Tausi Insider

U.S. trade officials on Thursday are expected to issue a preliminary decision on whether to impose tariffs on solar panels from four Southeast Asian nations, a move clean energy advocates argue would stall projects and harm progress in combatting climate change. The Commerce Department’s finding will mark the latest development in a long-standing effort by U.S. solar panel producers to stem the flow of cheap Asian goods that they argue make their products uncompetitive. But even if the agency decides the tariffs are warranted, the levies would not take effect for two years thanks to a moratorium imposed by President Joe Biden earlier this year after solar companies said the mere threat of tariffs was freezing projects nationwide. The waiver is meant to allow U.S. manufacturing time to ramp up, the White House said. Biden has a goal of weaning the U.S. electricity sector off of fossil fuels by 2035, a target that could propel solar to supply up to 40 per cent of the nation’s power nee...

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday it is extending China “Section 301″ tariff exclusions for another nine months on 352 Chinese import product categories that were set to expire at the end of 2022. The tariff exclusions, which include industrial components such as pumps and electric motors, some car parts and chemicals, bicycles and vacuum cleaners, were reinstated in March by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai as part of her strategy to confront Chinese trade practices. USTR said the extension “will help align further consideration of these exclusions with the ongoing comprehensive four year review” of the Section 301 tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports. The trade office said it is collecting comments in the tariff review through Jan. 17, 2023. https://www.tausiinsider.com/u-s-extends-tariff-exclusions-on-352-chinese-import-categories-for-nine-months/?feed_id=327684&_unique_id=641714e63b...

West Fraser faces having to pay a new duty rate of 9.38 per cent, compared with its current tariff of 8.25 per cent. Canfor will see its tariff climb to 7.29 per cent for Canadian softwood sold in the United States, compared with the current 5.87 per cent. JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press The U.S. Department of Commerce plans to raise tariffs for Canada’s two largest lumber companies, while lowering duties on most other Canadian producers. Based on the Commerce Department’s preliminary assessment, the combined countervailing and anti-dumping duties will rise for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. and Canfor Corp. CFP-T, both based in Vancouver. West Fraser, Canada’s largest lumber producer, faces having to pay a new duty rate of 9.38 per cent, likely taking effect by August or September, compared with its current tariff of 8.25 per cent. Canfor will see its tariff climb to 7.29 per cent for Canadian softwood sold in the United States, compared with the current 5.87 per cent. “With these ...

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday it is extending China “Section 301″ tariff exclusions for another nine months on 352 Chinese import product categories that were set to expire at the end of 2022. The tariff exclusions, which include industrial components such as pumps and electric motors, some car parts and chemicals, bicycles and vacuum cleaners, were reinstated in March by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai as part of her strategy to confront Chinese trade practices. USTR said the extension “will help align further consideration of these exclusions with the ongoing comprehensive four year review” of the Section 301 tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports. The trade office said it is collecting comments in the tariff review through Jan. 17, 2023. https://www.tausiinsider.com/u-s-extends-tariff-exclusions-on-352-chinese-import-categories-for-nine-months/?feed_id=321847&_unique_id=63a7ed1f75...