Unbranded ink cartridges displayed at a cargo inspection area with container cranes in the background — Section 337 relief targets covered infringing ink cartridges

SEPTEMBER 28 TRADE BRIEF

INK CARTRIDGES BLOCKED

The USITC orders Section 337 relief for covered cartridges. New U.S.–China Board of Trade product lists identify candidates for future tariff treatment.

U.S. trade, customs and export-controls briefing · September 28, 2026 · English edition

NEW WHITE HOUSE RELEASE · SEPTEMBER 27: The U.S.–China Board of Trade announcement publishes the first approved product lists: 77 U.S. HTSUS provisions and 1,619 Chinese tariff lines. See the full analysis below. No preferential tariff rate is in force yet.

A White House release published on the evening of September 27 supplies the first product lists for the U.S.–China Board of Trade. They propose future tariff treatment but change no rate today. Three other substantive documents were filed for public inspection September 28, led by a Section 337 ink-cartridge order with a 100% bond during Presidential review.

Official-text discrepancy: the ink-cartridge notice's title line says “limited exclusion order,” but its summary and operative discussion repeatedly say the Commission issued a general exclusion order. This briefing follows the summary and body while flagging the conflict. Importers should confirm the signed remedial order and the final published notice before acting.

100% bondCovered ink cartridges may enter only under a bond equal to 100% of entered value during Presidential review.

77 U.S. linesThe Board's U.S. import list names 77 HTSUS provisions, eight limited to specified products. No tariff cut is yet in force.

One-year denialBIS renewed Ural Airlines' temporary denial order, effective immediately from September 24.

01 / SECTION 337 REMEDY

General exclusion relief reaches covered infringing cartridges regardless of source

The U.S. International Trade Commission affirmed a violation of Section 337 in Investigation 337-TA-1451 and says it issued a general exclusion order against ink cartridges and components that infringe specified claims of five Epson patents. Unlike a respondent-specific limited order, a general exclusion order can reach covered products regardless of who manufactured or imported them.

The Commission also issued cease-and-desist orders to Mountain Peak, Inc., doing business as Billiontree Technology USA, and Straightouttaink, LP. The investigation is terminated. During the Presidential-review period, the Commission set bond at 100% of the entered value for covered products.

Scope caution: “general” does not mean every replacement or aftermarket ink cartridge is barred. The operative scope remains tied to the covered products and infringement of the patent claims identified in the order. Model, construction and patent-scope analysis therefore matter more than brand or seller name alone.

Official public-inspection notice: FR Doc. 2026-19847 · scheduled publication September 29, 2026.

02 / U.S.–CHINA TRADE FRAMEWORK

Board of Trade publishes product lists; tariff reductions still await legal action

The White House published the Board's working procedures, terms of reference and two approved product lists on September 27. The U.S. import list has 77 eight-digit HTSUS provisions for Chinese goods; China's separate import list has 1,619 Chinese tariff lines for U.S. goods. The approximately $30 billion on each side is based on 2024 annual trade values, not a new tariff-rate or shipment quota.

The U.S. list includes goods such as household appliances, tableware, textiles, toys and sports articles. Eight entries are marked “Ex-Out”: their product descriptions restrict coverage to a portion of the tariff provision. For instance, listed toys under 9503.00.00 exclude items enabled with radio frequency, Wi-Fi, Ethernet or Bluetooth. For entries without that mark, the listed HTSUS provision controls; the description is informational.

Current treatment: the terms explicitly leave any future tariff reductions to each side's domestic legal process. The lists announce no reduced rate, effective date, Chapter 99 filing number or CBP entry instruction. Continue applying the duties and other requirements in force until an implementing measure is issued.

White House release · terms of reference · U.S. import list · China import list.

03 / NEW AD-CVD CASE

USITC opens preliminary investigations of wooden fence pickets from China

The Commission instituted preliminary countervailing- and antidumping-duty Investigations 701-TA-807 and 731-TA-1808 after a September 24 petition by the American Alliance of Wooden Fence Producers. The notice identifies merchandise provided for in HTSUS 4404.10.00, 4407.19.00 and 4421.99.70, but those tariff headings are descriptive aids; the written scope governs.

