Many trade enforcement activities saw increases in 2024, according to the International Trade Commission’s annual review of trade-related activities. The Year in Trade 2024 includes information on (1) antidumping, countervailing, intellectual property rights infringement, national security, and section 301 cases, (2) the operation of trade preference programs, (3) significant activities at the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and trade initiatives under negotiation, (4) implementation and enforcement matters under U.S. free trade agreements, and (5) trade patterns and developments with major trading partners such as the European Union, Canada, China, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Section 301. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative instituted several new Section 301 investigations, including on (1) China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance, (2) Nicaragua’s acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, and the rule of law, and (3) China’s targeting of the semiconductor industry for dominance. USTR also completed a statutory review of Section 301 tariffs on China and recommended that they remain in place with certain modifications.
Safeguards. The ITC conducted a new global safeguard investigation of fine denier polyester staple fiber that resulted in an affirmative determination and the imposition of safeguard measures. The U.S. also modified a global safeguard action in effect on solar cells and modules.
AD/CVD. The Department of Commerce finalized new rules that clarify the DOC’s authority to determine particular market situations in AD/CVD proceedings; allow consideration of inadequate foreign government enforcement of labor, environmental, and intellectual property laws when assessing price and cost distortions; and authorize the DOC to investigate and countervail transnational subsidies. The DOC also finalized new rules updating several AD/CVD provisions, including filing requirements, cash deposit applications, the application of AD rates in nonmarket economies, and respondent selection.
The ITC instituted 68 new AD investigations (up from 65 in 2023) and made 65 preliminary determinations (up from 64) and 57 final determinations (up from 20). The DOC issued 39 AD orders on 11 products from 27 countries (compared to 14, 7, and 11).
The ITC instituted 50 new CVD injury investigations (up from 19) and made 45 preliminary determinations (up from 19) and 19 final determinations (up from 5). The DOC issued 13 CVD duty orders on 8 products from 7 countries (compared to 5, 5, and 3).
IPR Infringement. There were 109 active section 337 investigations and ancillary proceedings (up from 107), 59 of which were instituted in 2024 (up from 50). The ITC completed 51 investigations and ancillary proceedings (down from 57) and issued three general exclusion orders (up from one), six limited exclusion orders (down from 11), and 39 cease and desist orders (unchanged). Technology products remained the single-largest category, with about 34 percent of the active proceedings involving computer and telecommunications equipment, about seven percent involving consumer electronics, and about another seven percent involving liquid crystal display devices and televisions.
WTO Dispute Settlement. WTO members filed ten new requests for dispute settlement consultations (up from six). Only one dispute was filed against the U.S., by China, and the U.S. filed no new disputes.
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