President Trump, after saying tariff decisions on China would wait until he had talks with that country's president, returned to his previous stance in favor of the tariffs. He made the comments at a White House press conference Jan. 21.

President Donald Trump told reporters that his administration is still thinking of imposing 25% tariffs on both Mexican and Canadian goods "because they're allowing vast numbers of people -- Canada's a very bad abuser also -- vast numbers of people to come in, and fentanyl to come in. I think we'll do it February 1st."

No goods subject to special trade remedies would be able to enter de minimis -- which primarily affects goods subject to Section 301 tariffs -- under a proposed rule released by CBP Jan. 17.

The Department of Homeland Security has added 37 more companies to its list of entities that may be using forced labor from the Xinjiang region of China, bringing the total number of companies on the list to 144. Three energy companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List in the category of companies allegedly harboring or using forced labor, while 35 companies within the textile, energy and solar industries were added for sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region or participating in government-supported poverty alleviation schemes. One company, a zinc manufacturer, was flagged for using forced labor and sourcing materials from the Xinjiang region. The listings take effect Jan. 15, according to a Federal Register notice.

Type 86 entries would be replaced by an "enhanced entry process" if a proposed rule becomes final, but clearing goods off the manifest via a "basic" entry process would still be possible for de minimis shipments, CBP said in a notice of proposed rulemaking scheduled for publication Jan. 14.

CBP is banning imports of aluminum extrusions and profile products made by Kingtom Aluminio S.R.L., after finding the use of forced labor at the company’s factory in the Dominican Republic. The agency’s forced labor finding means “aluminum extrusions and profile products and derivatives produced or manufactured wholly or in part by Kingtom Aluminio” using aluminum goods of Chapter 76 of the tariff schedule will be detained beginning Dec. 4, as will any such goods that have already been imported but not yet released from CBP custody by that date.

President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he will impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods through an executive order on Jan. 20, and the tariff will stay "until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this longtime problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and, until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!"

DHS added 30 more companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List for allegedly using forced labor or participating in forced labor schemes, it said in a notice. Some of the companies are in the metals sector, including the mining, smelting and processing of gold, copper, lithium, beryllium, nickel, manganese, chromium, iron and aluminum. Other newly listed entities produce food products, including tomatoes, tomato paste, ginger and garlic, edible seeds, walnuts and herbs for medicinal purposes. The listings take effect Nov. 25.

CBP on Nov. 1 issued a withhold release order banning imports of frankincense from Asli Maydi, a Somaliland supplier of frankincense, which is used in essential oils for lotions and perfumes. CBP said Asli Maydi uses deception, physical violence, abusive working conditions, intimidation and threats, and it withholds the wages of its workers. The WRO takes immediate effect.

DHS is adding more companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, according to a notice released Oct. 31. Esquel Group, also known as Esquel China Holdings Limited; Guangdong Esquel Textile; and Turpan Esquel Textile are being added for sourcing material from Xinjiang or from persons working with the government of Xinjiang or the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for purposes of China's ‘‘poverty alleviation’’ program or ‘‘pairing-assistance’’ program, among other Chinese government labor schemes. The notice also appears to change the reason an already listed company, Changji Esquel Textile, is on the list, removing the company from one of the four lists that make up the broader UFLPA Entity List but adding it to another. The changes take effect Nov. 1.