PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Requires the President to set up, by February 28, 2020 (30 days after January 29, 2020), an interagency committee to advise on how the USMCA rules for cars and parts will be run and enforced. Key terms used include: automotive appendix (the rulebook for cars), automotive good (a covered vehicle or listed part), covered vehicle (passenger vehicle, light truck, or heavy truck), alternative staging regime (a temporary, different set of steps to meet the rulebook), and USMCA country (the U.S., Canada, or Mexico while the USMCA applies). Producers must give U.S. Customs and Border Protection a written certification that their vehicles meet the labor value content rules and the steel and aluminum purchase rules and keep records to support those claims. The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Treasury must check those certifications and write regulations to explain how to do it. The Treasury, with Labor, may verify production records and has whistleblower protections for people who report problems. The Trade Representative must publish the rules for the alternative staging regime within 90 days of January 29, 2020, including how to apply, deadlines, and what information producers must provide. The Trade Representative will decide on requests within 120 days and keep a public list of approved producers. Requests covering more than 10 percent of a producer’s North American output need a detailed plan and extra review; producers must notify the Trade Representative of big changes. If a producer fails to meet its plan or gives false information, claims for preference can be voided and importers may owe duties plus interest. The Trade Representative and other agencies must do regular reviews and reports (biennial reviews, reports by the International Trade Commission on specified economic effects, and a Comptroller General report), and the rules take effect January 29, 2020 and apply to goods entered or withdrawn for consumption when the USMCA enters into force.

Title 19, §4532

Customs Duties, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Alternative staging regime

(2)Alternative staging regime period

The term “alternative staging regime period” means the period during which the alternative staging regime is in effect.

(3)Automotive appendix

The term “automotive appendix” means the Appendix to Annex 4–B of the USMCA (relating to the product-specific rules of origin for automotive goods).

(4)Automotive good

The term “automotive good” means—

(A)a covered vehicle; or

(B)a part, component, or material listed in table A.1, A.2, B, C, D, or E of the automotive appendix.

(5)Automotive rules of origin (6) Commissioner

The term “automotive rules of origin” means the rules of origin for automotive goods set forth in the automotive appendix.

(7)Covered vehicle

The term “covered vehicle” means a passenger vehicle, light truck, or heavy truck.

(8)Interagency committee

The term “interagency committee” means the interagency committee established under subsection (b)(1).

(9)Passenger vehicle; light truck; heavy truck

The terms “passenger vehicle”, “light truck”, and “heavy truck” have the meanings given those terms in article 1 of the automotive appendix.

(10)USMCA country

The term “USMCA country” means the United States, Canada, or Mexico for such time as the USMCA is in force with respect to Canada or Mexico, and the United States applies the USMCA to Canada or Mexico.

(b)Establishment of interagency committee

(1)In general

Not later than 30 days after January 29, 2020, the President shall establish an interagency committee—

(A)to provide advice, as appropriate, on the implementation, enforcement, and modification of provisions of the USMCA that relate to automotive goods, including the alternative staging regime; and

(B)to review the operation of the USMCA with respect to trade in automotive goods, including—

(i)the economic effects of the automotive rules of origin on the United States economy, workers, and consumers; and

(ii)the impact of new technology on such rules of origin.

(2)Members

The members of the interagency committee shall be the following:

(A)The Trade Representative.

(B)The Secretary of Commerce.

(C)The Commissioner.

(D)The Secretary of Labor.

(E)The Chair of the International Trade Commission.

(F)Any other members determined to be necessary by the Trade Representative.

(3)Chair

The chair of the interagency committee shall be the Trade Representative.

(4)Use of information

(A)Information sharing

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the members of the interagency committee may exchange information for purposes of carrying out this section.

(B)Confidentiality of information

The interagency committee and any Federal agency represented on the interagency committee may not disclose to the public any confidential documents or information received in the course of carrying out this section, except information aggregated to preserve confidentiality and used in the reports described in subsection (g).

(c)Certification requirements

(1)Certification relating to labor value content requirements

(A)In general

A covered vehicle shall be eligible for preferential tariff treatment only if the producer of the covered vehicle—

(i)provides a certification to the Commissioner that the production of covered vehicles by the producer meets the labor value content requirements, including the high-wage material and manufacturing expenditures, high-wage technology expenditures, and high-wage assembly expenditures, as set forth in article 7 of the automotive appendix or, if the producer is subject to the alternative staging regime, articles 7 and 8 of that appendix, and includes the calculations of the producer related to the labor value content requirements; and

(ii)has information on record to support those calculations.