This is the start of the injury inquiry—not an affirmative injury finding, a Commerce duty determination, an AD/CVD order or a cash-deposit instruction. The staff conference is scheduled for October 16, written briefs are due October 20, and the preliminary injury determination is due November 9 unless Commerce extends the initiation period. The Commission expects to transmit its views by November 17.

Official public-inspection notice: FR Doc. 2026-19875 · scheduled publication September 29, 2026.

04 / EXPORT CONTROLS

BIS renews Ural Airlines' denial of export privileges for one year

The Bureau of Industry and Security renewed the temporary denial order against Ural Airlines JSC for one year, effective immediately on September 24. BIS says the evidence demonstrates repeated, ongoing or continuous apparent EAR violations involving continued operation of EAR-subject aircraft into and within Russia.

Ural may not participate directly or indirectly in transactions involving items exported or to be exported from the United States that are subject to the EAR. Other persons likewise face prohibitions on exports, reexports, in-country transfers, acquisition support and servicing involving Ural. Activities directly related to safety of flight are excluded only when authorized by BIS under 15 CFR 764.3(a)(2).

Classification note: this is an export-privileges denial, not an import tariff or customs duty. Its reach turns on EAR jurisdiction, the denied party and the transaction or service—not on an HTSUS number.

Official public-inspection order: FR Doc. 2026-19927 · order dated September 24; scheduled publication September 29, 2026.

05 / COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST

Separate an operative order from a newly opened investigation

Development	Immediate treatment	What to verify next
Ink-cartridge Section 337 orders	Screen models and components against the exclusion-order scope; budget for the 100% bond if entry is attempted during Presidential review.	Signed remedial order, final notice wording, CBP exclusion-order implementation and patent/model coverage.
U.S.–China Board product lists	Map products to the correct country's tariff schedule and check U.S. Ex-Out descriptions; keep current duty treatment.	Each government's implementing legal measure, effective date, rates and CBP filing guidance.
China wooden-fence-picket cases	Preserve origin, species, dimensions, processing and supplier records. Do not book a petition allegation as a current duty rate.	Commerce initiation, written scope, USITC preliminary injury result and any later suspension-of-liquidation instruction.
Ural Airlines TDO	Block or escalate EAR-subject transactions and servicing involving Ural unless a valid authorization applies.	Party aliases, aircraft control, EAR jurisdiction and specific BIS safety-of-flight authorization.

The Board documents were published September 27. The three public-inspection documents appeared September 28 for September 29 publication; recheck the final versions for corrections before relying on citations.

FAQ

Trade compliance FAQ

Does the ink order stop every imported ink cartridge?

No. It targets the covered products that infringe the patent claims identified in the order. “General” means the exclusion is not limited to the named respondents or a particular source.

Is the 100% bond a permanent additional duty?

No. The Commission set a bond equal to 100% of entered value for covered products during Presidential review. It is not an HTSUS tariff or an AD/CVD cash-deposit rate.

Are Chinese wooden fence pickets already subject to new AD/CVD deposits?

No. The notice opens the USITC's preliminary injury phase. No new cash-deposit requirement or duty order is announced.

Do the Board's product lists lower duties now?

No. The approved lists identify products for potential reciprocal tariff treatment. Rates and implementation await each government's domestic legal process; the eight U.S. Ex-Out entries also require their listed product descriptions.

Does the Ural order change U.S. import tariffs?

No. It renews an EAR export-privileges denial. Import tariff treatment is not changed by this order.

Primary sources and verification status

The September 27 White House release and annexes support the Board item; the September 28 public-inspection notices support the other three developments. The ink-cartridge text conflict is preserved rather than silently resolved. Implementation sources were checked separately for any operative tariff, entry or HTS change.