President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose sweeping tariffs on key imported goods, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and lumber, as part of his broader effort to recalibrate trade relationships and encourage domestic manufacturing. Speaking to reporters and through posts on Truth Social, the former president detailed his vision for a reciprocal tariff system aimed at addressing what he calls longstanding trade imbalances. Trump declared that a 25% tariff on imported automobiles will take effect in April, with the potential for further increases. A similar tariff on pharmaceuticals will begin at 25% and escalate over time. "It'll go very substantially higher over the course of a year," Trump stated. Trump also announced plans to impose 25% or higher tariffs on additional goods, including lumber, semiconductors, and microchips.
The global response to U.S. tariff measures has ranged from diplomatic negotiations to retaliatory actions. While the EU and Japan seek exemptions through dialogue, China and Canada have taken more direct countermeasures. Meanwhile, countries like Malaysia, South Africa, and India are exploring strategies to protect key economic sectors from the impact of U.S. tariffs. One certain outcome is that regional and country-specific trade agreements which exclude the United States will continue to be inked among countries determined to ensure their supply lines aren't jeopardized by the caprices of President Trump.
Thursday, OFAC launched its new File Finder application for use on the OFAC website. The rowser-based application allows users to search through and efficiently navigate all of OFAC's website content.
The Senate Tuesday evening approved the nomination of financier Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary, putting in place a key proponent of President Trump’s trade policy. The nomination was approved by a mostly party line vote of 51 to 45.
The Emerging Technology Technical Advisory Committee (ETTAC) will meet on March 10, 2025, to advise and assist the Secretary of Commerce and other Federal officials on matters related to export control policies. The public session will include working group reports, open business discussions, and industry presentations. DATES: The meeting will be held on March 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Time.
Major US trade partners are threatening quick retaliation if President Trump goes ahead with his plans to impose across-the-board 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum The European Union and Canada are vowing to retaliate. “Our response will of course be firm and clear,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. European Union trade ministers are preparing a list of US products that will be targeted for retaliation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden declared US tariffs “will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
The Commerce Department has reportedly suspended processing applications for new export licenses with no communication to stakeholders. The pause has created confusion among users of the Simplified Network Application Process Redesign (SNAP-R) system, managed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Department leadership is in flux, pending the installation of political appointees.
An American subsidiary of a Russian aircraft parts supplier, along with three of its current and former employees, have been charged federally with crimes related to a scheme to illegally export aircraft parts and components from the United States to Russia and Russian airline companies without the required licenses from the Department of Commerce. Flighttime Enterprises, Inc. and the individual defendants evaded the export restrictions imposed on Russia to ship aviation parts to Russia and Russian end users, including airlines subject to Department of Commerce Temporary Denial Orders, by mislabeling shipments, providing false certifications, and using intermediary companies and countries to obscure the true end destination and end users.
Rep Mark Green (R-TN) once again introduced his China Technology Transfer Control Act, having failed to advance the initiative in the 116th, 117th and 118th Congress. There were no co-sponsors. The bill controls exports of certain national interest technology and intellectual property to China, calling for the US Trade Representative to maintain a designated list of product components subject to enforcement.
Following on President Trump's Executive Order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, the Treasury Department added Karim Asad Ahmad Khan to the Specially Designated National List. Mr. Khan, a British Subject, has served as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague since 2021. In May 2024, he announced the ICC's decision to apply for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has updated its License Application Portal. In addition to the current application process, the License Application Portal now features an option to establish an account to submit requests for specific licenses or interpretive guidance, or submit reports required by some specific licenses.
The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting will be open for the public to attend in-person or via webinar.
House Ways and Means Committee Democrats are calling on President Trump to end his tariff threats against Canada and Mexico. In a letter to Mr. Trump signed by all the Democrats on Ways and Means, the lawmakers that tariffs should not be used as leverage in dealing with non-trade issues. Mr. Trump and Administration officials have described the tariff as having nothing to do with trade, but about fighting a drug war. “[The] use of tariffs as a bargaining chip to settle non-trade issues is counterproductive to the goal of revitalizing manufacturing and bringing back American jobs,” the lawmakers. “The well being of American workers, families, and businesses should never be gambled for the sake of scoring political points.
On February 11, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a correcting amendment to the interim final rule published on January 16, 2025, titled “Implementation of Additional Due Diligence Measures for Advanced Computing Integrated Circuits; Amendments and Clarifications; and Extension of Comment Period.” This correction revises Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 3A090 by amending its license requirements table. Specifically, the first row’s first column is changed from “RS applies to the entire entry, except 3A090.a” to “RS applies to 3A090.a.” This modification clarifies that regional stability controls apply solely to ECCN 3A090.a items.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a new initiative aimed at reshaping U.S. trade policy by imposing reciprocal tariffs on foreign goods. The plan, introduced through a presidential memorandum, directs federal agencies to study and propose tariffs that mirror those imposed by U.S. trading partners. The administration maintains that the new tariff structure would bolster American manufacturing by incentivizing companies to produce goods domestically. “There are no tariffs if you manufacture or build your product in the United States,” Trump added. However, concerns over potential inflationary pressures remain. When asked whether the policy’s impact on consumer prices would be analyzed, Trump dismissed the need for further study. “There’s nothing to study,” he asserted. “It’s going to go well.”
Monday, President Trump and expanded Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, imposing a uniform 25% tariff on all imports of these materials. The new tariffs, effective March 12, 2025, replace previous measures that allowed for country-specific exemptions and quota arrangements. The revised policy covers an expanded list of downstream derivative products, which had not been previously subjected to tariffs. The final list of these products was published Friday in an annex, with the Secretary of Commerce tasked with establishing a process for further additions by May 11.
Brooke Rollins was sworn in Thursday as the new Agriculture Secretary, just hours after her nomination was approved by the Senate on a 72 to 28 vote. Ms. Rollins’ first order of business will be working with Congress on a long-delayed farm bill providing authorization for US agricultural programs.
A customs broker pleaded guilty to defrauding his clients – businesses who ship goods into the United States from foreign countries – out of more than $5 million, including after he had been indicted on fraud charges, and to committing more than $1 million in tax evasion.
President Trump has named former US Trade Representative’s Office official Joseph Barloon to be the chief US representative to the World Trade Organization. Mr. Trump also sent up nominations for key Commerce Department posts, including China hawk Landon Heid to be Commerce assistant secretary for export administration.
Prior to the Senate Finance Committee advancing the nomination of Jamieson Greer as US Trade Representative, Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), declared his opposition because it does not appear he will have the influence in the Trump Administration to steer trade policy. “I have no confidence that Mr. Greer will be in the room for important trade and tariff decisions, unlike previous USTRs. Greer has said Donald Trump’s use of tariffs to settle scores on issues unrelated to trade are not a trade issue, and therefore not something he would expect to be involved with if confirmed. It’s unclear what influence over critical trade decisions Greer will have in the Administration – or whether he’ll have any at all.”
