Trade Policy

UPDATE:  After a 24-hour back and forth, President Donald Trump announced late on Tuesday evening that the U.S. would not impose an escalated 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum Tuesday.  This announcement was made after the Government of Ontario also backed down and called off its efforts to impose a surcharge on electricity exports

On Tuesday, the U.S. government began investigating China’s dominance in the shipbuilding industry. The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces is holding a hearing on U.S. shipbuilding, with a public hearing by the Office of the United States Trade Representative scheduled for March 24.

In addition to the service fee imposed on port

This blog post covers trade developments occurring during the seventh week of the new Trump Administration. It covers events occurring through 12:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, March 7.

Import-Related Developments

IEEPA Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Take Effect March 4 but Modified Two Days Later

The tariffs imposed by President Trump on Canada and

Canada

In response to President Trump imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada as previously reported here, the Canadian Government announced retaliatory tariffs against imports from the United States. Canada announced 25% tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products effective Tuesday, March 4. The list of tariff codes subject to the additional tariff

On March 3, 2025, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) released advanced Federal Register notices providing modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) in order to implement the steel and aluminum tariffs announced by the President on February 10, 2025.  Our prior update on these tariffs and the products affected are

Customs Provides Guidance on New Tariff Subheadings Applicable to Canada and Mexico Tariffs, De Minimis Treatment Will Temporarily Remain Available

On March 3, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) issued two notices providing guidance on the implementation of the previously announced tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. The notices also provide the

On March 1, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) to initiate a Section 232 investigation into imports of timber, lumber, and their derivative products. This is the same law that was used to impose additional tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum, and their derivative products. 

The full

This blog post covers trade developments occurring during the sixth week of the new Trump Administration. It covers events occurring through 12:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, February 28. 

Import-Related Developments

Potential Retaliation for Global Digital Services Taxes

After we published our Week Five in Trade post last week concerning additional sector-specific import tariffs

On Friday, February 21, 2025, President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (“NSPM”) titled “America First Investment Policy” which directed multiple federal agencies to take action to further restrict foreign adversaries’ ability to invest in sensitive United States businesses and to further restrict United States outbound investments into China. The Trump Administration also issued a Fact Sheet to accompany the NSPM.