February 2022
With global supply chains in disarray, many companies are rethinking their supply chain structure, including their just-in-time business model. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has created a shortage of materials, including medicines, electronics, foods, and semiconductors, to name a few. This[...]
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China Import Requirements on Pinewood Timber and Lumber
Effective Feb 1, there are new requirements for importing pinewood, including timber and lumber, into China from seven countries (the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain.)Timber and Lumber must be certified free of the Pinewood Nematode (roundworms),[...]
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Pros and Cons of Altering De Minimis
On Jan 18, 2022, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), chairman of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, announced new legislation, the Import Security and Fairness Act that would restrict the use of de minimis. De Minimis allows imports valued under[...]
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Canadian Trucker Strike Ends
In November 2021, the government of Canada announced effective Jan 15, 2022, all unvaccinated Canadian truckers returning from the United States must undergo a Covid-19 test and quarantine themselves until they receive their results. This vaccine mandate for all truckers[...]
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Crowdsourced Delivery
Amazon has pushed the market to look at alternatives to compete with its Prime delivery program. Once, 3-7 days was the expectation for retail deliveries. Now consumers expect all of their purchases in two days or less. UPS and Fed-Ex[...]
read moreSection 232: U.S. and Japan come to an Agreement over Steel Tariffs
Good news for U.S. importers of Japanese steel products subject to Section 232 additional duties.A new agreement announced on February 7, 2022, between the U.S. and Japan will allow historically-based sustainable volumes of Japanese steel products to enter the U.S.[...]
read moreUSMCA Automotive Goods Review
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is conducting a trade review on automotive goods under the United States-Mexico -Canada Agreement (USMCA). USTR invites comments on the topic including implementation and enforcement of USMCA rules of origin, and whether automotive provisions are[...]
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