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
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
The first seven weeks of the second Trump Administration has revealed that tariffs are going to be a primary tool in the administration’s trade arsenal to address both domestic and foreign trade policy goals. What is critical to understand is that tariffs are only a viable tool if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) can
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
This week, President Trump indicated that he was considering imposing additional import tariffs on goods from specific sectors. The trade press reported that President Trump has identified the auto, pharmaceuticals and semiconductor sector for import tariffs of as high as 25% and previewed that such tariffs may go into effect as early as April 2, 2025.
Tariff News
Aluminum and Steel Orders
Earlier, we discussed President Trump’s proclamations on aluminum and steel imports, which raised the tariff rate to 25 percent on imports of aluminum and steel (and certain derivatives thereof) under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1862). Last week’s proclamations also removed
On February 14, 2025, the White House released Annex I of the February 10, 2025 Proclamations expanding the Section 232 duties to cover certain additional derivative products of steel and aluminum. The additional derivative products are identified by Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) code in each annex.
As discussed in our
On Thursday, February 13, 2025, President Trump signed a memorandum entitled “Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs.” The memorandum stopped well short of immediately imposing a tariff regime and instead directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with other Executive Branch departments and agencies, to take actions to investigate the
On Sunday, February 9, 2024, President Trump announced to a group of reporters aboard Air Force One that he intended to impose universal tariffs of 25 percent on all imports of steel and aluminum into the United States on Monday, February 10. President Trump also indicated that he intends to announce a regime of “reciprocal