OFAC Makes Iran-related Updates to SDN List
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) took additional actions as part of “Operation Economic Outcast”, the Administration’s sanctions campaign against Iran. OFAC announced the addition of an Iranian national (Reza Mohammad Taeedi) and a Hong Kong based company (Kameng Trading Limited) to the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked
On August 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced numerous actions related to Iran sanctions. These actions are deemed “Operation Economic Outcast” and are meant to align with changes in the foreign policy of the United States towards Iran.
On the same day, the U.S. Department of
As previously reported, on August 22, 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will impose dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs in response to the Section 338 additional duties that went into effect following the suspension of trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada.
On August 25, 2026, the Canadian Government unveiled the finalized list
On August 24, 2026, pursuant to Executive Order 14312, the U.S. Department of State took action to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (“SST”). Additionally, the State Department and U.S. Department of the Treasury concurrently removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (“HTS”) designation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (“SDGT”) organization and Specially
In the latest development in United States-Canada trade relations, 50% additional duties, announced in three separate proclamations issued on July 20, 2026, took effect as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 22, 2026. President Donald Trump imposed the additional duties pursuant to Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which empowers the President to impose additional duties (not exceeding 50%) on imports from a foreign country to offset the burden or disadvantage caused by that country’s unequal imposition on or discrimination against U.S. commerce.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued a Federal Register notice that it is now ready to execute “executing enhanced enforcement procedures.” CBP has indicated that it will start verifying importer of record information provided by each importer on CBP Form 5106, and importers of record have until September 18, 2026, to correct any errors
In response to rapidly developing El Niño conditions, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has reduced maximum vessel draft limits. The situation may get worse next year, so shippers with Canal-dependent trade lanes should take mitigating steps now before conditions deteriorate further.
The ACP has already imposed five successive draft reductions as vessel backlogs continue to
On August 13, 2026, the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy released a report identifying more than 40 countries it characterizes as presenting an elevated risk of illegal transshipment of Chinese-origin goods into the United States. The report also states that an artificial-intelligence-driven enforcement tool, referred to as “Detective Border,” is under development to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in detecting and interdicting such shipments.
On August 5, 2026, The Chemours Company FC, LLC (Petitioner or Chemours) filed a petition requesting the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) from India.
The Trump Administration has officially reduced tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals and associated pharmaceutical ingredients imported from the United Kingdom (UK) from 10% to 0%. This change, effective July 31, 2026, is the result of an agreement between the United States and the UK, which created a carve out for UK origin pharmaceutical products from the recent national security tariffs imposed on patented pharmaceuticals pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232).