Taiwanese auto parts and lumber derivatives subject to Section 232 actions will be subject to a 15% tariff, rather than the 25% rates applicable to most countries, the Commerce Department announced Jan. 15. The reciprocal tariff for Taiwan also will be cut, from 20% to 15%, inclusive of most-favored-nation duties.
Public comments submitted to the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee's Jan. 14 meeting were supportive of the committee's recommendations calling for CBP to release clearer and additional guidance on how importers can comply with Section 232 tariffs (see 2601120017), particularly when it comes to the valuation of steel and aluminum content.
Certain advanced chips, whose parameters are described in the annex to a presidential proclamation, will be subject to 25% tariffs starting Jan. 15, but a broad array of domestic uses are carved out of the Section 232 action.
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The House of Representatives passed, by large margins, bills that would restore the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Haiti HELP trade preference program, and keep the tariff breaks active through the end of 2028.
President Donald Trump repeated his support for Iranian protesters to an audience in Detroit, saying, "You saw that I put tariffs on anybody doing business with Iran. Just went into effect today."
President Donald Trump said on social media Jan. 12 that he will, “[e]ffective immediately,” impose a 25% tariff on “any Country doing business” with Iran. The tariffs will cover “any and all business being done with the United States of America,” he said.
Members of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee are urging CBP to provide more clarity on how to comply with Section 232 tariffs, as well as suggesting that CBP enable importers to use publicly available metal commodity pricing for valuation purposes, according to a list of recommendations that the committee is expected to vote on during its quarterly meeting on Jan. 14.
Despite continued aggressive rhetoric around trade policy, tariff levels heading into 2026 are likely to stabilize as the Trump administration pivots to affordability issues, according to Flexport executives speaking during a Jan. 8 webinar on tariff trends.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act (Haiti HELP) are scheduled to get floor votes next week through the suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. Both trade preferences expired Oct. 1.