Timeline of Trade Policy in the Biden Administration (2021–2025)

Note: This timeline intends to provide a complete list of trade actions taken by the Biden administration since day one (January 20, 2021) in the categories of:

Policy document: includes all proclamations, announcements, decisions, and official reports released by the White House and government agencies under the executive branch (such as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative).

Policy trend: important public speeches by senior trade officials that indicate critical trends in US trade policy

Trade remedy measures: includes all policy actions taken under the U.S. trade remedy laws, such as anti-dumping, countervailing duty, safeguard measures, and Section 301 investigation. 

Trade agreement: includes the negotiation, modification, and termination of any U.S. free trade agreement and trade preference programs.

Textiles and Apparel: policy issues directly related to the textile and apparel sector

WTO: includes the use of any exciting WTO mechanisms and any WTO-related trade actions.

Suggested Citation: Lu, Sheng. (2024). Timeline of trade policy in the Biden administration. Retrieved from https://shenglufashion.com/timeline-of-trade-policy-in-the-biden-administration/

Disclaimer: All posts on this site are for FASH455 educational and academic research purposes only, and they are nonpolitical and nonpartisan. No blog post intends to either favor or oppose any particular political party or shall be interpreted that way. Please email me (shenglu@udel.edu) with any suggestions and questions.

(updated: January 2025)

January 20, 2025: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2024 China WTO Compliance Report. The report highlighted the view that “the WTO has been unable to effectively address China’s continued pursuit of a state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade… In particular, with China’s strong embrace of predatory behavior, it is apparent that the U.S. strategy needs to evolve, particularly with regard to the deployment of domestic trade tools and with regard to the United States’ work with allies and partners.” [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

January 20, 2025: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released model negotiating texts. The model includes specific sections for “competition,“ “inclusive economy,” “non-market policies and practices, NMPP,” “public enterprise,” and “standards.” However, many chapters included in a traditional free trade agreement such as tariff reduction and rules of origin are not included. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

January 14, 2025: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of 37 new entities to the UFLPA Entity List for working with the XUAR government to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, or receive forced labor. The newly added entities include Huafu Fashion, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-grade colored spun yarn with its products are exported globally and used in a great variety of products, ranging from casual wear to home textiles. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

January 14, 2025: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed regulation pertaining to low-value shipments (de minimis). The proposed regulation creates a new process for entering de minimis shipments, allowing CBP to target high-risk shipments more effectively. These include those containing synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 8, 2025: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the findings of its 2024 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (the Notorious Markets List). Apparel products/markets in Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Cambodia, China, India, and Indonesia, among others, were criticized in the report. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 27, 2024: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) asked the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to launch a new 332 investigation of the distributional effects of goods and services trade and trade policy on U.S. micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). As part of the study, USITC will investigate how SMEs in the “Textiles, such as yarns, fabrics, apparel, and other finished goods” are engaged in international trade. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 21, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that based on its annual review, the list of eligible and ineligible countries for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will remain unchanged for 2025. The current AGOA will expire on September 30, 2025. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

December 23, 2024: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) initiated a new Section 301 Investigation on China’s “unfair” trade practices related to semiconductors. The investigation will “initially focus on China’s manufacturing of foundational semiconductors (also known as legacy or mature node semiconductors), including to the extent that they are incorporated as components into downstream products for critical industries like defense, automotive, medical devices, aerospace, telecommunications, and power generation and the electrical grid.” The investigation will also “initially assess whether the impact of China’s acts, policies, and practices on the production of silicon carbide substrates (or other wafers used as inputs into semiconductor fabrication) contributes to any unreasonableness or discrimination or burden or restriction on U.S. commerce.” A public hearing will be held associated with the investigation. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

December 10, 2024: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated a section 301 investigation regarding Nicaragua’s acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law. In a statement, NCTO, which represents the US textile industry, called the Biden administration to be “carefully calibrated” as “Nicaragua is part of the U.S.-CAFTA-DR agreement, and these partner countries are part of a critically intertwined regional textile and apparel production chain supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and economic development in this sector.” [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement] [Trade remedy measures]

December 10, 2024: The first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade entered into force. The agreement included chapters addressing Anticorruption, Good Regulatory Practices, Services Domestic Regulation, Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation, and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The agreement is not a conventional free trade agreement and it does not address market access issues. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

November 25, 2024: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of five new entities to the UFLPA Entity List for working with the XUAR government to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, or receive forced labor. DHS also added 25 entities to Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v) of the UFLPA Entity List, which identifies facilities and entities that source material from the XUAR region or work with the XUAR government’s “poverty alleviation” or “pairing-assistance” programs or any other government labor scheme that uses forced labor. Most of these entities are in the pharmaceutical, biotech or food supply chains. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

November 18, 2024: The Treasury Department released its latest Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (November 2024) report. The report identified no country as a “currency manipulator.” The Monitoring List includes China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Germany [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

October 31, 2024: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of four textile and apparel entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, including Esquel Group, Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd, bringing in the total number to 78. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

September 23, 2024: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) approved to add the “Certain Two-Way Stretch Woven Polyester, Rayon, Spandex Fabric” (HTS: 5515.11.00) to CAFTA-DR’s short supply list. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

September 13, 2024: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced its final action on China tariffs following a statutory four-year review of Section 301. Most punitive tariffs will remain in place, and additional tariffs will be imposed on numerous products such as steel and aluminum, semiconductors, Electric Vehicles, Batteries, Battery Components and Parts, Critical Minerals, Solar Cells, Ship-to-Shore Cranes, and medical products (including medical gloves). The tariff increase will follow a schedule and take effect in 2024 (September 27), 2025 (January 1), and 2026 (January 1).[Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade remedy measures]

September 13, 2024: In a released face sheet, the Biden Administration announced it would address “the significant increased abuse of the de minimis exemption, in particular China-founded e-commerce platforms.” The announcement said the Biden Administration would issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would exclude from the de minimis exemption all shipments containing products covered by tariffs imposed under Sections 201 or 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The announcement also called for Congress to pass new legislation to reform the de minimis rule comprehensively. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade remedy measures]

August 27, 2024: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) determined that certain 100% man-made fiber high pile fleece fabric (HS code 6001.22) was not available in commercial quantity in the CAFTA-DR region and thus approved the request submitted by VF corporation to add the fabric to the CAFTA-DR short supply list, effective August 27, 2024. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

August 8, 2024: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of five entities based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, bringing the total entities listed to 73. Of these newly added entities, two worked with the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; two entities were alleged “source material from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region or from persons working with the government of Xinjiang or the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for purposes of the “poverty alleviation” program or the “pairing-assistance” program or any other government labor scheme that uses forced labor; and one entity that qualifies as both. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

