Volumes of imported goods from China -- particularly those that would have been eligible for de minimis -- are likely to fall in the coming months, according to Gene Seroka, executive director for the Port of Los Angeles. But he said it's unclear how much they will fall, and when.
The Court of International Trade on May 21 held a second hearing in as many weeks on the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The same three judges, Jane Restani, Gary Katzmann and Timothy Reif, pressed both the government and counsel for 12 U.S. states challenging all IEEPA tariff actions on whether the statute allows for tariff action, as well as whether the courts can review if the declared emergencies are "unusual and extraordinary" and the extent to which the case is guided by Yoshida International v. U.S. (The State of Oregon v. Donald J. Trump, CIT # 25-00077).
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As reciprocal tariffs against imports from China and Hong Kong fall from 125% to 10% for 90 days as the U.S. and China seek to hash out a trade deal (see 2505120006), so are Southern California port volumes and trans-Pacific freight rates reflected the volatility seen in the trade space.
While traveling in the Gulf States in the Middle East, President Donald Trump again said that negotiators in his administration don't have time to meet with every country subject to reciprocal tariffs ahead of the 90-day deadline for those tariffs to snap back into place. So, he said, he will be telling some countries what their tariff rates will be in two or three weeks.
Although the reciprocal tariff for imported Chinese goods may have fallen to 10% for 90 days (see 2505130074), Flexport trade experts advised companies to not treat this action as if there will be an extension. Doing so will prevent companies from having to ask later whether they will have any in-transit exemptions as the 90-day period ends around Aug. 12, according to Angela Lewis, global head of customs for Flexport.
A reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods to 10% has not ended the harm to families that need to stock up for new babies, Congress's "Dads Caucus" argued at a press conference May 15.
Trade groups representing three strong exporting sectors -- soybeans, semiconductors and medical devices -- and an expert in critical minerals trade all told the Senate Finance Committee that higher tariffs on all countries and products, and constantly changing tariff policy, aren't good for American competitiveness.
CBP created Harmonized System Update 2518 on May 13 and HSU 2519 on May 14. HSU 2518 contains 79 Automated Broker Interface records and 23 Harmonized Tariff Schedule records. HSU 2519 contains 1 ABI record and 1 HTS record.
Goods loaded onto feeder vessels before reciprocal tariffs took effect, but transferred to another vessel after, aren’t eligible for an exemption from the tariffs for in-transit goods, CBP said in an update to a FAQ May 15.