Breaking Trade News: Critical Minerals Probe, Japan Tariff Talks, 232 Investigations & More | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

Here’s a recap of the most recent customs and worldwide commerce information:    

Administration  

President Trump signed an Govt Order directing the Commerce Division to research whether or not imports of processed essential minerals and their spinoff merchandise threaten to impair nationwide safety. 

President Trump issued a Presidential Memo stating that sure electronics are exempt from reciprocal tariffs, together with smartphones, laptop computer computer systems, semiconductor manufacturing gear, and reminiscence chips. 

President Trump stated he and his key advisors are set to satisfy with a high Japanese official to start commerce negotiations.  

Customs and Border Safety (CBP) 

CBP launched its March 2025 month-to-month replace. Highlights: 

Recognized duties of almost $15 billion to be collected 

Stopped 434 shipments on suspicion of compelled labor 

Efficiently applied 13 tariff-related presidential actions 

CBP issued up to date steering for reciprocal tariff exclusions for specified merchandise. 

CBP stated throughout a webinar that the company will begin imposing rules requiring retail pharmacies to reveal the nation of origin on the bottles of prescription treatment meant for personal people. 

CBP stopped over 70 shipments of counterfeit Human Development Hormones and different harmful chemical substances. 

Bureau of Trade and Safety 

BIS issued a Federal Register discover requesting touch upon the Part 232 nationwide safety investigation of imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing gear. Feedback are due Might 7, 2025.  

BIS issued a Federal Register discover requesting feedback on the Part 232 nationwide safety investigation of Imports of prescription drugs and pharmaceutical substances. 

Division of Commerce 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik stated that the tariff exemption for electronics will probably be short-term. 

The Commerce Division introduced it will likely be withdrawing from an settlement suspending an antidumping obligation investigation on Mexican-origin contemporary tomatoes and issuing an antidumping obligation order on the produce. 

Courtroom of Worldwide Commerce (CIT)  

The Liberty Justice Heart filed a lawsuit on behalf of 5 importers to problem President Trump’s authority to impose tariffs underneath the Worldwide Emergency Financial Powers Act (IEEPA). 

U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA) 

USDA’s Overseas Agricultural Service (FAS) will impose a further safeguard obligation on sure sugars, syrups, and molasses that fall underneath the Uruguay Spherical Agreements Act. The obligation will apply to articles containing over 65% by dry weight of sugars which have exceeded the set off stage of 1,252 metric tons. 

Congress  

Consultant Grey of California launched the Cease Elevating Costs on Meals Act, which might restrict the president’s authority to impose new or further duties on articles from international locations which might be main agricultural commerce companions with the U.S. 

Democrats on the Home Methods and Means Committee launched the Stopping a Rogue President on Commerce Act, which might terminate sure import tariffs, together with reciprocal tariffs and the tariffs on Canada and Mexico.  

Trade Information 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit difficult President Donald Trump’s authority to impose tariffs. 

The UN Commerce and Growth (UNCTAD) stated that world financial progress might sluggish to 2.3% as commerce tensions and uncertainty drive a recessionary pattern.