August 5, 2024: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) approved to add the “certain nylon/polyester dobby weave fabric” (5407.73.2015, 5407.73.2060, 5407.53.2020, and 5407.53.2060)to CAFTA-DR’s short supply list. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

June 28, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2024 biannual AGOA report. The report mentioned, “The Biden-Harris Administration strongly supports the timely reauthorization and modernization of AGOA.” Regarding textiles and apparel, the report highlighted that Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Mauritius significantly increased their apparel exports to the US thanks to AGOA. The report also acknowledges “the third-country fabric provision “a critical factor in apparel companies’ decisions to invest in AGOA-eligible countries.” [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

June 20, 2024: The Treasury Department released its latest Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (June 2024) report. The report identified no country as a “currency manipulator.” The Monitoring List comprises China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Germany [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

June 14, 2024: President Biden issued an executive order, calling for the establishment of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. The council will be led by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. The council aims to promote and coordinate efforts by the federal government to bolster U.S. industrial competitiveness, strengthen supply chain resilience and help agencies engage in collaboration with international partners to achieve the same, as well as address supply chain insecurities. As part of its responsibilities, the council has been tasked with reviewing the supply chains of industries considered critical to national or economic security. [Policy document]

June 11, 2024: U.S. government’s inter-agency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) added 3 China-baed seafood, aluminum, and footwear companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. It was the first time that the footwear sector was targeted by UFLPA [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

May 24, 2024: The office of the U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) announced extending 164 products (10-digit HS code) Section 301 exclusions to May 31, 2025. These exclusions were to expire on May 31, 2024. USTR said it “has found that extending these exclusions will support efforts to shift sourcing out of China, or provide additional time where, despite efforts to source products from alternative sources, availability of the product outside of China remains limited.” Other 365 exclusions are set to expire on May 31, 2024, but an additional transition period is provided from May 31, 2024 to June 14, 2024.[Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

May 16, 2024: U.S. government’s inter-agency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) added 26 China-baed textile companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. DHS said, “the 26 entities added to the UFLPA Entity List include cotton traders and warehouse facilities within China, the majority of which operate outside of the XUAR” [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

May 14, 2024: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative released the long-awaited four-year review results of the Section 301 tariff action against China. USTR’s evaluation concluded that “The Section 301 actions have been effective in encouraging the PRC to take steps toward eliminating some of its technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices and have reduced some of the exposure of U.S. persons and businesses to these technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices…The PRC has not eliminated many of its technology transfer-related acts, policies, and practices, which continue to impose a burden or restriction on U.S. commerce… Economic analyses generally find that tariffs (particularly PRC retaliation) have had small negative effects on U.S. aggregate economic welfare, positive impacts on U.S. production in the 10 sectors most directly affected by the tariffs, and minimal impacts on economy-wide prices and employment.” Based on the assessment, USTR plans to keep all section 301 tariffs and further raise the import tariffs on certain products, such as electronic vehicles, facemasks, medical gloves, steels among others.  [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

April 17, 2024: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the launch of a new Section 301 investigation against China’s “unfair” and “non-market policies” behind its dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. Five labor unions petitioned the investigation on March 12, 2024. Typically, a Section 301 investigation can take several months to over a year before a decision is made. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

April 23, 2024: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced that Katherine White will serve as USTR’s Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator. Ms. White previously served as International Trade Policy Advisor on the House Committee on Ways and Means. Kate’s appointment needs to be approved by the US Senate. [Textiles and Apparel]

April 16, 2024: President Biden announced the launching of the White House Climate and Trade Task Force, which has three focus areas: 1) developing our climate and trade policy toolkit—with an open mind about what features and approaches will be most effective at addressing carbon leakage, carbon dumping, and embodied carbon in general. 2) ensuring having credible, robust, and granular data to implement smart climate and trade policies. 3) identifying what more US can do at home and abroad to further position producers to thrive in this new race-to-the-top environment.[Policy trend]

April 5, 2024: the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its new enhanced strategy to combat illicit trade and level the playing field for the American textile industry and the estimated over 500,000 US textile jobs. Two agencies under DHS, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will focus on areas including Cracking down on small package shipments to prohibit illicit goods from U.S. markets, ensure cargo compliance, Better assessing risk by expanding customs audits and increasing foreign verifications, Building stakeholder awareness, Leveraging U.S. and Central American industry partnerships and Expanding the UFLPA Entity List. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Policy trend] [Trade remedy measures]

March 29, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the 2024 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), which provides a comprehensive review of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce in key export markets for the United States. The report noted several market access barriers, intellectual property rights protection, and licensing issues in the apparel sector. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade remedy measures]

March 22, 2024: The U.S. Department of Commerce announced updates to its antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) regulations. This includes Strengthening the Department’s ability to counter transnational subsidies that undercut domestic U.S. industry; Addressing market distortions that undermine U.S. manufacturers; and Ensuring that weak labor, environmental, human rights, or intellectual property protections abroad do not provide an unfair advantage over U.S. producers. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

March 15, 2024: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced the public release of the texts of the proposed Fair Economy Agreement (Pillar IV) and broader procedural provisions of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). The Pillar IV agreement specifically addresses commitments to labor rights. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

March 7, 2024: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced seeking public input regarding the development of trade and investment policy initiatives that promote supply chain resilience. The notice lists “Textiles, such as yarns, fabrics, apparel, and other finished goods” as one of the key sectors it would look at, especially regarding “What are examples of trade and investment policy tools that potentially could be deployed in the following sectors to enhance supply chain resilience? In these sectors, what features of the current policy landscape are working well, or less well, to advance resilience?” The collected input will support USTR’s work under the Biden administration’s “New Actions to Strengthen America’s Supply Chains, Lower Costs for Families, and Secure Key Sectors” announced in November 2023. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Policy trend]

March 1, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the 2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report. The report newly added a section dedicated to textiles and apparel. The section explained USTR’s engagement with the US textile and apparel trade associations and industry representatives from other trading partners on critical issues, including Section 321 de minimis, Section 301 tariffs, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) enforcement, the expiration of trade preference programs such as AGOA and GSP, and the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB). Improving US free trade agreement (FTA) utilization and promoting the Western Hemisphere supply chain were also among USTR’s priorities for textiles and apparel. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

February 23, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2023 China WTO Compliance Report. The report noted that its latest assessment reveals “ the unique and very serious challenge that China’s state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade continues to pose for the global trading community…it remains clear that new and more effective strategies – including strategies that involve taking actions outside the WTO where necessary…In 2024, USTR expects to complete a statutorily mandated four-year review of the tariffs that had been imposed on Chinese imports as a result of the Section 301 investigation into China’s unfair acts, policies and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation. As part of this review, USTR is examining the effectiveness of the tariff actions in achieving the objectives of the original investigation, other actions that could be taken and the effects of those actions on the United States economy, including consumers. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

