Tariff cuts for Japanese automobiles and auto parts will take effect Sept. 16, according to a notice released by the Commerce Department.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases, on an expedited basis, concerning the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Briefing will conclude by Oct. 30 and the consolidated cases will be heard the first week of November. The high court decided to consolidate two cases on the issue, one of which was fully before the court on the merits following the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's ruling that the reciprocal tariffs and tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico to combat the flow of fentanyl went beyond the president's authority in IEEPA. The second case, which was pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, was exclusively on whether IEEPA categorically allows for tariffs.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Sept. 5 adding and removing goods from the “Annex II” list of goods exempt from reciprocal tariffs. The changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Sept. 8.

Japanese goods with most favored nation (MFN) duties of 15% or lower will be subject to a 15% reciprocal tariff, all inclusive, retroactive to 12:01 ET Aug. 7, the White House said in an executive order. The order applies the same 15% rule for goods subject to Section 232 tariffs on autos and auto parts upon publication of a Federal Register notice modifying the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. That notice will come within seven days of the executive order being published.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Aug. 29 said the president doesn't have unlimited tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Seven of the court's 11 total justices presiding over the case affirmed the Court of International Trade's conclusion that President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico meant to combat the flow of fentanyl exceed the president's authority under IEEPA.

CBP released a Federal Register notice late on Aug. 28 outlining procedures and requirements for the end of the de minimis exemption at 12:01 ET Aug. 29. Among other things, the notice says the executive order ending de minimis for all countries supersedes the relevant provisions of the earlier executive order that ended de minimis for China, meaning that postal shipments from China entered on or after Aug. 29 will be subject to the same flat-rate duties for postal shipments as all other countries.

Court of International Trade Judge Timothy Reif on Aug. 22 vacated the Commerce Department’s pause on antidumping and countervailing duties on solar cells from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia -- in place until June 6, 2024 -- after a finding that the countries' exporters were circumventing an antidumping duty on solar cells from China (Auxin Solar v. United States, CIT # 23-00274).

The U.S. will lower tariffs on EU goods covered by the automotive Section 232 action from 25% plus the most favored nation rate to a flat 15% as soon as the European Parliament introduces legislation to eliminate its industrial tariffs. A joint statement issued by the two sides Aug. 21 said the "tariff reductions are expected to be effective from the first day of the same month in which the European Union’s legislative proposal is introduced."

The Commerce Department will add 407 Harmonized Tariff Schedule codes to the lists of steel and aluminum derivatives subject to Section 232 tariffs, the agency said in a notice released late Aug. 15. Tariffs on the new additions take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 18, 2025.

The White House released President Donald Trump’s executive order extending the application of 10% reciprocal tariffs under subheading 9903.01.25 to China. The suspension of China’s higher country-specific tariff under subheading 9903.01.63 – currently set at 34% but previously as high as 125% -- will now remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. Nov. 10, the executive order said.