Johnathan Foege - Liang + Mooney, PLLC

October 14, 2025

When Importers Cheat Customs: Los Angeles Apparel Company Sentenced for $8 Million Duty Evasion — and Why Whistleblowers Matter

Federal prosecutors recently announced the sentencing of a Los Angeles-based apparel importer and its executives for a sweeping customs fraud and money laundering scheme — a case that highlights how import duty evasion can trigger not only criminal prosecution, but also potential liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). The FCA allows private whistleblowers to file suit on behalf of […]

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October 13, 2025

Updated Guidance On Section 232 Duties on Timber, Lumber, and Related Products

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued guidance on the implementation of Proclamation 10976, “Adjusting Imports of Timber, Lumber, and Their Derivative Products into the United States,” published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 48127. The proclamation, issued on September 29, 2025, imposes new Section 232 duties on softwood lumber, upholstered wooden furniture, completed kitchen cabinets and vanities, […]

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October 13, 2025

New Section 301 Fees on Chinese and Foreign-Built Vessels Take Effect October 14

The U.S. government has announced new vessel fees under the ongoing Section 301 action into China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. Effective October 14, 2025, these fees apply to vessels that are owned, operated, or built in China, as well as to all foreign-built vehicle carriers. These measures, outlined in the Federal Register Notice of […]

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October 13, 2025

Renewed U.S.–China Trade Tensions: What To Expect from the Latest Tariff Escalations

The U.S.–China trade relationship may be entering a sharper phase of confrontation. In response to China’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earth materials and related technologies, the U.S. has jumped to threaten 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. Meanwhile, China insists its export restrictions are legitimate measures tied to national security, not retaliation — setting the stage for what […]

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October 1, 2025

New Section 232 Tariffs on Furniture and Wood Products: What Importers Need to Know

On September 29, 2025, President Trump issued a Section 232 proclamation imposing new tariffs on imported timber, lumber, and derivative wood products, including furniture. The move follows a Commerce Department investigation that concluded rising imports of wood products pose a threat to U.S. national security by weakening domestic production capacity and increasing reliance on foreign suppliers. What the Proclamation Does […]

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September 30, 2025

BIS Issues Interim Final Rule Extending Entity List Restrictions To 50% Ownership

On September 29, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented an interim final rule (IFR) amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to broaden the reach of the Entity List. Published at 90 FR 47201, this rule significantly expands compliance obligations for exporters, reexporters, freight forwarders, and other parties subject to the EAR. The Core Change: The 50% Ownership […]

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September 16, 2025

Updated Tariff Guidance: U.S.–Japan Agreement Brings 15% Baseline Rate

On September 16, 2025, the Department of Commerce published the tariff modifications needed to implement the United States–Japan Agreement (Executive Order 14345). The agreement sets a baseline 15% tariff on nearly all imports from Japan, with special treatment for automobiles, auto parts, and civil aircraft. These changes stem from both IEEPA reciprocal tariffs and Section 232 measures, meaning importers must […]

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September 15, 2025

IEEPA Tariffs at the Supreme Court: What Importers Need to Know About Duty Recovery

On September 9, 2025, the Supreme Court agreed to expedited review of two consolidated appeals challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These include the so-called Fentanyl Tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, and the broad Reciprocal Tariffs applied to most U.S. trading partners (together, the IEEPA Tariffs). […]

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September 10, 2025

Supreme Court to Hear IEEPA Tariff Case on Expedited Basis

Late yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court officially agreed to hear the IEEPA tariff case on an expedited basis. Oral arguments are scheduled for the first week of November, and therefore, a final ruling could come as early as late November or December. Supreme Court Schedule

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September 2, 2025

Reciprocal Tariffs Lose At Appeals Court, Battle Moves To Supreme Court

On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a major ruling on the scope of presidential tariff authority. In a 7–4 decision, the court found that former President Trump exceeded his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when he declared trade deficits a “national emergency” and used that declaration to impose sweeping tariffs […]

Blog 0 3 min read

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