January 30, 2024: In a readout of a meeting with representatives from the US textile industry, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mentioned it would “increase and expedite their work in prosecuting illegal customs practices that harm the American textile industry… DHS will use all the tools at its disposal, including identifying suspicious transshipment practices, publicly identifying bad actors, isotopic testing, random parcel inspections, and other law enforcement efforts, in order to protect the integrity of our markets, hold perpetrators accountable, and safeguard the American textile industry,” Secretary Mayorkas also directed the agencies under DHS “to provide him with a comprehensive enforcement action plan in 30 days, including a determination whether current trade law provides adequate authorities to solve the core issues.” [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 30, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the 2023 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy Report. Pirated or counterfeit apparel items from several online or physical markets were noted in the report. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 26, 2024: The Office of the US Trade Representative, together with several other US government agencies, released a Supplemental Burma (Myanmar) Business Advisory Report. The report highlighted several additional “sectors of concern” and “activities of concern.” The initial business advisory report was issued in January 2022, after the country’s reported military coup. Separately, in its 2022 “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor”, the US Labor Department reported garments made by child labor in Burma (Myanmar). [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 16, 2024: Upon the request from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the US International Trade Commission (USITC) announced to investigate the export competitiveness of five Asian apparel exporters to the US, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The finding results will be reported to USTR by the end of August, 2024. [Textiles and Apparel]

January 3, 2024: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) approved to add the “Two-Way Stretch Polyester/Spandex Woven Fabric” (HTS: 5407.51, 5407.52, or 5407.53) to CAFTA-DR’s short supply list. There has been call from US fashion brands and retailers to expand the short supply list. However, the US textile industry insists on minimizing the yarn-forward rules of origin exceptions. [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 29, 2023: In a Presidential Proclamation, the Biden administration announced the restoration of Mauritania’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda lost their AGOA eligibility due to concerns about human rights records there. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s AGOA was not restored. [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 26, 2023: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the further extension through May 31, 2024, of the reinstated and COVID-related exclusions in the China Section 301 Investigation.  The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on December 31, 2023. See the detailed product list HERE. Several textile materials used for PPE were included in the list. Meanwhile, USTR’s Section 301 4-year review is still ongoing. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 20, 2023: The Office of the United States Trade Representative released the Fifteenth Biennial Report on the Operation of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). The report found critical impacts of US trade preference programs like the HOPE Acts on Caribbean countries’ apparel exports to the US. [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

November 7, 2023: The Treasury Department released its latest Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (November 2023) report. The report identified no country as “currency manipulators.” The Monitoring List comprises China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

September 26, 2023: The Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Labor, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued an Addendum to the 2021 Updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory. The addendum included both government and non-government reports detailing state-sponsored forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 26, 2023: U.S. government’s inter-agency Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF) added three entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 6, 2023: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the further extension of the 352 reinstated exclusions and 77 COVID-related exclusions in the China Section 301 Investigation until December 31, 2023. The exclusions were previously scheduled to expire on September 30, 2023. USTR said the extension would allow for further consideration under the statutory four-year review. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

August 9, 2023: President Joe Biden signed an executive order, which prohibits some new U.S. investment in China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and require government notification in other tech sectors. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

August 7, 2023: President Biden signed the “US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act” (H.R. 4004) into law. The law “Provides for congressional approval of the first trade agreement arising from the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade; and Imposes new congressional consultation and transparency requirements on the Administration with respect to the negotiation of any subsequent agreements arising under the initiative, and requires such agreements be subject to Congressional approval.” [Policy document][Trade agreement]

Aug. 2, 2023: The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force added two new companies to the UFLPA entity list: 1) Camel Group Co., Ltd. 2) Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Chenguang Biotechnology Group Yanqi Co. Ltd. These two companies are NOT involved in making textiles and apparel products [Policy document][Trade agreement]

July 26, 2023: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the “2023 Updates to the Strategy to Prevent the Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China” as required by Congress. Updates in the report included the UFLPA Entity List and Related Plans and “Additional Resources Necessary to Ensure No Goods Made with Forced Labor  Enter at U.S. Ports.” [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 22, 2023: US Trade Representative Katharine Tai announced that the United States and India have agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization.  India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs, which it had imposed in response to the U.S. Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminum, on certain U.S. products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents. [Trade remedy measures]

June 20, 2023: The Treasury Department released its latest Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (June 2023) report. The report identified no country as “currency manipulators.” The Monitoring List comprises China, Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, and Taiwan [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

June 16, 2023: US Trade Representative Katharine Tai reiterated the Biden administration’s trade policy philosophy in a speech addressed to the National Press Club. Tai said that “That shift, in trade as in antitrust, moves away from a narrow focus on benefits for consumers.  Our trade policy places workers at its center to reflect the reality that the consumer who enjoys the low prices of imported goods is also a worker who must withstand the downward pressures that come from competing with workers in other parts of the world toiling under exploitative conditions…Our focus has shifted from liberalization and the pursuit of efficiency and low costs—at any cost—to raising standards, building resiliency, driving sustainability, and fostering more inclusive prosperity at home and abroad..” [Policy trend]

June 8, 2023: The United States, along with Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom endorsed a Joint Declaration Against Trade-Related Economic Coercion and Non-Market Policies and Practices at a Ministerial meeting in Paris. In the declaration, the countries expressed concern about “pervasive subsidization,” anti-competitive practices by state-owned enterprises, forced technology transfer, and government interference with corporate decision-making. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Policy trend]

May 18, 2023: The United States and Taiwan concluded negotiations on the first phase of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. The first agreement under the initiative covers the areas of customs administration and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, services domestic regulation, anticorruption, and small and medium-sized enterprises.[Policy document][Trade agreement]

May 15, 2023: The Office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced another extension of Section 301 tariff exclusions for 81 medical products that were scheduled to expire on May 15, 2023. These extensions come after a 75-day extension in February 2023. The tariff exclusions for 77 products will be extended through September 30, 2023. Exclusions for four medical products will expire on May 31, 2023. [Policy document][Trade agreement][Trade remedy measures]

April 27, 2023: In a remark at the Brookings Institution, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan outlined the Biden administration’s latest international economic agenda. Sullivan questioned the principles of “trade liberalization,” and the belief that “economic integration would make nations more responsible and open, and that the global order would be more peaceful and cooperative—that bringing countries into the rules-based order would incentivize them to adhere to its rules.” Instead, Sullivan mentioned that the Biden administration would pursue “A modern American industrial strategy identifies specific sectors that are foundational to economic growth, strategic from a national security perspective, and where private industry on its own isn’t poised to make the investments needed to secure our national ambitions.” Further, Sullivan said that the Biden administration would “move beyond traditional trade deals to innovative new international economic partnerships focused on the core challenges of our time… trade policy needs to be about more than tariff reduction, and trade policy needs to be fully integrated into our economic strategy, at home and abroad.” [Policy trend]

