Further to our last circular Ref: A(25)161 dated 04th November 2025, the USTR has issued a Federal Register Notice (FRN) on 06th November 2025, requesting public comments on the suspension of the Section 301 action.

Please find the FRN attached. Briefly,

• The document announces that, following a historic trade deal between the United States and China (President Trump and President Xi), the USTR proposes to suspend—for one year, starting November 10, 2025—the Section 301 actions previously taken in this sector.​
• The suspension means that no party will accrue liability for, or be required to pay, the Section 301 fees or duties on maritime transport services or certain cargo handling equipment during this period.​
• Public Comments: The USTR invites comments from any interested party on the proposal to suspend the measures. The comment period opens November 6 and closes November 7, 2025 (a very short window).​
• Suspension Scope: The notice clarifies that the suspension would cover all fees and duties imposed under Annexes I, II, III (April 23 notice), and the products covered by Annex V.A (October 16 notice), for a period of one year.​
• Procedures for Submission: Detailed instructions are provided for submitting comments, uploading supporting documents, and designating business confidential information in the USTR’s electronic portal.​

Members are encouraged to take note of this FRN. In case of any queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to the secretariat.