Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on a podcast last week that he'll get the "great software companies in the world" to build "greatest customs processing [system] ever" for free.
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
Though China was specifically mentioned in an executive order issued late March 24 announcing 25% tariffs on countries that import Venezuelan oil, India and the EU also imported Venezuelan oil in 2024, according to a report from Reuters earlier this year.
Most business interests argued that removing goods subject to Section 301 tariffs is not administrable, would damage the economy, and, if not abandoned, needs a long lead time to prepare for, in comments to CBP.
CBP has updated the spreadsheet that lists what commodities and respective tariff subheadings are subject to a 10% tariff on Canadian energy goods, according to a March 24 cargo systems message. The update includes additional subheadings on the list of commodities of energy and energy resources from Canada, it said.
Groups that represent importers, carriers and ports are asking the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to rethink its remedies for Chinese dominance in shipbuilding, arguing that imposing fees on most ships bringing imports to U.S. ports will drive up prices, increase port congestion and devastate the business of smaller ports.
When President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter at the White House if his threat to put 25% tariffs on countries that import oil from Venezuela would apply to China, the top importer, he said it would.
President Donald Trump promised tariffs on automobiles in the "next few days," and seemed to indicate they would be announced prior to April 2, the date he said that sector tariffs as well as reciprocal tariffs will come into effect.
President Donald Trump posted on social media that countries that buy oil or gas from Venezuela "will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country. All documentation will be signed and registered, and the Tariff will take place on April 2nd, 2025, LIBERATION DAY IN AMERICA. Please let this notification serve to represent that the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and all other Law Enforcement Agencies within our Country have been so notified."
Tariffs on countries that import Venezuelan oil could begin as early as April 2 and will be imposed on countries based on determinations from the State and Commerce departments, said an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on March 24.