April 12, 2023: The United States officially joins WTO’s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement. The Agreement determines disciplines for WTO members engaged in harmful fisheries subsidies, and marks the first-ever multilateral agreement with environmental sustainability at its core. [Policy document][Trade agreement][Trade remedy measures] [WTO]

March 31, 2023: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the 2023 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. Major foreign trade barriers related textiles and apparel mentioned by the report include Brazil’s relatively high tariffs on imports of textiles and apparel is mentioned, counterfeit apparel in Guatemala, Mexico’s import license for apparel and textile imports, and IP protection in Bangladesh. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 30, 2023: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai spoke at the National Council and Textile Organization (NCTO) annual meeting. In her remarks, Tai indicated that the Biden administration has no intention to change the “yarn-forward” rules of origin in US trade agreements: “Make no mistake—we know how important the yarn-forward rules of origin are for the success of our trade partnership with the region.  Those rules provide the certainty that companies need to invest in and expand operations, which also creates good-paying jobs both in the United States and in Central America.”[Policy trend] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

March 28, 2023: The United States and Japan signed a critical minerals agreement (“Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America on Strengthening Critical Minerals Supply Chains”). the Agreement underscores the shared commitment of the United States and Japan with respect to the critical minerals sector to facilitate trade, promote fair competition and market-oriented conditions for trade in critical minerals, advance robust labor and environmental standards, and cooperate in efforts to ensure secure, transparent, sustainable, and equitable critical minerals supply chains. [Policy document][Trade agreement]

March 24, 2023: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai testified before the House Ways and Means committee on the President’s 2023 Trade Policy Agenda. Tai specifically mentioned that in the textile and apparel sector, US trade agreements’ “tariff cuts and rules of origin have created really strong supply chains.” [Policy trend] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

March 23, 2023: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai testified before the Senate Finance Committee Hearing on the President’s 2023 Trade Policy Agenda. [Policy trend]

March 21, 2023: The US Trade Representative Office (USTR) released a blog post titled “From the Heartland of Our Nation’s Fabric.” The post specifically praised the “yarn-forward” rule in CAFTA-DR: “the “yarn forward” rule – incentivize the use of American-made yarns, which can be further processed in CAFTA-DR region. On the whole, this dynamic can increase demand for American yarns, which might otherwise be sourced from countries like the People’s Republic of China.” [Policy trend] [Textiles and Apparel] [Trade agreement]

March 16, 2023: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its summaries from U.S.-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative negotiations. The two sides held the negotiation in January 2023. The summaries detail the negotiating proposals from the U.S. side for the following chapters: customs administration and trade facilitation, good regulatory practices, services domestic regulation, anticorruption, and small- and medium-sized enterprises. [Policy document][Trade agreement]

March 15, 2023: The US International Trade Commission (USITC) released its official assessment on the economic impacts of Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs. The report includes a section specifically evaluating Section 301 tariffs’ impact on the cut and sew apparel industry (NAICS 3152). [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 15, 2023: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) enforcement statistics dashboard. About $22.26 million in shipments of apparel, footwear, and textiles were affected by UFLPA enforcement in 2023Q1, much higher than only $2.45 in 2022Q4. These imports not only came from China, but also included those from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and other sources. [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 1, 2023: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2023 Trade Policy agenda. Regarding textile and apparel, the report highlighted USTR’s efforts to promote the CAFTA–DR supply chain and nearshoring and strengthen utilization of the Agreement. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

February 24, 2023: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2022 China WTO Compliance Report. The report again does not believe that either the Section 301 actions or the US-China Phase One trade deal “meaningfully address the more fundamental concerns that the United States has with China’s state-led, non-market policies and practices and their harmful impact on the U.S. economy and U.S. workers and businesses.” [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

February 23, 2023: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published an updated version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) frequently asked questions (FAQs). In response to the call from the business community, CBP also newly released the Best Practices for Applicability Reviews: Importer Responsibilities. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 31, 2023: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy Report (the Notorious Markets List). According to the report, counterfeit apparel product remains a problem in several countries. The report also reveals the complex trade flows involving counterfeit products. For example, confiscated apparel were found “originated in China and entered Argentina through Brazil.” [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 27, 2023: The White House released a Joint Declaration on The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP). The APEP initiative aims to drive the “Western hemisphere’s economic growth, tackle the core issues that will define the coming decades, and galvanize greater economic cooperation.” Expanding regional trade ties is a critical component of the initiative, which intends to “promote greater economic integration in the region and seek to increase collaboration on customs, trade facilitation, logistics, and good regulatory practices; address non-tariff barriers; and promote sustainable quality investment…intend to promote trade that advances workers’ rights and economic security and elevates the role of the self-employed, entrepreneurs, and micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to support supply chain diversification.” APEP members include Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay, many are US free trade agreement partners (such as USMCA and CAFTA-DR). [Policy document][Trade agreement]

January 6, 2023: The United States and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to launch a Task Force on the Promotion of Human Rights and International Labor Standards in Supply Chains.[Policy document]

December 16, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the extension of the China Section 301 tariff action exclusion for 352 products (10-digit HS code). The tariff exclusion would expire on December 31, 2022, and will now expire on September 30, 2023. Several textiles and apparel not are on the list [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

November 23, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the extension of the China Section 301 tariff action exclusion for 81 COVID-related products (10-digit HS code). The tariff exclusion would expire on November 30, 2022, and will now expire on February 28, 2023. Several PPE-related textile products are on the extension list. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

November 23, 2022: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a new Withhold Release Order (WRO) against sugar made by Central Romana Corporation Limited (Dominican Republic). [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

November 1, 2022: President Biden notified Congress of his intent to terminate Burkina Faso from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as of January 1, 2023. The action was taken based on concerns about the country’s “protection of the rule of law and political pluralism.” According to AGOA, the US needs to give a 60-day notice if terminating a member’s eligibility for the trade preference program. The action usually takes effect on January 1. However, the US may reinstate a country’s eligibility anytime in a calendar year.[Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

October 12, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced detailed procedures for the next steps in the statutory four-year review of the Section 301 China investigation. USTR would accept public comments from November 15, 2022, to January 17, 2023.[Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 29, 2022: The Biden administration announced a new Pacific Partnership Strategy. Regarding trade, the strategy aims to “establish a Trade and Investment Dialogue with Pacific Islands to promote trade and address market barriers.” Following the strategy’s release, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) further said it would consider “designating eligible members of the Pacific Islands Forum as a regional association for the Generalized System of Preferences program.” [Policy document][Trade agreement]

