The U.S. agreed to liquidate importer Topcon Positioning Systems' rotated laser levers and pipe laser levels and parts and accessories to the laser levels under duty-free subheadings, according to a stipulated judgment filed at the Court of International Trade on March 31 (Topcon Positioning Systems v. United States, CIT # 14-00189).
The Court of International Trade on April 1 said it's satisfied with the progress CBP is making on standing up an administrative process for doling out refunds for tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (Atmus Filtration v. United States, CIT # 26-01259).
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 23-29:
Camel Energy’s imports aren't subject to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and its merchandise wasn’t manufactured in Xinjiang, CBP said in a stipulated judgment filed with the Court of International Trade on March 31 (Camel Energy v. United States, CIT # 25-00420).
CBP is no longer actively investigating allegations that cocoa from Cote d'Ivoire is being made with forced labor, the U.S. said in a notice filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on March 31.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
CBP said it expects the first phase of its automated refund system for International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs to cover about 63% of entries that paid or deposited the duties. That includes unliquidated entries and entries that will still be in the 90-day window when CBP is able to initiate reliquidation.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., told an audience of libertarians that he argued in a closed-door meeting with other House Ways and Means Democrats that they should campaign on prices, and connect affordability to President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton on March 27 broadened his prior order requiring CBP to begin paying refunds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to include finally liquidated entries. The judge's initial order only covered non-finally liquidated entries but now states that "[a]ny liquidated entries for which liquidation is final shall be reliquidated without regard to the IEEPA duties."
Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton on March 27 broadened his IEEPA tariff refund order to include finally liquidated entries. On March 27, the judge said "[a]ny liquidated entries for which liquidation is final shall be reliquidated without regard to the IEEPA duties." However, the judge continued his suspension of the order "to the extent that it requires immediate compliance."