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.
The Senate passed the Trump tax bill with a tie-breaking vote from the vice president on July 1. The House of Representatives will vote on whether it will accept the Senate's changes to its bill.
CBP is embarking on a radical restructuring of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee, directing all COAC subcommittees and workgroups to complete their work by the advisory body’s September meeting as the agency brings “all existing COAC subcommittees and related workgroups to a close,” according to an email obtained by International Trade Today.
Canada backed down on implementing its digital services tax, which was to start collection on June 30, after President Donald Trump said on June 27 he was ending trade negotiations with Canada over the issue.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Bloomberg Television on June 30, didn't predict how many deals would be announced with the 18 largest trading partners of the U.S. before July 9. However, he said that countries "are coming in with offers" that long-time staff negotiators "can't believe," because they're so good.
The latest version of the tax bill introduced by the Senate over the weekend ends commercial de minimis on July 1, 2027, as the House version does. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that would increase revenues by $39 billion between 2027 and 2034.
President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in different appearances on the same day, said that negotiations do not need to conclude by July 8 to avoid higher reciprocal tariff rates at 12:01 July 9.
Even though CBP has given some guidance on how to interpret the "in transit" reciprocal tariff exclusions, the trade is still grappling with how to proceed with the changes, according to a June 27 letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and incoming CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott.
Two former general counsels from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative disagreed sharply about the need for the current aggressive tariff hikes. But Jennifer Hillman, who is helping to write amicus briefs for members of Congress challenging the legality of International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs, and Steven Vaughn, who served in the first Trump administration, agree what would happen if the current administration loses the case.
President Donald Trump, on social media, said the U.S. is "hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately" because its digital services tax is not being delayed. The first payments are due on July 1.