September 23, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the Biden Administration’s Negotiating Goals for the Connected Economy (Trade) Pillar of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). USTR said it would USTR focus on the three core priorities: resilience, inclusion and sustainability to “negotiate commitments in the following areas: labor; environment; digital economy; trade facilitation; agriculture; competition policy; transparency and good regulatory practices; inclusivity; and technical assistance and economic cooperation.” [Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 9, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the negotiation objectives for the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In the Trade Pillar, the IPEF partners will seek high-standard provisions in areas that are foundational to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, including labor, environment, digital economy, agriculture, transparency and good regulatory practices, competition, inclusivity, trade facilitation, and technical assistance and economic development. However, IPEF will not cover market access and tariff cuts. [Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 9, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the negotiation objectives for the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In the Trade Pillar, the IPEF partners will seek high-standard provisions in areas that are foundational to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, including labor, environment, digital economy, agriculture, transparency and good regulatory practices, competition, inclusivity, trade facilitation, and technical assistance and economic development. However, IPEF will not cover market access and tariff cuts. [Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

September 7, 2023: U.S. Department of Commerce Publishes text of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement. The proposed Supply Chain Agreement is designed to enable IPEF partners to work together collaboratively to make supply chains more resilient, efficient, transparent, diversified, secure, and inclusive, including through information exchange, sharing of best practices, business matchmaking, collective response to disruptions, and supporting labor rights.

September 9, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the negotiation objectives for the proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In the Trade Pillar, the IPEF partners will seek high-standard provisions in areas that are foundational to resilient, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, including labor, environment, digital economy, agriculture, transparency and good regulatory practices, competition, inclusivity, trade facilitation, and technical assistance and economic development. However, IPEF will not cover market access and tariff cuts. [Policy document][Trade agreement]

September 2, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced it would continue the billions of dollars of Section 301 punitive tariffs against Chinese products. USTR said it made the decision based on a request from “domestic businesses benefiting from the tariff action.” As a legal requirement, USTR will launch a full review of Section 301 tariff action in the coming months. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

August 17, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released the negotiating mandate of the proposed US-Taiwan Initiative on 21^st-Century Trade. According to the mandate, the trade negotiation will cover trade facilitation, digital trade, labor, environment, SME, among other issues. However, market access (i.e., tariff reduction) is not part of the negotiation. The US apparel industry, including the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has expressed overall support for the trade initiative. [Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

August 12, 2022: The US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced to ban the export of two ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials, as well as some types of electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) technology and pressure gain combustion (PGC) technology. The new rule mainly targets China. [Policy document]

August 8, 2022: The White House released the report The US Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa. The strategy says the US would “strengthen trade and commercial relations” with SSA and “build on existing programs and policies to increase US investment and trade with Africa.” The strategy also mentions that the Biden Administration will “work with the Congress on the future of AGOA, which expires in 2025, and will support the AfCFTA’s implementation.” [Policy document][Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

August 4, 2022: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the updated Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

July 29, 2022: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new withhold release order (WRO) against Natchi Apparel (P) Ltd., based in India, affecting garments produced by the company. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

July 27, 2022: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo hosted a virtual ministerial with partners of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). According to sources, the trade pillar of the IPEF will address labor, environment, digital economy & emerging technologies, agriculture (note: no mention of market access, mostly regulatory transparency), transparency, competition policy, trade facilitation, gender, indigenous population, and development and economic cooperation. The document also says IPEF aims to “create an environment conducive to boosting flows of trade and investment, enhance standards, and to expand access to opportunities for workers, companies, and people” of its members. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

June 30, 2022: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of the Green Trade Strategy, a framework to incentivize green trade, strengthen CBP’s environmental enforcement posture, accelerate green innovation, and improve climate resilience and resource efficiency. CBP set four goals: To Incentivize Green Trade, Strengthen Environmental Enforcement Posture, Accelerate Green Innovation, and Improve Climate Resilience and Resource Efficiency. [Policy document]

June 30, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its first Report on the Operation of the United States-Canada Mexico Agreement (USMCA) with Respect to Trade in Automotive Goods. The report concludes that “in the two years since USMCA’s entry into force, vehicle and parts producers have been making significant investments in North American sourcing and production in order to meet the rules of origin. Producers are also taking advantage of flexibilities afforded under the Agreement in order to prepare future production—including new electric vehicles—to comply with the USMCA rules.” [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

June 27, 2022: In a proclamation, President Biden announced to raise the tariff rate on certain Russian imports to 35% as a result of suspending Russia’s “most favored nation (MFN)” trading status over its war in Ukraine. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

June 17, 2022: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its strategy for the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) “rebuttable presumption” that goes into effect on June 21, 2022. CBP also released the UFLPA entity list (i.e., entities in Xinjiang that “mine, produce, or manufacture wholly or in part any goods, wares, articles and merchandise with forced labor”). [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 16, 2022: President Biden signed into law S. 3580, the “Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.” The bill addresses the high detention and demurrage (late fees) charged by the ocean carriers and terminals which are paid by importers and exporters. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) praised the new law. [Policy document]

June 13, 2022: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the importer guidance to assist the trade community in preparing for the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) “rebuttable presumption” that goes into effect on June 21, 2022. [Policy document][Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 10, 2022: The Treasury Department released its latest Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (June 2022) report. The report identified no country as “currency manipulators.” The Monitoring List comprises China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Mexico. . [Policy document][Trade remedy measures]

June 8, 2022: At the Summit of the Americas, President Biden announced the launching of a proposed Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. According to the released factsheet, the United States will hold initial consultations with partners in the hemisphere and stakeholders on areas including Reinvigorating Regional Economic Institutions and Mobilizing Investment, Making More Resilient Supply Chains, Updating the Basic Bargain, Creating Clean Energy Jobs and Advancing Decarbonization and Biodiversity, and Ensuring Sustainable and Inclusive Trade. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

June 7, 2022: Vice President Harris announces $1.9 Billion in new private sector commitments as part of call to action for Northern Central America. Gap Inc. plans to increase its sourcing in Central America by approximately $50 million per year, for a total growth commitment of $150 million by 2025, as part of its strategy to increase supply chain resilience by nearshoring more production to the Western Hemisphere. SanMar, a U.S.-based apparel wholesaler, will increase its purchases of products manufactured in northern Central America by $500 million by 2025. [Policy trend] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 1, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced the launching of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, intending to “develop concrete ways to deepen the economic and trade relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for workers and businesses.” The two sides will negotiate an agreement in the areas of trade facilitation, Regulatory practices, Agriculture, Anti-corruption, Supporting SMEs in trade, Harnessing the benefits of digital trade, Promoting worker-centric trade, Supporting the environment and climate action, Standards, and Non-market policies and practices. However, market access (i.e., cutting tariff and non-tariff barriers) are not mentioned. Meanwhile, Taiwan is not invited to join the IPEF led by the Biden administration. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

