WASHINGTON – Twenty-four trade associations have signed a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requesting a reopening of the comment period and a delay in a hearing later this month regarding a Section 301 investigation regarding Vietnam.
The Dec. 18 letter includes signatures from the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assn., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, the Hardwood Federation and 19 other trade groups.
A key concern was that the comment period for this part of the investigation ended before the Dec. 16 release of a U.S. Treasury Department report that labels Vietnam as a currency manipulator. Allegations of currency manipulation are one of the key contentions in the Section 301 investigation regarding Vietnam. A virtual hearing on this matter has been scheduled for Dec. 29.
A separate hearing on Dec. 28 deals with allegations of Vietnam’s use of illegal timber in finished goods. Both hearings are part of a process in which the U.S. government will determine whether or not to impose tariffs on finished goods shipped to the U.S. from Vietnam.
“This finding could have substantial impact on the ongoing investigation. Interested parties should be given an opportunity to comment on this report to the U.S. Trade Representative prior to the conclusion of the investigation on this matter,” said the letter, delivered to the USTR by law firm Mowry & Grimson. “Our view is that the law provides that interested parties that are engaged in administrative proceedings are entitled to a meaningful opportunity to be heard both under the Administrative Procedures Act and the Constitution. We therefore respectfully request an opportunity to comment on the highly relevant information contained in Treasury’s report.”
It was not immediately clear whether the request to extend the comment period or to delay the hearing date has been granted. To view the letter, click here.
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