Request for Comments on Further Suspension of Section 301 Action: China's Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance

Issuing agencies

Abstract

To allow for further negotiation with China regarding the acts, policies, and practices at issue in this investigation, the U.S. Trade Representative (Trade Representative) is proposing to modify the action taken in this investigation to further suspend that action for two months, through January 9, 2027. This notice invites public comment from interested parties on the proposed modification.

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67388-67389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21755]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on Further Suspension of Section 301 Action: 
China's Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors 
for Dominance

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: To allow for further negotiation with China regarding the 
acts, policies, and practices at issue in this investigation, the U.S. 
Trade Representative (Trade Representative) is proposing to modify the 
action taken in this investigation to further suspend that action for 
two months, through January 9, 2027. This notice invites public comment 
from interested parties on the proposed modification.

DATES: 
    October 23, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time: Comment period opens.
    October 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time: To be assured of 
consideration, submit written comments regarding the proposed 
modification of the action by this date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Butler, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for Monitoring and Enforcement; Thomas Au, Senior 
Counsel for Industrial Policy; or David Salkeld, Associate General 
Counsel at (202) 395-5725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    For background on the proceedings in this investigation, please see 
the prior notices issued in this investigation, including 89 FR 29424 
(April 22, 2024), 90 FR 8089 (January 23, 2025), 90 FR 10843 (February 
27, 2025), 90 FR 17114 (April 23, 2025) (April 23, 2025 notice), 90 FR 
24856 (June 12, 2025), 90 FR 48320 (October 16, 2025) (October 16, 2025 
notice); 90 FR 50762 (November 10, 2025) (November 10, 2025 notice), 
and 90 FR 50947 (November 13, 2025) (November 13, 2025 notice).
    On April 17, 2025, pursuant to sections 301(b), 301(c), and 304(a) 
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2411(b), 2411(c), and 
2414(a)), and following consideration of public comments, as well as 
consultations with advisory committees and the Section 301 Committee, 
the Trade Representative determined to take action in this 
investigation. See April 23, 2025 notice.
    On November 1, 2025, the White House announced a historic trade and 
economic deal reached between President Trump and President Xi Jinping 
of China.\1\ Pursuant to this deal, the United States would suspend for 
one year, beginning on November 10, 2025, the responsive actions taken 
in this investigation. This period would allow the United States to 
negotiate with China pursuant to Section 301 regarding the issues 
raised in this investigation as well as to continue U.S. domestic 
efforts and discussions with key allies and partners on revitalizing 
American shipbuilding.
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    \1\ Fact Sheet, The White House, President Donald J. Trump 
Strikes Deal on Economic and Trade Relations with China (Nov. 1, 
2025), <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-strikes-deal-on-economic-and-trade-relations-with-china/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-strikes-deal-on-economic-and-trade-relations-with-china/</a>.
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    On November 6, 2025, pursuant to this deal, the Trade 
Representative, at the direction of the President, proposed to suspend 
for one year, beginning on November 10, 2025, the responsive actions 
taken in this investigation. See November 10, 2025 notice.
    Following consideration of public comments and advice from the 
Section 301 Committee, the Trade Representative suspended the actions 
in this investigation from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on November 10, 
2025, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 9, 2026. See November 
13, 2025 notice.

II. Request for Comments

    The United States is continuing to engage with China with the goal 
of obtaining the elimination of the acts, policies, and practices at 
issue in the investigation. The Trade Representative is therefore 
proposing to further suspend for two months, through January 9, 2027, 
the responsive actions taken in this investigation. The Trade 
Representative is requesting comments from any interested person 
regarding the proposal to suspend the responsive actions from 12:00 
a.m. Eastern Time on November 10, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time 
on January 9, 2027.
    During the suspension period, no party would accrue liability for 
or be required to pay the fees on maritime transport services under 
Annexes I, II, or III of the April 23, 2025 notice, as modified by the 
October 16, 2025 notice. Further, during the suspension period, no 
party would accrue liability for or be required to pay the duties 
provided in Annex V.A of the October 16, 2025 notice.

III. Request for Public Comments

    In accordance with Section 307(a)(2) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 
2417(a)(2)), USTR invites comments from interested persons with respect 
to the proposed modification to further suspend the action as described 
in Section II above. To be assured of consideration, you must submit 
written comments on the proposed modification by October 30, 2026, at 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

IV. Procedures for Written Comments

    You must submit written comments using docket number USTR-2026-0694 
on the electronic portal at <a href="https://comments.ustr.gov/s/">https://comments.ustr.gov/s/</a>. To submit 
written comments, use the docket on the portal entitled ``Request for 
Comments on Further Suspension of Section 301 Action: China's Targeting 
of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance.''
    You do not need to establish an account to submit comments. The 
first screen of each docket allows you to enter identification and 
contact information. Third party organizations such as law firms, trade 
associations, or customs brokers, should identify the full legal name 
of the organization they represent, and identify the primary point of 
contact for the submission. Information fields are optional; however, 
your comment or request may not be considered if insufficient 
information is provided. Fields with a gray Business Confidential 
Information (BCI) notation are for BCI information which will not be 
made publicly available. Fields with a green (Public) notation will be 
viewable by the public.
    After entering the identification and contact information, you can 
complete the remainder of the comment, or any portion of it by clicking 
`Next.' You may upload documents at the end of the form and indicate 
whether USTR should treat the documents as business confidential or 
public information.
    Any page containing BCI must be clearly marked `BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of that page and the submission should clearly 
indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or

[[Page 67389]]

other means, the specific information that is BCI. If you request 
business confidential treatment, you must certify in writing that 
disclosure of the information would endanger trade secrets or 
profitability, and that the information would not customarily be 
released to the public.
    Parties uploading attachments containing BCI also must submit a 
public version of their comments. If these procedures are not 
sufficient to protect BCI or otherwise protect business interests, 
please contact the USTR Section 301 support line at (202) 395-5725 to 
discuss whether alternative arrangements are possible.
    USTR will post attachments uploaded to the docket for public 
inspection, except for properly designated BCI. You can view 
submissions on USTR's electronic portal at <a href="https://comments.ustr.gov/s/">https://comments.ustr.gov/s/</a> 
by entering docket number USTR-2026-0694 in the search field on the 
home page.

Jennifer Thornton,
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2026-21755 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P


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