(B)Implementation

For purposes of meeting the requirements under subparagraph (A)—

(i)the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall ensure that the certification of a producer under subparagraph (A)(i) does not contain omissions or errors before the certification is considered properly filed; and

(ii)a calculation described in subparagraph (A)(i) based on a producer’s preceding fiscal or calendar year is valid for the producer’s subsequent fiscal or calendar year, as the case may be, as set forth in articles 7 and 8 of the automotive appendix.

(C)Regulations required

The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph, including regulations setting forth the procedures and requirements for a producer of covered vehicles to establish that the producer meets the labor value content requirements for preferential tariff treatment.

(2)Certification relating to steel and aluminum purchase requirements

(A)In general

A covered vehicle shall be eligible for preferential tariff treatment only if the producer of the covered vehicle—

(i)provides a certification to the Commissioner that the production of covered vehicles by the producer meets the steel and aluminum purchase requirements set forth in article 6 of the automotive appendix or, if the producer is subject to the alternative staging regime, articles 6 and 8 of that appendix; and

(ii)has information on record to support the calculations relied on for the certification.

(B)Implementation

For purposes of meeting the requirements under subparagraph (A)—

(i)the Commissioner shall ensure that the certification of a producer under subparagraph (A)(i) does not contain omissions or errors before the certification is considered properly filed; and

(ii)a calculation described in subparagraph (A)(ii) based on a producer’s preceding fiscal or calendar year is valid for the producer’s subsequent fiscal or calendar year, as the case may be, as set forth in articles 6 and 8 of the automotive appendix.

(C)Regulations required

The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph, including regulations setting forth the procedures and requirements for a producer of covered vehicles to establish that the producer meets the steel and aluminum purchase requirements for preferential tariff treatment.

(d)Alternative staging regime

(1)Publication of requirements

Not later than 90 days after January 29, 2020, the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, shall publish in the Federal Register requirements, procedures, and guidance required to implement the alternative staging regime, including with respect to the following:

(A)The procedures, calculation methodology, timeframe, specific regional value content thresholds, and other minimum requirements, consistent with article 8 of the automotive appendix, with which a producer of covered vehicles subject to the alternative staging regime is required to comply during the alternative staging regime period for such vehicles to be eligible for preferential tariff treatment pursuant to the alternative staging regime.

(B)The date by which requests for the alternative staging regime are required to be submitted.

(C)The information a producer of passenger vehicles or light trucks is required to provide, in the producer’s request to use the alternative staging regime, to demonstrate the actions that the producer will take to be prepared to meet all the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired, including the following:

(i)A statement identifying which of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix that the producer expects it will be unable to meet upon entry into force of the USMCA based on current business plans.

(ii)A statement indicating whether the passenger vehicles or light trucks for which the producer seeks to use the alternative staging regime account for 10 percent or less, or more than 10 percent, of the total production of passenger vehicles or light trucks, as the case may be, in USMCA countries by the producer during the 12-month period preceding the date on which the USMCA enters into force, or the average of such production during the 36-month period preceding that date, whichever is greater.

(iii)In the case of a producer that seeks to use the alternative staging regime for more than 10 percent of the producer’s total production of passenger vehicles or light trucks, as the case may be, in USMCA countries—

(I)a detailed and credible plan describing with specificity the actions the producer intends to take to bring production of the passenger vehicles or light trucks, as the case may be, into compliance with the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period expires; and

(II)a statement indicating the time period for which the producer is requesting to use the alternative staging regime, if that time period is greater than 5 years after the USMCA enters into force.

(D)The procedures for accepting and reviewing requests for the alternative staging regime, including that the Trade Representative will—

(i)notify a producer of any deficiencies in the request of the producer that would result in a denial of the request not later than 30 days after the request is submitted; and

(ii)provide producers the opportunity to submit supplemental information.

(E)The criteria the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, will consider when determining whether to approve a request for the alternative staging regime. Such criteria shall only include elements necessary for the producer to demonstrate the producer’s ability to meet the requirements specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B). The criteria shall also describe the information to meet those requirements in sufficient detail to allow the producer to identify the information necessary to complete a request for the alternative staging regime.

(F)The opportunity for a producer described in subparagraph (C)(iii) to modify the producer’s request for the alternative staging regime.

(2)Review of requests for alternative staging regime

(A)In general

In reviewing the request of a producer of passenger vehicles or light trucks for the alternative staging regime, the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, shall determine—

(i)whether the request covers 10 percent or less, or more than 10 percent, of the production of passenger vehicles or light trucks in USMCA countries by the producer; and

(ii)whether the producer has identified with specificity which of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix the producer is unable to meet based on current business plans.