May 27, 2022: In a proclamation, President Biden announced to lift the Section 232 tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year (from June 1, 2022 to June 1, 2023). [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

May 27, 2022: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced it would again extend Section 301 product exclusions for 81 medical care products imported from China for another six months (i.e., effective June 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022). Previously, USTR announced to extend the exclusions for these products from November 15, 2021 to May 31, 2022.  [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

May 23, 2022: The Biden Administration announced the launching of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Members of IPEF currently include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and Fiji. The framework will focus on four key pillars: Connected Economy (i.e., digital economy), Resilient Economy (i.e., supply chain), Clean Economy (i.e., clean energy and decarbonization), Fair Economy (anti-bribery). However, of concerns to the business community, market access (i.e., tariff cut) is not part of the IPEF. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

May 5, 2022: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced to conduct a four-year review of its Section 301 tariff actions against imports from China. US domestic industries will have the chance to request the continuation of the tariff. If this happens, USTR will conduct a follow-up review with the public comment opportunity from all parties. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

April 27, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released its annual Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. This annual report details USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners, including the problem of counterfeit apparel products made in China, India, Guantemala, and Turkey. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO] [Textiles and Apparel]

April 14, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its Equity Action Plan, developed in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (EO 13985). The plan calls for “Strengthening data to consider and improve the distributional effects of trade.” [Policy document]

April 8, 2022: President Biden signed into law H.R. 7108 “Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act,” which suspends normal trade relations with Russia. This means all imports from Russia will be subject to a much higher non-MFN tariff rate. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

April 1, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative Office released its 2023 Fiscal Year Budget report, outlining five goals and objectives for the fiscal year 2023. Several goals and objectives are directly related to the textile and apparel sector [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 31, 2022: USTR released the 2022 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report), providing a comprehensive review of significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce in key export markets for the United States. Import licensing and tariff barriers are among the top trade barriers related to the textile and apparel sector. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 23, 2022: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the reinstatement of 352 exclusions from the Section 301 tariffs on imported Chinese products in response to public comments solicited in late 2021. The exclusions will apply from October 12, 2021 through December 31, 2022. The exclusions include around 30 textile and apparel products (HS Chapters 50-63, 10-digit code). [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 10, 2022: USTR and the U.S. Department of Commence solicited public comments for the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Most US-based textile and apparel trade associations submitted their comments. [Policy document] [Trade agreements] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 4, 2022: President announced updates to the Buy American Act, which will take effect on October 25, 2022. The changes include 1) Raising the domestic content threshold from 55 percent to 75 percent; 2) applying enhanced price preferences to end products and construction materials deemed critical or made up of critical components. [Policy document]

March 3, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2022 Trade Policy agenda. Regarding textile and apparel, the report highlights the importance of CAFTA-DR and AGOA in promoting regional supply chain and sourcing from related regions. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures][Textiles and Apparel]

February 17, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released the findings of its 2021 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (the Notorious Markets List).  The Notorious Markets List highlights online and physical markets that reportedly engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), representing US apparel companies and brands, praised the report. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures][Textiles and Apparel]

February 16, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual “2021 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance,” laying out the Biden Administration’s assessment of China’s membership in the World Trade Organization. The report once again claimed China “retained and expanded its state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade.”[Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

February 11, 2022: The Biden administration released its Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States. The strategy identifies China, climate change, and the pandemic as the most urgent challenges facing the US. Regarding trade, the strategy calls for

• Develop new approaches to trade that meet high labor and environmental standards
• Govern our digital economies and cross-border data flows according to open principles, including through a new digital economy framework
• Advance resilient and secure supply chains that are diverse, open, and predictable
• Promoting free, fair, and open trade and investment through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The strategy doesn’t mention the plan of negotiating any free trade agreement with trading partners in the Indo-pacific region. [Policy document]

February 7, 2022: The United States and Japan reached an agreement, which allows Japanese steel products to enter the U.S. market without the application of Section 232 tariffs. Specifically, beginning April 1, 2022, steel from Japan will be subject to a tariff-rate quota (TRQ), allowing a yearly set volume to enter the US tariff-free. In addition, imports of Japanese-origin derivative articles of steel will not be subject to Section 232 tariffs. The agreement with Japan is similar in many respects to the US-EU steel agreement that went into effect on January 1, 2022.[Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Trade remedy measures]

February 4, 2022: According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the United States and European Union (EU) concluded negotiations to allow for the resumption of bilateral trade in bivalve molluscan shellfish.  For the first time since 2011, U.S. producers, beginning in the states of Massachusetts and Washington, are eligible to export live, raw and processed bivalve molluscan shellfish to the EU, including oysters, clams, mussels, and whole or roe-on scallops.  EU producers in Spain and the Netherlands are also now eligible to export live and raw bivalve molluscan shellfish to the United States. [Trade agreement]

February 2, 2022: The U.S. – Brazil Protocol Relating to Trade Rules and Transparency enters into force. The Protocol, signed in October 2020, modernizes the 2011 Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ATEC) by adding new commitments on Trade Facilitation, Good Regulatory Practices, and Anti—Corruption based on the relevant chapters of the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

January 28, 2022: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new Withhold Release Order (WRO) against disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by YTY Industry Holdings Sdn Bhd (YTY Group), including YTY Industry Sdn Bhd, Green Prospect Sdn Bhd, and GP Lumut. The WRO is effective immediately. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures][Textiles and Apparel]

January 26, 2022: The United States Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Labor, State, the Treasury, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a Burma (Myanmar) business advisory to inform the public of the heightened risks associated with doing business in Burma, and in particular with the military junta. The advisory states that “The United States does not seek to curtail legitimate business and responsible investment in Burma.” And the advisory did not single out the textile and apparel sector in the country, although the Department of Labor in June 2021 found clothing made in Myanmar involved child labor. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 25, 2022: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announces the Development of a Focused Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor. In the press release, USTR says “The development of this strategy will include a thorough, interagency review of USTR’s existing trade policies and tools used to combat forced labor, including forced child labor, to determine areas that may need strengthening and gaps that need to be filled. USTR will use this analysis to establish objectives, priorities, new tools, and key action items to advance the Administration’s goals to combat forced labor. The agency will undertake an inclusive process that maximizes input from stakeholders, including labor organizations, civil society, survivors, and the private sector.” [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

January 2022: The 2022 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States takes effect. The new HTS affects several textile and apparel products, including HS codes under 5501, 5703, 5802, 5911, 6116, 6201, 6202, 6210 and 6306. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 23, 2021: In a proclamation, President Biden legally announced to terminate Ethiopia, the Republic of Guinea (Guinea), and the Republic of Mali (Mali) as beneficiary countries for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), effective January 1, 2022. The termination decision was based on concerns about the conditions of human rights, rule of law, and political pluralism in the three countries [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 23, 2021: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) approved two new CAFTA-DR short supply list requests, including certain polyester/spandex 3-layered bonded fabric and 100% polyester 3-layered bonded fabric. VF Corporation submitted the requests.[Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel].

