Biden to Visit Vietnam after G20 Summit
President Biden will visit Vietnam early next week, following the G20 Summit in India. His diplomatic discussions in Vietnam will include business opportunities in the energy and semiconductor industries. The White House has been preparing for the visit for months as the U.S. tries to strengthen its economic ties in Asia. Read more from Reuters.
USTR Extending All Existing Section 301 Tariff Exclusions
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is extending 77 COVID-19 related tariff exclusions by three months. USTR also is extending the 352 Section 301 exclusions that were restored in March 2022. Both sets of exclusions, which were to set expire at the end of month, will last through the end of the year. See USTR’s inspection notice.
Report: CBP Finds Garments with Banned Cotton in UFLPA Enforcement
Reuters is reporting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found more than one out of four garments it tested in May had links to cotton from China’s Xinjiang region, which is presumed by law to be made with forced labor and banned in the U.S. Reuters obtained CBP documents for the report under the Freedom of Information Act. The information Reuters published this week stemmed from isotopic testing on the three batches of footwear and apparel collected in December, April and May. Read more from Reuters.
West Coast Port Workers Ratify 6-Year Contract
Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) ratified a 6-year contract that affects 29 West Coast ports, including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The ILWU reached a tentative agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) last June. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement today, “This contract ensures the stability and success of our ports, which are a driving economic engine for our city, state and national economy.” Read more from Reuters.
CBP Publishes New Interactive Dashboard on Illegal Drug Seizures
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has published a new dashboard on its website to highlight CBP seizures of fentanyl and heroin. The interactive dashboard shows by the number of doses seized respectively, the estimated value of drugs seized, and weight beginning in fiscal year 2023. CBP’s overall drug seizure statistics are also available online. See CBP’s new dashboard on fentanyl and heroin seizures.
AAEI Attends Malaysian Shippers Conference, GSA Meeting
AAEI President and CEO Eugene Laney attended the Malaysian Shippers Conference in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, this week for a Global Shippers Alliance (GSA) meeting. AAEI, which is a member of the GSA, presented the United States Country Report, noting that the U.S. consumer market changed over the year, leading to U.S. importers’ fading interest in oversupply. AAEI also attended the and the 2023 Malaysian Shippers Conference this week. AAEI’s Exports and Global Trade Compliance Committee will discuss the GSA’s plans, including a new declaration of minimum service requirements. Not an AAEI member yet? Get info on how to join.
