First 100 Days of Trade

On April 16, 2025, the State of California filed a complaint against President Trump, the Secretary of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) challenging the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The complaint was filed in the District Court for the Northern District of California rather

On April 15, 2025, President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to initiate an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 examining the threats to national security from imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products.  

The latest Section 232 investigation follows the Trump Administration’s April 1, 2025 initiation of

On April 14, 2025, the Trump Administration issued two federal register notices scheduled to be published on April 16, 2025. The notices seek public comments following the April 1, 2025 initiation of investigations targeting imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The Trump administration claims that imports of semiconductors and pharmaceuticals are a threat to national security.

U.S.-China Trade War Intensifies

On April 8, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order raising the reciprocal tariff rate on Chinese imports from 34% to 84%. This move followed his earlier warning that the U.S. would impose a 50% increase unless China withdrew its 34% retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

China swiftly responded by matching

On April 12, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (“EO”) Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended, which expanded the list of Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) codes exempted from the reciprocal tariffs that were announced on April 2, 2025. The exemptions apply retroactively to goods

On April 2, 2025 we reported that imports from China valued at $800 or less would no longer qualify for de minimis treatment starting May 2, 2025. On April 9, 2025 we reported the increase in tariffs and fees for imports of small value packages from China following issuance of Executive Order Amendment to Reciprocal

On April 9, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment”, increasing the reciprocal tariff rates for China to 125%. Importantly, country-specific reciprocal rates for 83 countries that took effect on April 9, 2025, have been paused for a period of 90

On April 8, 2025, President Trump, acting under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (“IEEPA”), issued an Executive Order (“EO”) titled “Amendment to Reciprocal Tariffs and Updated Duties as Applied to Low-Value Imports from the People’s Republic of China.” The EO modifies the previous April 2, 2025 Executive Order by

On April 8, 2025 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued a Cargo Systems Messaging Service (“CSMS”) Message # 64680374which sets forthadditional guidance on the reporting of reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 9, 2025. This guidance is an update to CSMS # 64649265 previously issued on April 4, 2025.

The President 

On April 5, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued guidance through the Cargo Systems Messaging Service (“CSMS”) that duty drawback is available for the 10% universal baseline tariffs that take effect on April 5, 2025.

The CSMS stated CBP will issue separate guidance for the country-specific tariffs that take effect April 9, 2025.