U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told investors at a closed-door JPMorgan Chase summit Tuesday that the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China is “unsustainable,” and indicated that both sides would need to find ways to de-escalate. In a speech the next day Bessent called for a "recentering" of the missions of the IMF and World Bank.

US Customs & Border Protection has published an FAQ page on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as it relates to tariffs.

April has seen enforcement actions on Chinese work gloves, South Korean Sea Salt, and most recently a petition based on evidence of modern slavery in the Brazilian coffee industry.

President Donald Trump asserted significant progress in trade negotiations, stating he has secured “200 deals” with foreign leaders, with details to be disclosed in the coming weeks. In an interview with TIME magazine, he emphasized his direct involvement: “Ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.”  Trump highlighted ongoing discussions with China, claiming that President Xi Jinping had contacted him to initiate talks. However, China’s Foreign Ministry refuted this, stating, “China and the U.S. are NOT having any consultation or negotiation on #tariffs.” 

As of April 25, 2025, seven lawsuits have been filed challenging President Trump’s imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 statute traditionally used for targeted economic sanctions.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the initiation of two separate national security investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 1862). The investigations will evaluate the impact of (1) processed critical minerals and their derivative products, and (2) imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and related parts, on the national security of the United States.

The U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has released its Annual Report to Congress on Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) Authorizations to Foreign Countries and International Organizations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, has called on the Trump administration to exempt small businesses from the sweeping tariffs announced earlier this month, citing disproportionate harm to Main Street enterprises.

The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party has issued subpoenas to China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom—three state-owned Chinese telecommunications firms—for failing to respond to a bipartisan request for information dated March 4. The subpoenas, which require compliance by May 7, 2025, are part of an ongoing congressional investigation into whether the companies continue to operate within the United States in ways that may endanger national security or compromise the privacy of U.S. citizens.

The United Kingdom announced substantial amendments to its Syria sanctions regime, signaling a strategic shift in support of Syria’s post-Assad reconstruction. The updated regulations lift sanctions on 12 Syrian entities and remove restrictions in select sectors, including financial services and energy production.

The European Union has formally initiated arbitration under Article 25 of the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) in the ongoing intellectual property dispute with China (DS611), concerning Beijing’s enforcement practices in standard-essential patent (SEP) litigation. The EU’s notice of appeal, circulated to WTO members Thursday, marks the second appeal proceeding conducted under the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), which substitutes the WTO Appellate Body’s functions for participating members.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule in the Federal Register amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to add 18 foreign entities to the Unverified List (UVL) and remove five previously listed parties.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has concluded its investigation into solar panel imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, determining that these imports were sold below fair market value and benefited from unfair subsidies. As a result, the Department has imposed antidumping and countervailing duties, with rates varying by country and company.

The stakes for the WTO’s future are teeteringly high. Economists warn that Trump’s attempts to bypass the organization and bargain bilaterally with dozens of countries – in breach of the “most favored nation” rule meant to ensure all member states share the same trade advantages – risk unravelling the multilateral system the organization was established to uphold.

A confidential State Department memo obtained by Nextgov/FCW and Defense One advises U.S. diplomats to warn international partners against doing business with Chinese satellite communications providers, citing risks of espionage and military exploitation by Beijing. The memo also addresses the geopolitical implications of relying on U.S.-based satellite services, notably SpaceX’s Starlink.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated Iranian liquified petroleum gas (LPG) trader Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh, his son Meisam Emamjomeh, and their global network of companies and vessels for facilitating the export of Iranian LPG and crude oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The United States on April 15 lifted sanctions imposed in January on the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet, Antal Rogan, over accusations of corruption and cronyism. Rogan was sanctioned January 7th for public corruption which "is affecting Hungary's decision-making on issues that impact the security of the United States of America and our allies."

On April 3, 2025, the Trump Administration announced the America First Trade Policy Report, a 24-chapter document addressing U.S. trade imbalances, non-reciprocal practices, and national security concerns. The reports themselves were not made public, rather the White House released a brief summary of the report, noting that chapters include reviews of unfair foreign trade practices, renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and assessments of foreign currency manipulation and existing trade agreements.

President Trump has signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Commerce to initiate a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into the national security implications of U.S. reliance on imported processed critical minerals and their derivative products.

Customs and Border Protection will host the 2025 Trade and Cargo Security (TCS) Summit in New Orleans, LA, on May 6-8, 2025. The 2025 TCS Summit will be open for the public to attend in person …