CBP has awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to AI supply chain mapping technology firm Exiger to use its tools to detect illegal transshipment, the firm said an Oct. 28 press release. CBP also will use the software to monitor and enforce trade regulations; "deploy AI-enabled validations" of tariff classification, value and country of origin; map the flow of raw materials and sub-components through global supply chains; and create automated bills of materials for products and sub-components, the release said.
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.
More Republicans will vote to roll back fentanyl tariffs on Canada, lead sponsor Sen. Tim Kaine predicted the evening of Oct. 28, ahead of a vote on the Brazil emergency underpinning additional 40% tariffs on the majority of Brazilian exports.
A group of 36 senators and 171 representatives filed an amicus brief last week at the Supreme Court, challenging President Donald Trump's ability to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. All the signatories were members of the Democratic Party, save for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska (Donald J. Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, U.S. 25-250) (Learning Resources v. Donald J. Trump, U.S. 24-1287).
President Donald Trump told reporters Oct. 27 that he had a good meeting with Brazil's president while he was in Malaysia. "We'll see what happens. I don't know if anything's gonna happen, but we'll see. They'd like to do a deal. We'll see. Right now they're paying, I guess, a 50% tariff. But we had a great meeting."
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there's no hang-up preventing the South Korean trade framework from moving to a signed deal, "just a lot of details to work out. It's a very complicated deal, and I think we're very close." However, he told reporters on Air Force One on Oct. 27 that he didn't think it would be done by Oct. 29, when the president lands in Korea.
The U.S. released an outline of an agreed-to deal with Vietnam, but said it will be finalized "in coming weeks."
The U.S. and Thailand issued a joint statement on a trade framework over the weekend, which says Thailand will eliminate tariff barriers on about 99% of U.S. exports, while the U.S. will exclude some products from the Sept. 5 Annex III (see 2509050073) to spare them from 19% reciprocal tariffs. Those goods will still be subject to most-favored nation duties, and the 19% is added to MFN, as well. The final agreement will be negotiated over coming weeks, the statement says.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an appearance on "Meet the Press," evaded a question about the scope and timing of threatened additional 10% tariffs on Canadian goods.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after two days of meeting with Chinese negotiators, he anticipates a threatened additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods won't come Nov. 1, and that the Chinese will defer their critical minerals export control licensing scheme.