(B)Approval of alternative staging regime for passenger vehicle or light truck production not exceeding 10 percent of North American production

The Trade Representative shall authorize the use of the alternative staging regime if the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, determines that—

(i)the request for the alternative staging regime covers passenger vehicles or light trucks that do not exceed 10 percent of the production of passenger vehicles or lights trucks, as the case may be, in USMCA countries by the producer; and

(ii)the producer has identified with specificity which of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix the producer is unable to meet based on current business plans.

(C)Approval of alternative staging regime for passenger vehicle or light truck production exceeding 10 percent of North American production

The Trade Representative shall authorize the use of the alternative staging regime if the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, determines that—

(i)the request for the alternative staging regime covers more than 10 percent of the production of passenger vehicles or lights 1 trucks, as the case may be, in USMCA countries by the producer;

(ii)the producer has identified with specificity which of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix the producer is unable to meet based on current business plans; and

(iii)the detailed and credible plan of the producer submitted under paragraph (1)(C)(iii) is based on substantial evidence and reasonably calculated to bring the production of the passenger vehicles or light trucks, as the case may be, into compliance with the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired.

(3)Procedures related to reviewing and approving requests

(A)Deadline for review

Not later than 120 days after receiving a request of a producer for the alternative staging regime, the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, shall—

(i)review the request;

(ii)make a determination with respect to whether to authorize the use of the alternative staging regime; and

(iii)provide to each producer a response in writing stating whether the producer may use the alternative staging regime.

(B)Establishment of a public list

The Trade Representative shall maintain, and update as necessary, a public list of the producers of covered vehicles that have been authorized to use the alternative staging regime.

(C)Reporting

Before a determination is made with respect to whether to authorize the use of the alternative staging regime, the Trade Representative shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a summary of requests for the alternative staging regime.

(4)Alternative staging regime review and modification

(A)Material changes to circumstances

(i)Notification

If the request of a producer to use the alternative staging regime for more than 10 percent of the total production of passenger vehicles or light trucks, as the case may be, in USMCA countries by the producer has been granted, the producer shall notify the Trade Representative and the interagency committee of any material changes to the information contained in the request, including any supplemental information relating to that request, and of any material changes to circumstances, that will affect the producer’s ability to meet any of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired.

(ii)Requests for modification of plans

(I)In general

A producer that submits a notification under clause (i) with respect to a change described in that clause may submit to the Trade Representative and the interagency committee a request for modification of its plan.

(II)Determination regarding modification

Not later than 90 days after receiving a request submitted under subclause (I), the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, shall—

(aa)review the request;

(bb)make a determination with respect to whether the modified plan is based on substantial evidence and reasonably calculated to ensure that the producer will still be able to meet the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired;

(cc)if the Trade Representative makes an affirmative determination under item (bb), approve the modified plan; and

(dd)notify the producer in writing of the determination.

(iii)Inability to meet requirements

If the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, determines that the information provided by a producer under clause (i) demonstrates that the producer will no longer be able to meet the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired, the Trade Representative shall notify the producer in writing, and no claim for preferential tariff treatment may be made, on or after the date of the determination, with respect to a covered vehicle of the producer pursuant to the alternative staging regime.

(5)Failure to meet requirements for alternative staging regime

(A)In general

If, at any time, the Trade Representative, in consultation with the interagency committee, makes a determination described in subparagraph (B) with respect to a producer of covered vehicles subject to the alternative staging regime—

(i)any claim for preferential tariff treatment under the alternative staging regime for any covered vehicle of that producer shall be considered invalid; and

(ii)notwithstanding the finality of a liquidation of an entry, the importer of any covered vehicle of that producer shall be liable for the duties, taxes, and fees that would have been applicable to that vehicle if preferential tariff treatment pursuant to the alternative staging regime had not applied when the vehicle was entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, plus interest assessed on or after the date of entry and before the date of the determination.

(B)Determination described

A determination described in this subparagraph is a determination that a producer of covered vehicles subject to the alternative staging regime—

(i)has failed to take the steps set forth in the producer’s request for the alternative staging regime and, as a result of that failure, the producer will no longer be able to meet the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired;

(ii)has provided false or misleading information in the producer’s request; or

(iii)in the case of a producer authorized to use the alternative staging regime for more than 10 percent of the total production of passenger vehicles or light trucks in USMCA countries by the producer, has failed to notify the Trade Representative under paragraph (4)(A) of material changes to circumstances that will prevent the producer from meeting any of the requirements set forth in articles 2 through 7 of the automotive appendix after the alternative staging regime period has expired.

(e)Verification of labor value content requirements

(1)In general

As part of a verification conducted under section 4533 of this title, the Secretary of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, may conduct a verification of whether a covered vehicle complies with the labor value content requirements set forth in article 7 of the automotive appendix or, if the producer is subject to the alternative staging regime under subsection (d), articles 7 and 8 of that appendix.

