[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 215 (Monday, November 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50762-50763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19839]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments on Suspending Section 301 Action for One
Year: China's Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding
Sectors for Dominance
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: On November 1, 2025, the White House announced a historic
trade and economic deal reached between President Trump and President
Xi Jinping of China. Pursuant to this deal, the United States Trade
Representative, at the direction of the President, is proposing to
suspend for one year, beginning on November 10, 2025, the responsive
actions taken in this investigation. This notice announces the opening
of a public comment docket for interested parties to comment on the
proposed modification to suspend the actions in this investigation.
DATES:
November 6, 2025, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time: Comment period
opens.
[[Page 50763]]
November 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time: To be assured of
consideration, submit written comments regarding the proposed
modification of the action by this date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Butler, Chair of the Section
301 Committee; Thomas Au, Associate General Counsel; or David Salkeld,
Assistant General Counsel at (202) 395-5725.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see
the prior notices issued in this investigation, including 89 FR 29424
(April 22, 2024), 90 FR 8089 (January 23, 2025), 90 FR 10843 (February
27, 2025), 90 FR 17114 (April 23, 2025) (April 23 notice), 90 FR 24856
(June 12, 2025), and 90 FR 48320 (October 16, 2025) (October 16
notice).
On April 17, 2025, pursuant to sections 301(b), 301(c), and 304(a)
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2411(b), 2411(c), and
2414(a)), and following consideration of public comments, as well as
consultations with advisory committees and the Section 301 Committee,
the U.S. Trade Representative determined to take action in this
investigation. See April 23 notice.
On October 10, pursuant to section 307(a), and following
consideration of public comments, as well as consultations with
advisory committees and the Section 301 Committee, the U.S. Trade
Representative determined to modify the action. The modifications
included changes to certain aspects of Annexes III and IV of the April
23 notice, as well as imposition of duties on ship-to-shore cranes and
on certain cargo handling equipment of China as described in Annex V.A
of the October 16 notice. See October 16 notice.
II. Request for Comments
The United States is engaging with China with the goal of obtaining
the elimination of the acts, policies, and practices covered in the
investigation.
On November 1, 2025, the White House announced a historic trade and
economic deal reached between President Trump and President Xi Jinping
of China.\1\ Pursuant to this deal, the United States would suspend for
one year, beginning on November 10, 2025, the responsive actions taken
in this investigation. The United States also would negotiate with
China pursuant to Section 301 regarding the issues raised in this
investigation. While taking these actions, the United States would
continue its domestic efforts and its discussions with key allies and
partners on revitalizing American shipbuilding.
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\1\ Fact Sheet, The White House, President Donald J. Trump
Strikes Deal on Economic and Trade Relations with China (Nov. 1,
2025), https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-strikes-deal-on-economic-and-trade-relations-with-china/.
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The United States Trade Representative, at the direction of the
President, is therefore proposing to suspend for one year, beginning on
November 10, 2025, the responsive actions taken in this investigation.
The Trade Representative is requesting comments from any interested
person regarding the proposal to suspend the responsive actions from
12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 10, 2025, through 11:59
p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 9, 2026.
During the suspension period, no party would accrue liability for
or be required to pay the fees on maritime transport services under
Annexes I, II, or III of the April 23 notice, as modified by the
October 16 notice. Further, during the suspension period, no party
would accrue liability for or be required to pay the duties provided in
Annex V.A of the October 16 notice.
III. Request for Public Comments
In accordance with Section 307(a)(2)(b) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C.
2414(b)), and consistent with specific direction of the President, as
well as the deal reached between the United States and China on
November 1, 2025, USTR invites comments from interested persons with
respect to the proposed suspension as described in Section II above. To
be assured of consideration, you must submit written comments on the
proposed modifications by November 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time.
IV. Procedures for Written Comments
You must submit written comments and rebuttal comments using docket
number USTR-2025-0274 on the electronic portal at https://comments.ustr.gov/s/. To submit written comments, use the docket on the
portal entitled ``Request for Comments Concerning the Suspension of
Action in the Section 301 Investigation of China's Targeting of the
Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance.''
You do not need to establish an account to submit comments. The
first screen of each docket allows you to enter identification and
contact information. Third party organizations such as law firms, trade
associations, or customs brokers, should identify the full legal name
of the organization they represent, and identify the primary point of
contact for the submission. Information fields are optional; however,
your comment or request may not be considered if insufficient
information is provided. Fields with a gray Business Confidential
Information (BCI) notation are for BCI information which will not be
made publicly available. Fields with a green (Public) notation will be
viewable by the public.
After entering the identification and contact information, you can
complete the remainder of the comment, or any portion of it by clicking
`Next.' You may upload documents at the end of the form and indicate
whether USTR should treat the documents as business confidential or
public information.
Any page containing BCI must be clearly marked `BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of that page and the submission should clearly
indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or other means, the specific
information that is BCI. If you request business confidential
treatment, you must certify in writing that disclosure of the
information would endanger trade secrets or profitability, and that the
information would not customarily be released to the public.
Parties uploading attachments containing BCI also must submit a
public version of their comments. If these procedures are not
sufficient to protect BCI or otherwise protect business interests,
please contact the USTR Section 301 support line at 202.395.5725 to
discuss whether alternative arrangements are possible.
USTR will post attachments uploaded to the docket for public
inspection, except for properly designated BCI. You can view
submissions on USTR's electronic portal at https://comments.ustr.gov/s/
by entering docket numbers USTR-2025-0274 in the search field on the
home page.
Jennifer Thornton,
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2025-19839 Filed 11-6-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P