Correction: A story in the Feb. 10 International Trade Today incorrectly stated that goods on the water would have an earlier March date for Section 232 tariffs to apply (see 2502100011). A White House spokesman incorrectly described the timing of the action. The effective date is actually March 12.
The opening salvos of President Donald Trump's aggressive trade actions in the first weeks of his administration may be a harbinger of what is to come in the next four years as trade experts predict an upending of the global trade system.
President Donald Trump nominated William Kimmitt, current partner at Kirkland & Ellis, to serve as head of the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration. Kimmitt served in the first Trump administration as counsel to the U.S. trade representative and was involved in the implementation of the USMCA. At Kirkland & Ellis, Kimmitt is a litigation partner, focusing on international trade and Section 337 unfair import investigation proceedings.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Panamanian officials Feb. 2 that President Donald Trump has made a preliminary determination that China’s influence and control over the Panama Canal area threatens the waterway and violates the 1977 agreement that transferred U.S. control of the canal to Panama, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Countries where the U.S. has a significant trade deficit could be potential targets for future U.S. tariffs, according to panelists speaking during a Jan. 29 customs market update sponsored by Expeditors.
Momentum is building for President Donald Trump to levy 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1 even though his administration has yet to engage in meaningful trade talks with both countries, a Jan. 26 Wall Street Journal report suggests.
President Donald Trump posted that if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't "make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."
Officials advising Donald Trump on his upcoming administration have been considering tariffs that would gradually increase by 2% to 5% a month, according to a Bloomberg News article based on unnamed sources. The proposal could boost negotiating leverage and avoid a spike in prices, the planners believe. The article said the proposal is in its early phases and hasn't been presented to the president-elect.
President-elect Donald Trump announced plans Jan. 14 to establish an "External Revenue Service" that would collect monies from tariffs, duties and all revenue coming from foreign sources, in a Truth Social post.
American consumers should take President-elect Donald Trump seriously, but not literally, when it comes to his threats on tariff rates, said Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs.