The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and other government agencies has issued an updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory to highlight the heightened risks for businesses.  The advisory warns U.S companies that do business with and have investment links to Xinjiang may be at risk of violating the U.S. law. Due to the entities complicit in forced labor and other human rights abuses there and throughout China. Given the severity and extent of these abuses, businesses and individuals that do not exit supply chains, ventures, and/or investments connected to Xinjiang could run a high risk.

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Beginning October 1, 2021, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will start enforcing Lacey Act import declaration requirements on 27 new tariff lines. This marks the sixth phase of Lacey Act declaration enforcement, which was delayed from October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the new products include essential oils; trunks, cases and suitcases; oriented strand board and wooden containers and pallets; musical instruments; and monopods, bipods, tripods, and more.

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The Court of International Trade has granted a preliminary injunction which stopped the liquidation of unliquidated entries subject to litigation over List 3 and List 4A Section 301 China tariff litigation. The suspension of liquidation only applies to importers who are plaintiffs in the action.

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The Food and Drug Administration is excited to announce the launch of a new public subscription service for the FDA Enforcement Report. This new service allows consumers, industry, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to sign up for email notifications of new and updated FDA recalls posted to the application.

Users can choose to be notified of all recalls, commodity-specific recalls (i.e., Food, Drugs, Devices, Drugs, Biologics, Tobacco, etc.), and/or individual recall events on a daily or weekly basis. Prior to this update, users only had the option to subscribe to the Enforcement Report RSS feed, which sends a notification that the weekly report has posted. This new subscription service is a significant improvement, as it allows for additional customization and daily notifications.

Click HERE to subscribe to the FDA Enforcement Report.

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Encryption Controls Seminar

Date:  August 11-12, 2021

Location:  VIRTUAL

The Encryption Controls virtual seminar is an in-depth session that will focus on the unique provisions related to encryption under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) licensing officers will provide a comprehensive overview of controls on encryption in the EAR, including what items are and are not controlled in Category 5 Part 2, License Exception ENC and mass market provisions (740.17), encryption classification and licensing, deemed exports, and rules regarding foreign product development using U.S. origin encryption parts and components.  The program will allow for live Q&A, provide detailed electronic reference materials for ongoing use, and allow attendees the opportunity to view recordings of the sessions for a limited period following the seminar.

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2021 Virtual Update Conference on Export Controls & Policy

Date: September 2, 2021

Location:  VIRTUAL

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is preparing for its annual Update Conference on Export Controls. This major outreach activity draws business and government representatives from around the world to learn and exchange ideas about export control issues. It is one of the Department’s most notable international trade events.

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There’s a food dilemma that people have been questioning for a long time!  Have you ever purchased a pack of hot dogs and a pack of buns only to discover that there are 10 hot dogs and 8 buns?  Let’s finally right this wrong!  Why are there different quantities?  According to the National Hot Dog Sausage Council (NHDSC) hot dog buns are baked in clusters of four in pans that are designed to hold eight rolls.  So, there you have it!  Keep that in mind when you are grilling hot dogs during this last summer month!

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Effective July 1, 2021, the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) will implement the sewing thread requirement.

Sewing thread of headings 5204, 5401, 5508, or yarn of heading 5402 (used as sewing thread) and used in apparel products of Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, will only be considered originating if the thread is both formed and finished in the territory of one or more USMCA parties.

Sewing thread is considered formed and finished in one or more USMCA countries, if all production processes and finishing operations, starting with the extrusion of filaments, strips, film or sheets, and including slitting of a film or sheet into strips, or the spinning of all fibers into yarn, or both, and ending with the finished single or plied thread ready for use for sewing without further processing. (Non- originating fiber maybe used in the production of sewing thread of headings 5204, 5401 or 5508, or yarn of heading 5402 used as sewing thread.)

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China has implemented a new law imposing consequences on individuals and organizations that directly or indirectly participate in implementing foreign sanctions against Chinese citizens or organizations. This law could impact the ability of Chinese vendors to comply with U.S. requests to avoid entities named on U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s withhold release orders related to forced labor.

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