2026

On July 29, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its Covered List to add two new categories of foreign-produced equipment: advanced robotic devices and power inverters. The move follows determinations by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with national security expertise, which found that these foreign-made products “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” Notably, if applicable, these Covered List restrictions will apply to advanced robotic devices or power inverters produced in any country outside of the United States. 

On July 29, 2026, the Hydraulic Cylinders Fair Trade Coalition and its individual members, Aggressive Hydraulics, Inc., Hol-Mac Corporation, Ligon Hydraulics, Prince Manufacturing Corporation, PTC Alliance LLC, Rosenboom Machine & Tool, Inc., Scot Industries, Inc., Stillwell Inc., and Texas Hydraulics, Inc. (Petitioners) filed petitions requesting the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of certain linear hydraulic cylinders and parts thereof (Hydraulic Cylinders) from Canada, China, India, Mexico, and South Korea, and countervailing duties on imports from China, India, and Mexico.

United States and Jordan Sign Reciprocal Trade Agreement

On July 21, 2026, the United States and Jordan signed a reciprocal trade agreement under which Jordan will receive a preferential 10% U.S. tariff rate, rather than the higher 12.5% rate that may apply to certain countries under the forthcoming forced labor tariff regime. Under the agreement

After the May 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, one critical question remained unanswered: whether the safety exception extends to cargo theft and property loss claims. Three recent federal district court decisions have determined that it does not. These rulings provide much needed clarity on how to distinguish property

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced the imposition of new Section 301 tariffs under the Trade Act of 1974. Following investigations into global forced labor policies, the USTR has determined that 60 economies have failed to adequately impose or enforce prohibitions on the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The tariffs take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time beginning July 24, 2026.

On July 20, 2026, President Trump issued a new Presidential Proclamation aimed at further strengthening the U.S. aluminum industry. The latest Proclamation builds upon the existing Section 232 aluminum tariff regime by introducing a strategic investment incentive program designed to bring primary aluminum production back to the United States.

On July 20, 2026, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation imposing 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products, including goods that qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on August 19, 2026. 

On July 15, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) concluded its Section 301 investigation into Brazil’s unreasonable acts, policies, and practices by imposing a 25% tariff on most imports from Brazil, effective July 22, 2026. The action follows more than a year of investigation, multiple rounds of negotiations with Brazilian officials, a public comment period that generated over 360 written submissions, and a two-day public hearing held on July 6–7, 2026.

On July 16, 2026, the U.S. Senate confirmed five nominees to serve as Commissioners of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) by voice vote, restoring the agency to its full six-member panel for the first time in years. The Senate Finance Committee had approved all five nominations with large bipartisan support the day prior.