December 23, 2021: President Biden signed into law H.R. 6256 (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act), which bans imports from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) of the People’s Republic of China and imposes sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for forced labor in the region. The bill was passed by the House on December 14, 2021 and by the Senate on December 16, 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

December 20, 2021: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO). Effective December 20, 2021, CBP will detain disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by Brightway Holdings Sdn Bhd, Laglove (M) Sdn Bhd, and Biopro (M) Sdn Bhd (collectively, Brightway Group). [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and apparel].

November 30, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced extending 81 COVID-related medical product Section 301 exclusions to expire six months after November 30, 2021.  The new expiration will be on May 31, 2022. Previously, the Section 301 exclusions included 99 COVID-related products. However, 18 product exclusions, including some chemicals and textile PPE products, were not renewed this time due to objections from US domestic producers. [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel].

November 24, 2021: The United States and India reached an agreement regarding the digital services taxes (DSTs) dispute. India will remove its existing DSTs prior to the entry into force of Pillar 1 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s historic agreement on global taxation. In return, the United States will terminate the currently-suspended additional duties on goods of India that had been adopted in the DST Section 301 investigation. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

November 22, 2021: The United States and Turkey reached an agreement regarding the digital services taxes (DSTs) dispute. Turkey will remove its existing DSTs prior to the entry into force of Pillar 1 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s historic agreement on global taxation. In return, the United States will terminate the currently-suspended additional duties on goods of Turkey that had been adopted in the DST Section 301 investigation. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

November 19, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would terminate the actions it had taken under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to digital services taxes (DSTs) adopted by Austria, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

November 2, 2021: President Biden announced that Ethiopia, Mali, and Guinea would be terminated from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program as of January 1, 2022. The termination decision was based on concerns about the conditions of human rights, rule of law, and political pluralism in the three countries [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel].

September 29, 2021: The United States and the European Union launched a U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The TTC’s overall objective is to promote U.S. and EU competitiveness and prosperity and the spread of democratic, market-oriented values by increasing transatlantic trade and investment in products and services of emerging technology, strengthening our technological and industrial leadership, boosting innovation, and protecting and promoting critical and emerging technologies and infrastructure. The United States and the EU have established 10 TTC Working Groups, which are chaired by relevant U.S. agencies and European Commission services. These working groups will focus on tech standards, climate and green tech, secure supply chains, information and communications technology and services (ICTS) security and competitiveness, data governance and tech platform regulation, misuse of technology threatening security and human rights, export controls, investment screening, promoting SME access to and use of digital technologies, and global trade challenges. [Policy document] [Trade agreement]

October 31, 2021: The US and the European Union (EU) reached an agreement regarding the Section 232 tariffs on EU’s steel products. The US will replace the existing 25% Section 232 punitive tariffs on EU steel products with a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) to take effect on January 1, 2022. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

July 20, 2021: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the intention of the U.S. to join the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation (DR JSI). USTR says the initiative is an opportunity to improve the transparency and fairness of processes for obtaining overseas licenses for U.S. professionals to provide services, such as engineers, architects, and environmental consultants. It also can help firms in retailing, express delivery, and financial services. [WTO]

July 19, 2021: U.S. Department of Treasury said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with the State Bank of Vietnam regarding the Treasury’s concerns about Vietnam’s currency practices. According to a separate USTR statement, the section 301 tariff seems to be on hold, but the case is not closed yet. [Trade remedy measures]

July 16, 2021: the U.S. Department of State, along with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, issued a business advisory to caution U.S. businesses about emerging risks to their operations and activities in Hong Kong. Many of these risks stem from the implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also known as the National Security Law (NSL), and other recent legislative changes. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

July 16, 2021: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its Enforcement Statistics Fiscal Year 2021. In fiscal year 2021 (as of June 2021), CBP has detained 674 shipments by enforcing the withhold release orders (WROs), up 108% from 2020. The total Value detained cargo related to WROs reached $275 million, up 395% from FY 2020. [Trade remedy measures]

July 14, 2021: The Senate approved the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (S. 65) by voice vote. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

July 13, 2021: The U.S. Department of State, alongside the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of Labor issued an updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory to highlight the heightened risks for businesses with supply chain and investment links to Xinjiang, given the entities complicit in forced labor and other human rights abuses there and throughout China. This updates the original Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory issued by U.S. government agencies on July 1, 2020. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

July 8, 2021: The United States and Mexico today announced a course of remediation which seeks to provide the workers of the General Motors facility in Silao, Mexico with the ability to vote on whether to approve their collective bargaining agreement in free and democratic conditions, and to remediate the denial of the right of free association and collective bargaining to workers at the facility.  This first course of remediation under United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s novel Rapid Response Labor Mechanism. The course of remediation’s end date is September 20, 2021. [Policy document] [Trade agreement] [Trade remedy measures]

July 1, 2021: The new sewing thread rules under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) enters into force. Starting from today, sewing thread of headings 5204, 5401 or 5508, or yarn of heading 5402 (used as sewing thread), must be originating from USMCA members for qualifying apparel. [Trade agreement] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 24, 2021: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new withhold release order (WRO)  against Hoshine Silicon Industry Co. Ltd., a company located in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The WRO instructs personnel at all U.S. ports of entry to immediately begin to detain shipments containing silica-based products made by Hoshine and its subsidiaries. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

June 23, 2021: The Department of Labor released the updated List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Textiles and apparel products made in 32 countries were found with the problem of using child labor or forced labor. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

June 10, 2021: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai outlined the Biden administration’s “worker-centered trade policy” in her remarks during an AFL-CIO town hall. Tai mentioned her coal to “improve worker representation in trade policy in the United States and in multilateral organizations.”[Policy trend][WTO]

June 2, 2021: The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the conclusion of the one-year Section 301 investigations of Digital Service Taxes (DSTs) adopted by Austria, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.  The final determination in those investigations is to impose additional tariffs on certain goods from these countries, while suspending the tariffs for up to 180 days to provide additional time to complete the ongoing multilateral negotiations on international taxation at the OECD and in the G20 process. The announced Section 301 tariff action covers several textile and apparel products (HS Chapters 50-63) from Italy, Turkey, and UK, including:

