Deadline for Submitting Comments on Evasion Regulations Extended
Alex Carr and P. Lee Smith
On August 22, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published an Interim Final Rule proposing regulations to implement Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. As explained in our September 2016 edition, CBP requested public comments on these regulations. On October 21, CBP extended the deadline for comments in order to increase transparency in the rulemaking process and to promote public participation in formulating the final rule. Accordingly, comments on the Interim Regulations are due December 20, 2016. By extending the deadline, the CBP hopes to establish a more effective and transparent procedure when finalizing the antidumping and countervailing duty regulation.
USTR Initiates Review of Argentina’s GSP Status
Clinton R. Long
On November 21, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated a review to consider Argentina as a “beneficiary developing country” under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Under the GSP program, many articles from beneficiary developing countries enter the United States on a duty-free basis. Argentina previously was considered a beneficiary developing country, but the United States suspended Argentina from the GSP program in 2012 after determining that Argentina was not enforcing arbitral awards. Interested parties may submit briefs on USTR’s review and request to present oral testimony at the USTR’s January 10 hearing by December 23.