This week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a sweeping economic agreement following high-level talks in Seoul. The deal marks a new phase in the evolving U.S.–China trade relationship. It represents both a temporary easing of certain tariffs and export restrictions, and a recalibration of long-term [...]
Read MoreChina’s Ministry of Commerce announced that the latest round of U.S.–China economic and trade talks, held in Kuala Lumpur, resulted in several notable tariff and export-control suspensions that could temporarily ease tensions for importers and exporters on both sides. Key Outcomes The United States will cancel the 10% “fentanyl tariffs” [...]
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This week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a sweeping economic agreement following high-level talks in Seoul. The deal marks a new phase in the evolving U.S.–China trade relationship. It represents both a temporary easing of certain tariffs and export restrictions, and a recalibration of long-term strategic goals between the world’s two largest economies. A Balancing […]
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that the latest round of U.S.–China economic and trade talks, held in Kuala Lumpur, resulted in several notable tariff and export-control suspensions that could temporarily ease tensions for importers and exporters on both sides. Key Outcomes The United States will cancel the 10% “fentanyl tariffs” and suspend for one year the 24% reciprocal tariffs imposed […]
On October 17, 2025, the President issued Proclamation 10984, “Adjusting Imports of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks, Medium- and Heavy-Duty Truck Parts, and Buses into the United States,” under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The action imposes additional ad valorem tariffs of 10–25% on imports of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs), their parts (MHDVPs), and buses. The […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]