UPDATE – China extends Lunar New Year holidays to
contain coronavirus outbreak – updated Jan 30, 2020
Update: the Chinese government has extended CNY holidays in China, in order to help keep people safe and contain the coronavirus. A few additional China Cities/Provinces, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, have extended their earliest permissible dates for businesses to resume operations. The General Office of the State Council said in its announcement that the measure is taken to effectively reduce mass gatherings, block the spread of the epidemic, and to better safeguard the safety and health of the people.
All businesses, including our industry, are mandatorily required to obey the posted closings (below).
Our origin offices in China will resume operations as follows:
- February 10 – Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Qingdao
- February 3 – the remainder of China not listed above
Please note that the above list is subject to change according to government announcements that may follow.
In order to minimize operational impact, within reason (whilst keeping in mind the containment of virus outbreak), we have limited staff working from home to attend to bookings / urgent issues where required. This arrangement applies to locations that will remain closed next week. Please note, however, that many companies, such as shippers, are simply remaining closed until the dates listed above, so gathering information and documents is difficult.
Our team in Taiwan resumed work today (January 30), and Hong Kong resumed operations yesterday (January 29), with special arrangements to minimize exposure to the virus (e.g. staff to work from home or flexible hours in office for remainder of this week).
Your understanding and patience is appreciated.
Please contact your BOC Representative if you have questions.
China extends Lunar New Year holidays to contain coronavirus outbreak
China has announced a nationwide extension to the Lunar New Year holidays as a measure to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The Shanghai municipal government further announced that companies may only resume office on February 10.
The holiday, originally to end on January 30, has been extended to February 2 nationwide.
Our offices in China will resume operations as follows:
- February 10 in Shanghai and Ningbo
- February 3 in the rest of China
While Hong Kong officially returns to the office from the holidays on Wednesday, the 29th, we expect some impact to our ocean and air freight operations based out of China.
We will monitor the situation and keep you updated.
Thank you very much.
Please contact your BOC Representative with any questions.
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Notice of Modification of Section 301 Action:
China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation
SUMMARY: In accordance with the direction of the President, the U.S. Trade Representative has determined to modify the action being taken in this Section 301 investigation by reducing the rate of additional duty on certain products of China from 15 percent to 7.5 percent.
DATES: Applicable as of 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time on February 14, 2020, the rate of additional duty will be 7.5 percent for products covered by Annex A of the August 20, 2019 notice (84 FR 43304).
Read the full notice at below link:
New AD/CV Duties Possible on
Wood Moldings and Millwork Products
A petition filed Jan. 8 alleges that wood moldings and millwork products from Brazil and China are being sold at less than fair value in the U.S. market and that such items from China are benefitting from countervailable subsidies. The alleged average dumping margins are 268.74 percent for Brazil and 289.70 to 361.83 percent for China.
The Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission will next determine whether to launch AD and/or CV duty and injury investigations, respectively, on these products. There are strict statutory deadlines associated with these proceedings, so affected companies that wish to protect their interests should contact Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg as soon as possible.