Saving Seafood

US Court of International Trade orders second look at China tariffs

April 5, 2022 — The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) has ordered the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to take a second look at its decision making on thousands of Section 301 tariffs levied against Chinese goods.

The 71-page decision by the court, released 1 April, 2022, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by a company that specializes in vinyl flooring. Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.A.-based HMTX Industries and its affiliated companies filed a complaint with the CIT challenging the authority of former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the “unlawful escalation” of the trade war with China.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

National Fisheries Institute Statement on Reinstatement of Tariff Exclusions

March 24, 2022 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is pleased to have helped lead the effort to reduce costs for its members and promote free and fair trade through the reduction of tariffs.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s decision to reinstate previously expired exclusions on fisheries products will not only benefit American workers throughout the seafood value chain but also will help make the healthiest animal protein on the planet more available and affordable. This is ultimately a tax cut for American families, at a time of significant supply chain and inflationary challenges.

NFI continues to advocate for responsible trade policies that directly benefit American seafood workers and the American consumers who depend on those workers for a reliable supply of nutritious seafood.

Robert DeHaan
Vice President, Government Affairs
National Fisheries Institute

US files 1st USMCA environment case on Mexico over porpoise

February 11, 2022 — The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office filed the first environmental complaint against Mexico Thursday for failing to protect the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise.

The office said it had asked for “environment consultations” with Mexico, the first such case it has filed under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact. Consultations are the first step in the dispute resolution process under the trade agreement, which entered into force in 2020. If not resolved, it could eventually lead to trade sanctions.

Mexico’s government has largely abandoned attempts to enforce a fishing-free zone around an area where the last few vaquitas are believed to live. Nets set illegally for another fish, the totoaba, drown vaquitas.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “USTR is committed to protecting the environment and is requesting this consultation to ensure Mexico lives up to its USMCA environment commitments,” adding “We look forward to working with Mexico to address these issues.”

Read the full story at AP News

Biden administration turning attention to seafood’s labor issues

January 14, 2022 — The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has released an action plan to combat human trafficking at home and abroad, an initiative that includes a focus on labor issues in the global seafood industry.

The U.S. Trade Representative National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, released in December 2021, involves better coordination among American agencies as well as with other countries’ law enforcement bodies to track and prosecute human trafficking on fishing vessels and in onshore seafood processing facilities. Under the plan, the USTR will ramp up its efforts to encourage other countries to put in place bans on imports of goods made with forced labor.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

Deal announced to halt parallel tariffs between US and UK

June 18, 2021 — Just days after policymakers announced a five-year suspension of tariffs between the United States and European Union – winding down a decades-long trade conflict – officials announced a similar deal is being struck between the U.S. and United Kingdom.

The agreement is in regards to an ongoing civil aircraft dispute involving U.S.-based Boeing and E.U.-based Airbus. According to a release from the U.S. Trade Representative, the framework for a deal between the U.S. and U.K. is similar to that reached earlier this week with the E.U.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Some Relief For Seafood Industry Thanks to Airbus-Boeing Deal

June 16, 2021 — On Tuesday the United States and European Union announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes which have been raging since 2004. As part of the agreement, the U.S. and EU have agreed to move away from “past confrontation in pursuit of a cooperative future by suspending the tariffs related to this dispute for five years.”

“After years of bitter litigation and weeks of intense diplomacy, we have reached a deal on a set of high-level principles that resets U.S.-EU engagement in the large civil aircraft industry,” U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a press release. “We are strongest when we work with our friends and allies, and the partnership with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis is a demonstration of that principle in action.”

Read the full story at Seafood News

USTR announces, then suspends, 25 percent tariffs on goods including seafood from multiple countries

June 3, 2021 — U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced, and then immediately suspended, new Section 301 tariffs on goods from multiple countries as part of its one-year investigation of digital service taxes (DSTs).

The new tariffs, which will be set at 25 percent if reinstated, are in response to taxes levied by Austria, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom on revenue generated by “non-resident” companies offering digital services – including the sales of software-as-a-service products. The USTR investigation began in June 2020 and found the practices of the countries discriminatory in January.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

NFI’s Robert DeHaan takes a seat on the US Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee

July 21, 2020 — National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Vice President for Government Affairs Robert DeHaan has been appointed to the U.S. Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee.

DeHaan’s appointment was announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on 17 July. As a part of the committee, DeHaan will provide advice to the government on trade policy matters such as the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of news ones, NFI said in a press release.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Robert DeHaan Appointed to U.S. Trade Advisory Committee

July 17, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today announced the appointment of Robert DeHaan to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee that covers trade in animal products. DeHaan is the Vice President for Government Affairs at the National Fisheries Institute.

Advisory committees provide advice to the Government on trade policy matters, including the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new ones.

“This is a great opportunity for the seafood community to have a seat at the table where trade decisions are made,” said DeHaan. “I’m thrilled to be able to bring our industry’s perspective and guidance to the people in charge of trade policy.”

\Before joining NFI in 2011, DeHaan served as Special Counsel to the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Bob knows his way around government and trade. This appointment is tailor made for his assets,” said NFI President John Connelly. “We are pleased that those responsible for carrying out U.S. trade policy as it relates to such an important part of our economy will have him as a resource.”

DeHaan will serve on the Advisory Committee until 2024.

Crab, sole, plaice among nine seafood items receiving exemptions from US tariffs

February 4, 2020 — Nine seafood items have received special exclusions from tariffs placed by the United States on goods imported from China.

The items – which must be individually frozen or frozen in blocks to qualify, depending on the harmonized tariff system (HTS) classification code – include Alaskan sole, Alaskan plaice, flounder, sole, slipper lobster, king crab, snow crab, Dungeness crab, and meat from crabs other than king, snow, Dungeness, and swimming crab.

Read the full story at Seafood Source