Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., expressed frustration this week with the potential impact on the U.S. spirits industry from the Trump administration's tariffs, saying they will continue fighting to repeal duties introduced through both the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Section 232.
On the eve of more tariff hikes, four prominent Senate Democrats decried what they said were so-called deals -- or, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer put it, "a raw deal for the American people."
President Donald Trump, after softening his tone on India with reporters earlier in the day, posted angrily about India and its purchases of Russian oil at midnight on July 31.
CBP will be watching for entries that don't fully calculate the duty value of merchandise that falls under Section 232 duties for copper and intensive copper derivatives products, according to a cargo systems message offering guidance on the tariff that was announced earlier this week (see 2507300061). The Section 232 tariff calls for a 50% ad valorem duty on all imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products from all countries.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked by a CNBC host if the administration meant for automaker Ford to have $800 million in tariff costs in three months, driving it to a loss. Bessent said that the Ford F150 and F250 use aluminum rather than steel, and therefore, "I think maybe the aluminum tariffs hit them harder."
All active judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on July 31 heard oral argument in the lead case on the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The 11 judges peppered counsel for the government and the parties challenging the tariffs, which include five importers and 12 U.S. states, with questions about whether the statute authorizes tariffs at all; whether there are limits to that tariff authority, should it exist; and whether the major questions or non-delegation doctrines strip IEEPA of its ability to convey tariff authority (V.O.S. Selections v. Trump, Fed. Cir. # 25-1812).
Goods from Mexico that aren't subject to Section 232 tariffs will continue to be excluded from tariffs if they can meet USMCA rules of origin, as will auto parts, President Donald Trump announced about 12 hours ahead of the deadline. For goods outside the Section 232 action, and not eligible for the free-trade agreement benefit, Trump had said the rate would go from 25% to 30%.
The U.S. is raising tariffs on Canada from 25% to 35% effective Aug. 1 because Canada has "failed to cooperate" in stopping flows of fentanyl and other illegal drugs across the border, the White House said in a July 31 fact sheet. Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under USMCA will continue to be exempt from the duties, the White House said, and goods found to have been transshipped to evade the 35% tariff will face a 40% tariff.
The White House is leaving most countries that buy more U.S. exports than they sell to the U.S. at a 10% tariff, and is increasing tariffs from 10% to somewhere between 15% and 41% for countries that have trade deficits with the U.S., with a notable exception -- Nicaragua, which will remain at 10%.
President Donald Trump posted on social media that "We have agreed to extend, for a 90 Day period, the exact same Deal as we had for the last short period of time, namely, that Mexico will continue to pay a 25% Fentanyl Tariff, 25% Tariff on Cars, and 50% Tariff on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper."