This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) both published announcements of updates related to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).

Two recent business surveys show that over the first half of 2023, the majority of foreign companies are optimistic about the Chinese market. More companies reported revenue increases than companies reporting revenue losses, and among the latter, Americans firms experienced higher losses compared to other companies.

At an event put on by the Washington International Trade Association and the Asia Society Policy Institute, a USTR official outlined U.S. concerns with Chinese electric vehicles and offered a general time-frame for the ongoing Section 301 tariff review.

At the WTO's Committee on Rules of Origin meeting on June 6, for which the minutes were recently circulated, there was a discussion of the utilization by least developed countries of China's tariff preferences.

China's planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), along with several other agencies, has published 28 measures to bolster the private economy. This is part of the central government's effort to send a signal to boost market confidence.

On July 31, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency body that reviews certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States to determine the effect on national security, released its annual report to Congress for 2022.

The minutes of the WTO's Committee of Government Procurement meeting discussing the resolution of the blocked appointment of the Chair of the Committee have now been circulated.