(2)Role of Secretary of Labor (3) Role of Secretary of the Treasury

In cooperation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor shall participate in any verification conducted under paragraph (1) by verifying whether the production of covered vehicles by a producer meets the high-wage components of the labor value content requirements, including the wage component of the high-wage material and manufacturing expenditures, the high-wage technology expenditures, and the high-wage assembly expenditures, within the meaning given those terms in article 7 of that appendix.

(4)Actions by Secretary of Labor (5) Whistleblower protections

(A)In general

In participating in a verification conducted under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall assist the Secretary of the Treasury to do the following:

(i)Examine, or cause to be examined, upon reasonable notice, any record (including any statement, declaration, document, or electronically generated or machine readable data) described in the notice with reasonable specificity.

(ii)Request information from any officer, employee, or agent of a producer of automotive goods, as necessary, that may be relevant with respect to whether the production of covered vehicles meets the high-wage components of the labor value content requirements set forth in article 7 of the automotive appendix or, if the producer is subject to the alternative staging regime under subsection (d), articles 7 and 8 of that appendix.

(B)Nature of information requested

Records and information that may be examined or requested under subparagraph (A) may relate to wages, hours, job responsibilities, and other information in any plant or facility relied on by a producer of covered vehicles to demonstrate that the production of such vehicles by the producer meets the labor value content requirements set forth in article 7 of the automotive appendix or, if the producer is subject to the alternative staging regime under subsection (d), articles 7 and 8 of that appendix.

(6)Protests of decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

(A)In general

If a protest under section 1514 of this title of a decision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection with respect to the eligibility for preferential tariff treatment of a covered vehicle relates to the analysis of the Department of Labor relating to the high-wage components of the labor value content requirements described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall—

(i)conduct an administrative review of the portion of the decision relating to such requirements; and

(ii)provide the results of that review to the Commissioner.

(B)No accelerated disposition

An importer may not request the accelerated disposition under section 1515(b) of this title of a protest against a decision of the Commissioner described in subparagraph (A).

(f)Administration by Department of Labor (g) Review and reports

The Secretary of Labor is authorized to establish or designate an office within the Department of Labor to carry out the provisions of this section for which the Department is responsible.

(h)Effective date

This section shall—

(1)take effect on January 29, 2020; and

(2)apply with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date on which the USMCA enters into force.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 13908. Establishment of the Interagency Committee on Trade in Automotive Goods Under section 202A of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement Implementation Act Ex. Ord. No. 13908, Feb. 28, 2020, 85 F.R. 12983, provided: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 202A of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (Act) (Public Law 116–113) [19 U.S.C. 4532], it is hereby ordered as follows: section 1. Establishment of Interagency Committee. The Interagency Committee on Trade in Automotive Goods (Committee) is hereby established to provide advice, as appropriate, on the implementation,

Enforcement

, and modification of provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Agreement) that relate to automotive goods, including the automotive rules of origin and the alternative staging regime that are part of such rules. The Committee shall also review the operation of the Agreement with respect to trade in automotive goods, including the economic effects of the automotive rules of origin on the United States economy, workers, and consumers, and the impact of new technology on such rules. Sec. 2. Membership. The Committee shall be composed of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission, and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security. Members of the Committee may designate an officer of the United States within their respective executive department, agency, or component to serve as their representative on the Committee. The USTR shall serve as Chair of the Committee. The USTR may invite representatives from other executive departments or agencies, as the USTR determines are necessary, to participate as members or observers, and shall include the Secretary of the Treasury as a member of the Committee. Each executive department, agency, and component represented on the Committee shall ensure that the necessary staff are available to assist in performing the responsibilities of the Committee. Sec. 3. Committee Decision-making. The Committee shall endeavor to make any recommendation on an action or determination under section 202A of the Act by consensus, which shall be deemed to exist where no Committee member objects to the proposed action or determination. If the Committee is unable to reach a consensus on a proposed action or determination, the Committee may decide the matter by majority vote of its members if the Chair determines that allotting further time will unduly delay implementation of provisions of the Agreement that relate to automotive goods. The Chair, in addition to voting, may also break any tie vote. Sec. 4. Implementing Measures. The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are directed to issue, in consultation with the USTR (and with each other, as directed in the Act), such

Regulations

and other measures as are necessary or appropriate to implement section 202A of the Act. Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with the Committee’s functions described in section 202A of the Act. (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Donald J. Trump.

§4532 Special Rules for Automotive Goods

Summary

Title 19, §4532

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Enforcement

Regulations

Citations & Metadata