Changes in how the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee is organizing its working groups, as well as further discussion about the potential incorporation of "real-time modern processes," are coming at a time when CBP appears to be putting greater emphasis on trade enforcement as part of a broader effort to bolster national security.

The executive director of the U.S. office of the top association for Mexico's businesses echoed the upbeat line of his government, that the USMCA carveouts in the global trade war give Mexico and Canada a leg up.

A report on forced labor in critical mineral supply chains identified "major entities" operating in the Xinjiang province of China and documented evidence of their involvement in labor transfer programs of Uyghurs from the region. The report also highlighted the risk that products made by those entities have entered the global market over the previous two years.

President Donald Trump, at a June 12 event rolling back a California standard that by 2035, all vehicles sold would be zero-emission, pointed to his original Section 301 tariff on Chinese electric vehicles as the reason you don't see those cars in the U.S.

The value of the steel in refrigerator-freezers; dryers; washing machines; dishwashers; chest and upright freezers; cooking stoves; ranges and ovens; food waste disposals; and welded wire rack will be taxed at 50%, starting on June 23, the Bureau of Industry and Security said in a notice that will be published in the Federal Register June 16.

Senators from both parties asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to respond to a Wall Street Journal editorial headlined "Trump Has No China Trade Strategy." Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., when he had a chance to ask Bessent questions, quoted from it that Trump "has used tariffs as an economic scatter-gun against friends as well as foes."

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's stay of the Court of International Trade decision vacating all International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff action likely doesn't signal a win for either side on the merits of the issue, various attorneys told us. In addition, the court's move to set a July 31 oral argument date and have all active judges hear the case indicates a decision will likely be issued in August, the attorneys said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that if 18 major trading partners negotiate in good faith, "it is highly likely ... we will roll the date forward to continue in good faith negotiations." He was referring to the July 9 deadline when country-specific reciprocal tariffs above 10% are due to return.

International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.

U.S. domestic manufacturers voiced lukewarm support for trade action, but unanimous concern about the potential scope of the investigation on Section 232 tariffs on imports of critical minerals, in public comments to the Bureau of Industry and Security.