As CBP has made it clear that it will ramp up efforts to ensure companies and importers are complying with import regulations and all the assorted tariff modifications, the roles of customs brokers and import compliance experts have been elevated within company structures, several trade experts said this week in webinars.
U.S. small business importers need a tariff exclusion process to avoid "irreparable harm," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a letter to the secretaries of commerce and the treasury and the U.S. trade representative.
Canada this week published new guidance and other resources to help Canadian companies facing increased costs from “unjustified tariffs” imposed by the U.S., including a new webpage for understanding how businesses can secure tariff-free treatment for certain goods under USMCA. Canada said it’s “providing new and comprehensive information on rules of origin and customs procedures under” the trade deal, including a new webpage on understanding USMCA compliance, “self-serve resources for problem solving related to tariffs,” and a list of federal and provincial Canadian support programs available to businesses. The country also said small and medium-size companies can call the government’s new hotline on weekdays for information on USMCA.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on X on May 1 that she had a very positive conversation with President Donald Trump. In Spanish, she wrote that they agreed that the U.S. treasury and commerce secretaries would continue to work with Mexico's finance and economy ministers on options to improve the trade balance between the two countries and advance outstanding issues.
In a town hall call-in appearance April 30, President Donald Trump said that his administration has “potential” tariff deals negotiated with South Korea, Japan and India, but said they weren’t in a hurry to announce them -- “it can wait two weeks.”
CBP created Harmonized System Update 2517 on April 29, containing 254 Automated Broker Interface records and 58 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2517 includes the Section 232 auto parts updates: HTS 9903.94.05 and 9903.94.06, as well as partner government agency (PGA) updates. Additional information on the Section 232 Auto Parts Updates can be found here.
Imported automotive parts that can be filed under the free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada will continue for now to face a 0% duty rate even as the 25% auto parts duty goes into effect for everyone else this weekend, CBP confirmed when it released guidance via a May 1 cargo systems message on the Section 232 import duties for certain auto parts.
CBP said it plans to publish by May 16 refund procedures "and any necessary updates" for imported goods that are no longer subject to tariff stacking, according to a May 1 cargo systems message.
The Senate had a tie vote, 49-49, as it took up the question of revoking the trade deficit emergency President Donald Trump declared, which underpins his decision to put 10% tariffs on every country except Canada, Mexico and China, and 125% on China.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican who helped Republicans recapture the House majority in 2022, said Congress will seek to intervene if the administration seeks to re-implement the high country-specific reciprocal tariffs that it had planned but paused for 90 days.