A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House to ask the U.S. trade representative to push Mexico and Canada to establish an investment screening regime and coordinate on "shared threats from investments in strategically important economic sectors and critical infrastructure in North America."
The Court of International Trade's recent decision finding that no protests are needed to file suit under Section 1581(i) seeking refunds from tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act "applies solely to pending court cases at this time," said attorneys at Grunfeld Desiderio. Protests may have to be filed if the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs and CBP has not taken other steps to effect relief.
Importers May File Protests to Wait Out Official CBP Section 232 Metal Content Guidance, Lawyer Says
Importers may consider filing protests on entries subject to Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs that are rate advanced under a new policy interpretation being put out by the base metals Center of Excellence and Expertise, customs lawyer Larry Friedman said in a blog post Dec. 15.
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The International Trade Commission is accepting proposals for changes to the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System tariff schedule for potential adoption in 2033, it said in a notice. The proposals will be reviewed by the ITC, CBP and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and will be "made a part of the Commission’s record keeping system and available for public inspection." Proposals are due to the ITC by Oct. 1, 2027.
Three House Democrats introduced a resolution last week to revoke the emergency declaration that added 25% tariffs to Indian goods. That 25% tariff is because Indian firms have been buying Russian oil, and is on top of most-favored nation duties and 25% reciprocal tariffs.
The Agriculture Department announced on Dec. 12 that Mexico had agreed to release water from the Rio Grande to Texas farmers. This irritant had caused President Donald Trump to threaten Dec. 8 to hike International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs on Mexico from 25% to 30% (see 2512090013). Those tariffs apply to goods that don't qualify under USMCA, and are not subject to Section 232 tariffs.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
Steve Verheul, Canada's chief trade negotiator during President Donald Trump's first term, who worked on NAFTA's replacement, says Canada wants a trade pact that has known rules, and whose stability allows companies to make long-term plans.
The Commerce Department will on Jan. 1 begin a two-week window for requests for new products to be included under Section 232 tariffs on auto parts, it said in a notice released Dec. 15. Inclusion requests will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 14, after which the agency will post the inclusion requests it receives for comment and begin a 60-day process to consider whether to grant the inclusions.