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March 2025

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What Happened This Month in International Trade News (March 2025)

Another busy month in international trade news – new tariffs, copper & lumber investigation, WTO disputes, and more. Here’s the full roundup:

Administration

  • On March 26, 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation imposing a 25% tariff on automobiles and automobile parts imported into the U.S.
  • On March 24, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order enabling the Secretary of State to impose 25% tariffs on imports from countries that import oil from Venezuela.
  • On March 2, President Trump issued executive orders that postpone the removal of de minimis for Canada and Mexico.
  • President Trump signed an executive order directing the Commerce Department to investigate whether the importation of lumber, wooden cabinets, wooden furniture and paper pose a threat to national security under Section 232.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • CBP released the February 2025 monthly update. Highlights:
    • Identified $2.9 million in duties and fees owed.
    • Stopped 1,024 shipments for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor.
    • Seized 1,815 shipments that contained counterfeit goods.
  • CBP issued guidance on import duties on imports of steel and steel derivative products.
  • CBP issued guidance on import duties on imports of aluminum and aluminum derivative products.
  • CBP issued guidance on the additional tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

  • OFAC issued an alert to raise awareness of recent terrorist designations of international cartels and the resulting sanctions and criminal liability risks for U.S. and foreign financial institutions and others […]
By |2025-03-28T15:59:22-04:00March 28, 2025|news, Snapshot|0 Comments
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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
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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
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MoCRA Update: FDA Provides Summary Data on Facility Registrations and Product Listings

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released summary data from mandatory registration of cosmetic product facilities and listing of cosmetic products under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA).

MoCRA Background & Requirements

MoCRA was passed in 2022 in an effort to modernize and strengthen cosmetic regulations in the United States. MoCRA replaced the previous Cosmetic Act, which had not been updated since 1938.

Subsequent to the bill’s passage, the FDA issued regulations implementing the law. In issuing MoCRA regulations, FDA’s aim was to help ensure the overall safety of cosmetic products, and expand the Agency’s ability to trace and track non-compliant products and facilities.

MoCRA Requirements:

  • FDA registration for cosmetics facilities
  • Product listings for each cosmetic product
  • Adverse event reporting
  • Safety substantiation
  • Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  • Fragrance allergen labeling

MoCRA also gives the FDA new records access and mandatory recall authority.

The FDA has issued guidance providing recommendations to assist companies in complying with the law. In addition, the agency developed a new online tool – Cosmetics Direct – dedicated exclusively to product facility registration and cosmetic product listing submissions.

New Data

As of January 1, 2025, the number of unique, active facility registrations is 9,528 and the number of unique, active product listings is 589,762.

The top five states for number of domestic registered facilities are:

  • California (373)
  • Florida (201)
  • New Jersey (144)
  • Texas (120)
  • New York (118)

The top five countries for foreign registered facilities are:

  • China (4,260)
  • South Korea (617)
  • India […]
By |2025-03-26T16:28:22-04:00March 26, 2025|Cosmetics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|0 Comments
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Breaking Trade News: New AD/CVD Case, OFAC Alert, FDA

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:    

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  

  • Susan S. Thomas was appointed Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade. 
  • CBP modified a withhold release order on Dominican Republic sugar company Central Romana, allowing it to import into the U.S. 
  • CBP added a target deployment of September 2025 for when the agency expects to implement Stage 3 of an enhancement aimed at withholding in ACE the release of de minimis shipments that exceed the $800 per person/per day threshold. 
  • CBP officers at an Indianapolis express consignment facility seized four packages of counterfeit Botox vials with an MSRP of $8,500 had the products been real.  

Administration 

  • The Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell wrote an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describing how President Trump’s action to close loopholes and exemptions will strengthen the American steel industry.  

U.S. Department of Commerce 

  • A new Antidumping and Countervailing duty action has been filed against “Polypropylene Corrugated Boxes” imported from Viet Nam and China. […]
By |2025-03-21T16:55:47-04:00March 21, 2025|news, Snapshot|0 Comments
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