On December 31, 2025, President Trump signed proclamation, Amendments to Adjusting Imports of Timber, Lumber, And Their Derivative Products into the United States, delaying higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities until January 1, 2027. The proclamation cited “productive negotiations with trade partners to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns regarding
On December 23, 2025, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) determined that China’s policies and practices aimed at dominating the semiconductor industry are unfair and burdensome on U.S. commerce, making them actionable under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. After a year-long investigation, the USTR found that China’s state-driven industrial planning, forced technology
On November 20, 2025, the American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition (“the Coalition”) (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. imports into the United States of van-type trailers and subassemblies thereof imported from Canada, Mexico, and the People’s Republic of China (“China”).
Tariff Evasion Enforcement Continues To Be A Top Priority for DOJ and CBP
Recent developments highlight a coordinated, aggressive approach by the U.S. Government to crack down on schemes that undermine U.S. trade laws.
An Indonesian jewelry company, UBS Gold, its co-owner, and two employees were charged with conspiring to evade over $86 million in U.S. customs duties on jewelry imports. Two individuals were arrested and face up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy, while UBS Gold faces fines up to $500,000 or twice the gain.
USTR Imposes 100% Tariffs on Ship-to-Shore Cranes Under Section 301
Effective November 9, 2025, the United States will impose additional duties of 100% on certain ship-to-shore (“STS”) cranes and certain cargo handling equipment from China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. These tariffs follow the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (“USTR”)’s original proposal in April 2025.
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) published over 90 requests for the inclusion of additional HTSUS subheadings to the list of steel and aluminum derivative products subject to Section 232 tariffs of 50%.
On September 17, 2025, BIS announced a two-week window where parties could submit requests to include additional products to
President Trump has issued a proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (“Section 232”) that sets October 14, 2025 as the effective date for Section 232 tariffs on softwood timber and lumber, upholstered wooden furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities.
Imports of softwood timber and lumber will face a 10% ad
On September 17, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced via an interim final rule that it is now accepting requests to include additional auto parts under Section 232 tariffs. According to the notice, the initial submission window for the requests will open on October 1, 2025, and will remain open for 14 days. Following this period, BIS will conduct a 60-day review to evaluate all inclusion requests.
On September 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Federal Register notice announcing that new tariff reductions on imports from Japan—including automobiles, auto parts, civil aircraft, and certain other goods—will take effect beginning September 16, 2025. These measures implement the U.S.-Japan trade agreement, which was finalized on July 22, 2025, and formalized by Executive Order 14345 signed on September 4, 2025. Please see our previous post here for more details on the U.S.-Japan deal.