tariffs

Trump Administration Announces Reciprocal Tariffs

On the first day of the Trump Administration, the President issued the America First Trade Policy. Among other priorities, the policy outlined the intention of the Administration to review trade agreements to ensure reciprocal and mutually advantageous free trade agreements with partner countries.

On February 13, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum titled “Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs” instructing several agencies to investigate the harm to the United States from any non-reciprocal trade arrangements.

On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order and issued a Fact Sheet declaring a national emergency arising from conditions reflected in large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on April 5, 2025, the United States will impose a 10% ad valorem baseline tariff on imports of all foreign-origin goods. This baseline tariff is in addition to any other applicable duties or tariffs.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on April 9, 2025, the United States will impose country-specific tariff rates on imports from certain trading partners, which will apply even if goods are imported under a free trade agreement. These rates already include the 10% baseline tariff.

The country-specific rates included in Annex I to the executive order are:

Countries and Territories Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted
Algeria30%
Angola32%
Bangladesh37%
Bosnia and Herzegovina35%
Botswana37%
Brunei24%
Cambodia49%
Cameroon11%
Chad13%
China34%
Côte d`Ivoire21%
Democratic Republic of the Congo11%
Equatorial Guinea13%
European Union20%
Falkland Islands41%
Fiji32%
Guyana38%
India26%
Indonesia32%
Iraq39%
Israel17%
Japan24%
Jordan20%
Kazakhstan
By |2025-04-07T13:29:44-04:00April 3, 2025|tariffs|0 Comments

The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers – Automobile & Venezuela Oil Update 

In the last several weeks, the Trump Administration has issued dozens of executive orders impacting the trade community. The Orders impact tariffs, de minimis shipments, steel and aluminum imports, automobiles, and more.

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China

On February 1, 2025, President Trump first issued a fact sheet and thereafter signed three executive orders imposing new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China:

  • 25% tariff on imports from Canada
  • 25% tariff on imports from Mexico
  • 10% tariff on imports from China

The tariffs on imports from China went into effect February 4, 2025. The tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were initially set to take effect February 4, 2025, but were delayed by one month following commitments made by both countries to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

In a Truth Social post on February 27, President Trump confirmed that the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will go into effect on March 4. He also announced that China will face an additional 10% tariff starting March 4.

On March 3, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order increasing tariffs on imports from China from 10% to 20%. The Federal Register Notice for China can be found here.

On March 5, 2025, the Administration announced a temporary one-month pause on automobile tariffs for Mexico and Canada. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, President Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on certain goods from Canada and Mexico that meet the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requirements, effective March 7, 2025. The Federal Register […]

By |2025-04-02T14:17:21-04:00March 28, 2025|tariffs|0 Comments

Presidential Powers and Tariffs: A Breakdown of Key Trade Laws

Under his America First Trade Policy, President Trump has made clear that his Administration intends to use every tool available to address unfair trade practices affecting U.S. companies, workers and national security.

In the first two months of this Administration, President Trump has issued over a dozen executive orders impacting international trade, many of them imposing or threatening to impose new tariffs. What authority does a President have to impose new tariffs? There are many laws that explicitly give the President authority to address various national concerns through the imposition of tariffs.

1. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)

Enacted in 1977, the IEEPA grants the President authority to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States originating from abroad.

The law grants broad powers to the President to control economic transactions, although it does not mention tariffs specifically. President Trump invoked the IEEPA in 2025 to impose additional tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing national security concerns related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Prior to this, no President had used IEEPA to impose tariffs.

2. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974

Sections 301-310 of the Trade Act of 1974, often referred to as “Section 301,” grants authority to the United States Trade Representative to take action against foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in acts that are “unjustifiable” or “unreasonable” and burden U.S. commerce.

USTR is authorized to conduct […]

By |2025-03-27T06:59:46-04:00March 27, 2025|Import, tariffs|0 Comments

The Latest on Tariffs: Key Information for Importers 

In the last several weeks, the Trump Administration has issued dozens of executive orders impacting the trade community. The Orders impact tariffs, de minimis shipments, steel and aluminum imports, and potentially trade agreements with other countries.

New Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China

On February 1, 2025, President Trump first issued a fact sheet and thereafter signed three executive orders imposing new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China:

  • 25% tariff on imports from Canada
  • 25% tariff on imports from Mexico
  • 10% tariff on imports from China

The tariffs on imports from China went into effect February 4, 2025. The tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico were initially set to take effect February 4, 2025, but were delayed by one month following commitments made by both countries to secure the border and stop the flow of drugs into the United States.

In a Truth Social post on February 27, President Trump confirmed that the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will go into effect on March 4. He also announced that China will face an additional 10% tariff starting March 4.

On March 3, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order increasing tariffs on imports from China from 10% to 20%. The Federal Register Notice for China can be found here.

On March 5, 2025, the Administration announced a temporary one-month pause on automobile tariffs for Mexico and Canada. Subsequently, on March 6, 2025, President Trump temporarily suspended tariffs on certain goods from Canada and Mexico that meet the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requirements, effective March 7, […]

By |2025-03-21T17:00:42-04:00March 4, 2025|Canada, China, Countries, Import, Mexico, tariffs|0 Comments

Trump Administration Announces Plan for Reciprocal Tariffs

On February 13, 2025, the Trump Administration published a memorandum and fact sheet directing several U.S. agencies to explore the implementation of new reciprocal tariffs.

The memorandum directs the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing to take all necessary actions to investigate the harm to the United States from any existing non-reciprocal trade arrangements. The agencies must then submit a report to the President detailing proposed remedies in pursuit of reciprocal trade relations with each trading partner.

According to the memorandum, it is the policy of the United States to reduce large and persistent trade deficits and to address other unfair and unbalanced aspects of trade with foreign partners. In pursuit of this policy, President Trump stated in the memo that he is introducing the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” that will work to counter non-reciprocal aspects of trading arrangements including tariffs, taxes, and any other impediments to fair competition with the market economy of the United States.

The fact sheet outlines several examples where trading partners do not give the United States reciprocal treatment and states that reciprocal tariffs will “bring back fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system.”

Diaz Trade Law will continue to monitor for developments.

By |2025-02-14T17:02:28-05:00February 13, 2025|tariffs|0 Comments
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