too cheaply in the United States and were produced using Chinese government subsidies. Final duties on the gas known as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, used in air conditioning systems, will range from 282.54 percent to 303.42 percent, taking both anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties into account, according to a statement from Commerce. Companies affected include Jiangsu Bluestar Green Technology Co, Shandong Dongyue Chemical Co Ltd, T.T. International Co and Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Co Ltd . The complaint was lodged by Mexichem Fluor Inc, a subsidiary of Mexico's Mexichem. The duties are subject to a final decision by the U.S.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday set duties on imports of rail and road transport containers from China after finding the goods were produced using unfair government subsidies. Under Commerce's preliminary decision, 53-foot domestic dry containers, including those produced by China International Marine Containers, will face anti-subsidy duties of up to 10.46 percent after a complaint from Stoughton Trailers. In 2013, about $184 million worth of such containers were imported from China. The duties must still be confirmed in a final decision by Commerce and by the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Reporting by Krista Hughes; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)

The United States has approved anti-dumping duties against South Korea and other producers of steel pipes for the energy sector, a victory for domestic producers hoping to benefit from a boom in the U.S. shale oil and gas industry. U.S. steel companies lodged a complaint in 2013 as foreign manufacturers cashed in on soaring U.S. energy infrastructure demand. Imports doubled last year and accounted for nearly two-thirds of the domestic market, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Although subject to appeal, the decision puts the U.S. Department of Commerce closer to imposing tariffs as high as 118 percent on "oil country tubular goods" (OCTG).

Port of Boston is Vital Economic Engine and Job Generator for Region. The Port of Boston generated $4.6 billion in 2012 and more than 50,000 jobs are supported by the port, including more than 7,000 direct jobs, according to a report released by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). This economic impact and the jobs created by the working seaport help to keep Boston competitive among other U.S. East Coast ports. Operation of the maritime terminals ensures that the more cost-efficient waterborne cargo lands in Boston rather than other ports like New York/New Jersey or Baltimore…

On June 25, Senator John McCain announced that he introduced the “Open America’s Water Act,” to repeal the Jones Act. “Today I am pleased to introduce legislation that would fully repeal the Jones Act, a 1920s law that hinders free trade and favors labor unions over consumers. Specifically, the Jones Act requires that all goods shipped between waterborne ports of the United States be carried by vessels built in the United States and owned and operated by Americans. This restriction only serves to raise shipping costs, thereby making U.S. farmers less competitive and increasing costs for American consumers. “This was highlighted by a 1999 U.S. International Trade Commission economic study, which suggested that a repeal of the Jones Act would lower shipping costs by approximately 22 percent.

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, in a coordinated effort with business leaders and local longshore unions, today called on President Bush to repeal the Section 201 tariffs imposed on steel imports in March of last year. This action was taken following the release of the International Trade Commission (ITC) report on the effects of the steel tariffs on domestic steel-consuming industries and domestic steel producers. In a letter to President Bush, Maritime Exchange President Dennis Rochford, cited the adverse economic impact these tariffs have had on the tri-state regional port complex. "Steel ship arrivals will drop from 210 last year to 150 by the end of this year.

Representative Ehlers (R-MI) introduced a bill (H.R. 4416) to establish the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Committee. Representative Crane (R-IL) introduced a bill (H.R. 4418) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security, for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, for the United States International Trade Commission, and for other purposes. Representative Obey (D-WI) introduced a bill (H.R. 4422) making appropriations for the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, and Transportation for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.

The text of various bills recently introduced in the House of Representatives has now been posted on the Internet. H.R. 4397 would temporarily exempt scrapping of obsolete naval and Maritime Administration (MARAD) vessels from certain environmental laws. H.R. 4416 would establish the Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Committee. H.R. 4418 would authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security, for the Office of the United States Trade Representative, for the United States International Trade Commission, and for other purposes. H.R.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary determination of "dumping" by Japanese outboard engine manufacturers, and has ordered a 22.52 percent import bond be posted for each Japanese engine brought into the United States, according to a press release being distributed by Mercury Marine. The DOC's ruling follows an investigation launched earlier this year after U.S.-based Mercury Marine filed a petition with the DOC and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). "We are pleased the Commerce Department's investigation has confirmed Mercury's contention that Japanese outboard engine makers have been violating U.S. anti-dumping laws by engaging in unfair pricing practices during the past several years.

The U.S. International Trade Commission issued a lengthy report entitled -The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints Third Update 2002 .The report reviews a variety of import restraints including the maritime cabotage laws. It concludes that eliminating the restriction on maritime transport and liberalization of the U.S. build requirement for vessels engaged in the coastwise trade would provide an economic benefit of $917 million. The cost differential estimates, though, are admittedly uncertain. Source: HK Law