Two former general counsels from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative disagreed sharply about the need for the current aggressive tariff hikes. But Jennifer Hillman, who is helping to write amicus briefs for members of Congress challenging the legality of International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs, and Steven Vaughn, who served in the first Trump administration, agree what would happen if the current administration loses the case.
As companies seek to accommodate changes in U.S. tariffs, they should seek to understand the terms of their intercompany agreements and transfer pricing policies to avoid potential violations, according to an energy and infrastructure lawyer with Baker McKenzie.
At an appearance at the Washington International Trade Association, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., criticized the Trump administration for instituting an "on-again, off-again tariff structure, that, in some instances, are higher than even the Smoot-Hawley levels."
Hundreds of Section 232 inclusion requests for metal derivatives cover more than $310 billion in annual imports, and imposing 50% tariffs on part of the value of "such a wide array of items, particularly where many products do not meaningfully contain steel or aluminum, risks disrupting sectors far removed from the primary industries targeted by the original Section 232 actions," argued trade groups asking Commerce to slow down before making decisions.
A recently issued antidumping duty order on alkyl phosphate esters from China (A-570-168) includes a “gap period” of no AD liability for subject merchandise entered June 2-5, 2025, the agency said in a notice June 25 correcting the AD order. The original AD order, issued June 11, had misstated the date that the gap period begins (see 2506110032).
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law on June 22 a state bill that requires food manufacturers selling products in the state to put warning labels on packaged food products that include 44 ingredients considered to be artificial colors, additives or certain banned chemicals, according to the bill's language.
The Commerce Department issued its final determination in its countervailing duty investigation on low speed personal transportation vehicles from China (C-570-177). Suspension of liquidation is currently not in effect for entries on or after April 5, 2025, and Commerce will require cash deposits of estimated CVD on future entries only if it issues a CVD order.
The Commerce Department has released its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation on low speed personal transportation vehicles from China (A-570-176). Cash deposit rates set in this final determination took effect June 23.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on June 23 upheld a jury's determination that importer Sigma Corp. is liable under the False Claims Act for lying about whether its imports were subject to antidumping duties. Judges Michelle Friedland and Mark Bennett said no errors of law were made against Sigma and that the federal district court, not the Court of International Trade, had jurisdiction in the case (Island Industries v. Sigma Corp., 9th Cir. # 22-55063).
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America and dozens of state and national-level trade groups representing shippers have signed a letter warning the heads of multiple federal agencies of potential supply chain disruptions that could result should tariff changes proceed as planned.