Supply Chain

Relations between the countries of the United States of America USA and JAPAN represented by the concept of two flags waving against a cloudy sky.3d render.

On September 4, 2025, President Trump, using his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), issued an executive order (“EO”) titled, Implementing The United States–Japan Agreement, to implement the trade agreement with Japan on July 22, 2025. The EO establishes a15% tariff on the majority of Japanese imports, notably including automobiles and auto parts that have previously been central to U.S.–Japan trade tensions. Under the EO, all Japanese automobiles and auto components entering the United States will face a minimum 15% tariff, unless their current tariff rate is already at or above that level, in which case no additional duties will be imposed. The EO also provides for targeted exemptions for aerospace products, certain natural resources, and generic pharmaceuticals, which will be subject to zero tariffs. These tariffs are retroactively applied to goods imported for consumption from August 7, 2025, onward.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued its decision in VOS Selections Inc. v. United States where the plaintiffs challenged the validity and legality of the Trump administration’s tariffs instituted under the International Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). The full panel of circuit judges who heard oral argument on July 31, 2025, affirmed the Court of International Trade’s earlier decision that while IEEPA grants the executive “authority to ‘regulate’ imports” it “does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders. The majority opinion was issued by Judge Lourie who was joined by six other Circuit Judges, with additional views provided by four judges, and a dissent led by the remaining four judges on the panel.

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Canada to Exempt CUSMA-Origin U.S. Goods from 25% Retaliatory Tariffs Starting September 2025—Steel, Aluminum, and Autos Still Excluded

On August 27, Canada announced that, effective September 1, 2025, U.S. goods certified as CUSMA (USMCA) qualifying will be exempt from the country’s 25% retaliatory tariffs. This decision follows a similar exemption implemented by the United States…

Flag of the European Union waving in the wind on flagpole against the sky with clouds, banner

On July 27, 2025, President Trump announced that the U.S. and European Union (“EU”) have reached a trade deal. Pursuant to the Fact Sheet released by the White House on July 28th, the U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on all EU goods, including auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. The Fact Sheet further stated that…

Close-up of rusty metal coupling on a freight train

On July 23, 2025, the Coalition of Freight Coupler Producers (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on U.S. imports of Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the Czech Republic and the Republic of India and countervailing duties on the Republic of India.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The following language…

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Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation On Drones and Polysilicon from China

On July 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched new Section 232 investigations on imports of Chinese drones and polysilicon. Drones and polysilicon are both currently subject to additional tariffs of 55% and 80%, respectively. The new investigations aim to assess whether…

Thin film solar cells or amorphous silicon solar cells in solar power plants absorb sunlight for clean, alternative energy.

On July 17, 2025, the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade (“the Alliance”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells whether or not assembled into modules (“c-Si PV cells and modules”) from the Republic of India (“India”), the Republic of Indonesia (“Indonesia”)…

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Island Industries v. Sigma Corp., upheld a lower court jury determination that an importer of welded pipe fittings is liable for $8 million in unpaid antidumping duties under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). The penalty under the FCA is trebled totaling the liability to over $32 million for importer Sigma Corp. 

Federal Court of Appeals Federal Circuit Lafayette Park Washington DC

On June 10, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”) stayed the Court of International Trade’s (“CIT”) permanent injunction on the Trump Administration’s executive orders instituting tariffs pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) pending the appeal of the case. The Federal Circuit judges stated in the…