Less than two weeks ago, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods because that country is importing Russian oil, and Russia's actions in Ukraine are "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States." He said that if Russia were to "take significant steps to address the national emergency described in section 1 of this order and align sufficiently with the United States on national security, foreign policy, and economic matters, I may further modify this order."
In the Aug. 15 International Trade Today article (see 2508150032), customs lawyer Jen Diaz asked about CBP's process for applying additional tariffs for transshipment: "How is CBP making this determination? Is CBP going to start treating this more like a forced labor evaluation?"
CBP created Harmonized System Update 2532 on Aug. 17, containing 52 Automated Broker Interface records and 21 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2532 includes Executive Order Section 232 Additional Aluminum and Steel Inclusion Product Updates, effective Aug. 18, and miscellaneous tariff adjustments required by verification of the 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
In the Aug. 13 Customs Bulletin (Vol. 59, No. 33), CBP published proposals to modify and revoke ruling letters concerning the tariff classification of metal and rubber automotive air springs and suspension bushings, as well as modify ruling letters and revoke treatment relating to the documentary requirements of subheading 9801.00.20.
Sidley trade practice co-lead Ted Muprhy advised clients to prepare now for a potential court ruling overturning International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs by downloading import reports from ACE to demonstrate how much they have paid in IEEPA tariffs since they began. He also said they should do so each month from now on, until there is a final resolution in court.
CBP provided guidance on the additional goods subject to Section 232 tariffs for steel and aluminum derivatives. The Aug. 15 guidance followed an announcement of the tariff inclusions earlier in the day (see 2508150063).
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting comments on how China is complying with its World Trade Organization commitments, including in its import regulation, export regulation, subsidies, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights enforcement, rule of law issues, and trade facilitation, or other issues.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is setting FY 2026 country allocations for imports under tariff-rate quotas for cane sugar and refined sugars. The FY 2026 import TRQ for raw cane sugar was established at 1,117,195 metric tons raw value (MTRV), the minimum amount to which the U.S. is committed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay Round Agreements. The USTR now allocates this TRQ among supplying countries and customs areas, as follows: Argentina 46,260; Australia 89,293; Barbados 7,531; Belize 11,834; Bolivia 8,606; Brazil 155,993; Colombia 25,819; Congo (Brazzaville) 7,258; Costa Rica 16,137; Cote d'Ivoire 7,258; Dominican Republic 189,343; Ecuador 11,834; El Salvador 27,971; Eswatini 17,213; Fiji 9,682; Gabon 7,258; Guatemala 51,639; Guyana 12,910; Haiti 7,258; Honduras 10,758; India 8,606; Jamaica 11,834; Madagascar 7,258; Malawi 10,758; Mauritius 12,910; Mexico 7,258; Mozambique 13,986; Panama 31,199; Papua New Guinea 7,258; Paraguay 7,258; Peru 44,108; Philippines 145,235; South Africa 24,744; St. Kitts & Nevis 7,258; Taiwan 12,910; Thailand 15,061; Trinidad-Tobago 7,531; Uruguay 7,258; Zimbabwe 12,910.
Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Greg Steube, R-Fla., introduced a bill Aug. 15 that would codify the Trump administration’s 10% tariff baseline on all imported goods (see 2504020068) and create a separate category of tariffs for China.
Tariffs on steel, chips and semiconductors will come into effect by next week or the week after, President Donald Trump said on Aug. 15.