• Austria: no textile and apparel affected
• India: no textile and apparel affected
• Italy (25 percent punitive tariffs): all 8-digit codes under 6103, 6104, 6110, 6117,6203,6204
• Spain: no textile and apparel products covered
• Turkey (25 percent punitive tariffs): all 8-digit codes under 5701, 5702, 5703, 6302
• UK (25 percent punitive tariffs): 6104.43.20, 6201.12.20, 6201.92.45, 6202.12.20, 6202.13.40,6202.92.90, 6204.43.40, 6204.44.40, 6204.49.10, 6205.20.20, 6215.10.00

[Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO] [Textiles and Apparel]

May 2021: The Office of the United States Trade Representative Office released its 2022 Fiscal Year Budget report, outlining six goals and objectives for the fiscal year 2022. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

May 28, 2021: The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Dalian Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd. based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the entity’s fishing operations. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

May 5, 2021: United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement announcing the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines. The statement says the the United States will “actively participate in text-based negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO)” regarding waving the IPR for COVID vaccines. The current WTO agreement—the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS, provides patent protection to technological innovations, including drugs and vaccines. [WTO] 

April 30, 2021: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released its annual Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. This annual report details USTR’s findings of more than 100 trading partners, including the problem of counterfeit apparel products made in China, Turkey, Guatemala, and Peru. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO] [Textiles and Apparel]

April 22, 2021: The Biden administration released its US International Climate Finance Plan. As part of the plan, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will “identify ways to significantly increase, as per its mandate, its support for environmentally beneficial, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage exports from the United States.” [Policy document]

April 16, 2021: The Biden administration released its first Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners (April 2021). The report removed Vietnam and Switzerland from the “currency manipulator”, reversing the Trump administration’s December 2020 decision. China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Ireland, Italy, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Mexico were on the monitoring list. Analysts say the report reveals the Biden administration’s intention to de-escalate trade tensions with US allies. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

March 31, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2021 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report. Most trade barriers facing U.S. textile and apparel products in the foreign markets concentrate on high tariffs, rules of origin documentation requirements and licencing requirements. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 29, 2021: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced to seize disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by Top Glove Corporation Bhd based on a forced labor finding. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 29, 2021: In response to the military coup, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced to suspend all US engagement with Myanmar under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA),“until the return of a democratically elected government.” The suspension does NOT mean the US is banning or prohibiting imports from Myanmar. However, should US Congress renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which expired in December 2020, Myanmar could be excluded from the benefits. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

March 26, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) proposed to impose an up to 25 percent punitive tariffs on imports from  Australia, India, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom in response to their planned digital service tax (DST) targeting US companies. The proposal covers several textile and apparel products (HS Chapters 50-63) from these six countries, including:

• Austria: 5209.12.00, 5402.49.91, 5404.19.10, 5404.19.80, 5603.94.10, 5603.94.90
• India: 5109.90.90, 6212.10.50
• Italy: all 8-digit codes under 6103, 6104, 6110, 6117,6203,6204,6211,6215
• Spain: no textile and apparel products covered
• Turkey: all 8-digit codes under 5702, 5703, 6302 and 6303.91.00
• UK: 6104.43.20, 6201.12.20, 6201.92.45, 6202.12.20, 6202.13.40,6202.92.90, 6204.43.40, 6204.44.40, 6204.49.10, 6205.20.20, 6215.10.00

Before taking action, USTR will accept public comments until the end of April 2021 and announce its decision by May 2021. Meanwhile, USTR also announced to terminate the DST investigation against Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, and Indonesia. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 18, 2021: Katherine C. Tai was officially sworn in as the US Trade Representative.

March 10, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced to extend the exclusion of PPE and medical-care products related to COVID-19 from Section 301 punitive tariffs against Chinese products. The exclusion covers a limited category of textile and apparel products, including 9903.88.64 (cover 5603.12.0090, 5603.14.0090, 5603.92.0090, 5603.93.0090), 9903.88.65 (5210.11.4040, 5210.11.6020, 5504.10.0000, 6210.10.5010, 6210.10.5090). The extension will be effective from 1 April to 30 September 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 5, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced to suspend airbus dispute 25% retaliatory tariffs on European Union’s products starting from 5 March 2021 for four months (i.e., around 4 July 2021). USTR says the suspension would “allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China.” Meanwhile, the UK had ceased applying retaliatory tariffs in the Boeing dispute from 1 January 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures]

March 4, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced to suspend airbus dispute retaliatory tariffs on UK’s products starting from 4 March 2021 for four months (i.e., around 4 July 2021). The 25% retaliatory tariffs apply to several apparel exports (such as sweaters) from the UK to the US. USTR says the suspension would “allow time to focus on negotiating a balanced settlement to the disputes, and begin seriously addressing the challenges posed by new entrants to the civil aviation market from non-market economies, such as China.” Meanwhile, the UK had ceased applying retaliatory tariffs in the Boeing dispute from 1 January 2021. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

March 1, 2021: The Biden administration released its 2021 President’s Trade Agenda and 2020 Annual Report. Revealing the Biden administration’s worker-centric trade policy, the report calls for “putting workers at the center of trade policy.” Related, the report says the Biden Administration will seek to understand better “the projected impact of proposed trade policies on communities of color and to ensure those impacts are considered before pursuing such policies.” The report further confirms Biden’s emphasis on climate change and says his trade agenda will “include the negotiation and implementation of strong environmental standards that are also critical to a sustainable climate pathway.” Additionally, the report says the Biden administration will “make it a top priority to address the widespread human rights abuses in China” and use the WTO to engage friends and allies. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [WTO]

February 24, 2021: The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region WRO Frequently Asked Questions web page. The page clarifies the scope of the Withhold Release Orders(WROs) against cotton made in Xinjiang, proof of admissibility, and due diligence. [Policy document] [Trade remedy measures] [Textiles and Apparel]

February 24, 2021: In an executive order (EO) released today, President Biden announced to conduct a 100-day supply chains review on several key US industries, including semiconductors, batteries, strategic minerals, and pharmaceuticals. The review will also cover certain critical business sectors, such as national defense, public health, information and communication technology, energy, transportation, and agriculture. Further, the EO explicitly asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the heads of appropriate agencies, to submit a report identifying risks in the supply chain of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE includes textile products like facial masks, gowns and gloves. More comprehensive reform and supply chain strategies are likely to follow after the supply chain review requested by the EO. [Policy document] [Textiles and Apparel]

February 2, 2021: The Office of the US Trade Representative Office announced to support Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the WTO. Previously, the Trump administration did not support Ngozi’s candidacy. [WTO]

January 25, 2021: President Biden issued an Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers, as part of his “Build Back Better” economic recovery plan. The order created the role of a “director of Made-in-America” within the Office of Management and Budget and increased the threshold and price preferences for domestic goods. [Policy document]