This past week, CTM covered the following issues.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced an anti-dumping investigation into imports of p-Nitrotoluene (PNT) originating from the European Union, following a petition filed by domestic producers.

China used the G20 Trade Ministerial meeting in Milwaukee to push back against U.S.-led policy proposals, warning against protectionism disguised as industrial capacity and labor concerns.

In a legal dispute brought by Canadian brand Lululemon against a domestic apparel brand, a Chinese court dismissed Lululemon's trademark infringement claims while awarding damages for unfair competition.

With a Section 301 investigation on excess capacity likely to be completed soon, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) announced a joint statement with a number of other economies to address excess capacity in five specific manufacturing sectors.

As part of a four year review of the Section 301 tariffs imposed on Chinese imports in relation to an investigation of Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation, USTR announced that these tariffs would remain in effect. 

The Trump administration issued its first penalty for a company failing to notify an investment in China, pursuant to regulations related to outbound investment.

U.S. House lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to ban malicious foreign technology from entering U.S. telecommunications networks.

In recent weeks, there was a push in Congress to pass legislation restricting sales of Chinese "connected vehicles" in the U.S. market, but progress seems to have stalled for now.

In advance of a trip to China this week by European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, the leaders of France and Germany issued a "non-paper" that was likely designed in part to strengthen the hand of EU negotiators.

At a recent WTO committee meeting, China raised concerns about U.S. kiwifruit standards, proposed EU industrial and cybersecurity measures, Indonesian telecommunication equipment certification, and Korean regulations on traditional Chinese medicine products.