21 Jan 2025

Trump’s America First Trade Policy: Key Actions and What They Mean for U.S. Commerce

  President Trump released his memorandum on an America First Trade Policy that did not immediately result in “day one” additional tariffs on any country, but it is a top-to-bottom review of every possible action the U.S. could take against a country that is trading unfairly or burdening U.S. commerce based on existing laws. A […]

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02 Jan 2025

Mexico Implements Tariff Increases and Revises IMMEX Program, Impacting U.S. Apparel Imports

  On December 20, 2024, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum enacted a decree introducing measures aimed at safeguarding Mexico’s textile and apparel sectors while addressing compliance issues related to the country’s IMMEX program. This shift in Mexico’s trade and manufacturing policies will lead to higher import costs for several goods and may require adjustments from importers, […]

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27 Nov 2024

Trump’s Labor Nominee Splits Opinions: Backed by Longshoremen, Criticized by Truckers

The logistics industry is divided over President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor. While unions like the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the Teamsters applaud her pro-worker stance, trucking groups express concern over her opposition to the widely used owner-operator driver model. The ILA praised Chavez-DeRemer for […]

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31 May 2024

CBP Suspends Low-Value Shipment Access for Several Customs Brokers

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has suspended access for several customs brokers to the Type 86 program, which facilitates low-value import shipments. This voluntary initiative allows consignees to have their customs brokers provide CBP with data filed through the agency’s automated broker interface (ABI) under the de minimis rule. The de minimis rule […]

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08 Jan 2024

Trade policy tango continues! USTR extends Section 301

  On December 26, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) made an important announcement regarding the extension of active Section 301 China product exclusions. Originally slated to conclude on December 31, 2023, the 429 exclusions are now set to endure until May 31, 2024, as outlined in a comprehensive report by the […]

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29 Dec 2023

Trump’s Trade Storm Clouds: Prepare for More Friction if He Returns

Donald Trump’s first term as president was a seismic shift in U.S. trade policy. He launched a tariff war with China, pulled out of major trade agreements, and earned the nickname “Tariff Man.” Now, if he wins re-election, expect the ground to tremble again. Trump’s campaign documents and interviews hint at a second term filled […]

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15 Dec 2023

Switzerland Says Sayonara to Tariffs: Cheaper Clothes, Cautious Optimism

Switzerland, known for its delicious cheese and pricey price tags, is making a bold move against its notorious high cost of living by ditching most industrial tariffs starting in January. This means 95% of imports (up from 81%) will cruise into the country duty-free, potentially translating to cheaper cars, appliances, and clothes. But wait, there’s […]

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01 Dec 2023

America’s Tech Leadership at Risk: A Call for Renewed Commitment

America’s once-unquestioned dominance in technological innovation is facing a serious challenge. The recent withdrawal of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) from key digital trade proposals at the World Trade Organization raises alarming questions about our commitment to maintaining this leadership position. This decision is not just a missed economic opportunity; it’s a strategic blunder with […]

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27 Oct 2023

Textile Enforcement Statistics Show CBP’s Commitment to Protecting American Industry

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released fiscal year (FY) 2023 textile enforcement statistics today, demonstrating the agency’s robust efforts to protect American workers and legitimate importers from unlawful textile imports that violate U.S. trade laws and trade agreements. In FY 2023, CBP: Seized more than 5,000 textile shipments valued at more than $129 […]

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16 Aug 2023

Biden Administration Introduces New Outbound Investment Screening System Targeting Americans’ Investments in China

  On Wednesday, August 9th President Joe Biden declared a new national emergency and immediately used it as the justification for creating a new screening system that will limit Americans’ ability to invest overseas. The new rules, which have been in development since last year, will prohibit private equity and venture capital firms from investing […]

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