Yesterday, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) issued temporary denial orders (“TDOs” or “orders”) on three Russian airlines – Aeroflot, Azur Air, and UTair – effectively cutting them off from U.S. exports, U.S.-origin items, and items manufactured abroad that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The orders represent the agency’s
Biden Administration Seeks Input on Negotiating Objectives for Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”) each requested comments on negotiating objectives for the Biden administration’s proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (“IPEF”). For businesses with economic interests in the region, this is an excellent opportunity to connect with the agencies responsible for negotiations.
By way of background,
Gil Kaplan Confirmed as Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade
Yesterday evening, the Senate confirmed Gilbert Kaplan to serve as Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, after his April 2017 nomination and September 2017 confirmation hearing. In this position, Mr. Kaplan will oversee Commerce’s trade remedy functions and export promotion activities. He arrives at Commerce at a particularly critical period as the Administration tackles a number of significant trade policy work streams and the International Trade Administration, in particular, faces a huge docket of trade remedies cases.
Mr. Kaplan, a trade attorney, brings decades of experience to this role, including as a longtime partner at King & Spalding. Previously, Mr. Kaplan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and the first Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration during the Ronald Reagan administration, at which time he oversaw hundreds of trade remedy cases, acted as a key negotiator of the U.S.-Japan semiconductor and the U.S.-Canada lumber agreements, and supervised the administration’s steel and machine tool programs.
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Commerce Secretary Releases Steel and Aluminum 232 Reports, Recommends Remedies
On Friday, February 16, 2018, Secretary Ross released public versions of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s reports concerning the agency’s section 232 investigations into the impact on national security of steel and aluminum imports. As a result of its investigations, the Department of Commerce has determined that imports of steel and aluminum “threaten to impair the national security.”
The Secretary’s press release presents the agency’s key findings and lists the agency’s various recommended remedies. With respect to steel imports, the Department of Commerce recommends three alternative options to the President:
- A global tariff of at least 24% on all steel imports from all countries, or
- A tariff of at least 53% on all steel imports from 12 countries (Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam) with a quota by product on steel imports from all other countries equal to 100% of their 2017 exports to the United States, or
- A quota on all steel products from all countries equal to 63% of each country’s 2017 exports to the United States.
With respect to aluminum imports, the Department of Commerce recommends three alternative options to the President:
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Trump Announces Two Key Trade Nominations and WTO Taps U.S. Trade Attorney for Deputy Director-General Post
According to a White House Statement issued on June 26th, President Donald Trump intends to nominate two important trade positions within the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) and the International Trade Commission (“USITC”).
- Peter B. Davidson, Senior Vice President for Congressional Relations at Verizon Communications, was selected by President Trump to be general counsel of Commerce. Prior to Verizon, Mr. Davidson served as General Counsel to the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”). He has also served as Vice President for Congressional Relations at USWEST and Qwest, and General Counsel and Policy Director to the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. Mr. Davidson earned his bachelor’s degree at Carleton College, and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
- Jason Kearns was selected to be a Commissioner of the USITC for the remainder of a 9 year term expiring December 16, 2024. Mr. Kearns currently serves as Chief International Trade Counsel (Democratic Staff) to the Committee on Ways and Means in the House of Representatives. In this position, Mr. Kearns advises Members of Congress on legislation concerning trade and oversight issues involving the USTR and other agencies involved in international trade policy and regulation. Before that, he served for three years in the Office of the General Counsel to the USTR. From 2000 through 2003, Mr. Kearns worked in the international trade group of the law firm, WilmerHale. Kearns has a master’s in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver.