The U.S. will lower its reciprocal tariffs on Switzerland to “a maximum of 15%” under a tariff deal announced by the Swiss government Nov. 14. As part of the deal, Switzerland will reduce its tariffs on “a range of U.S. products,” including industrial and agricultural products, and its companies “are planning to make direct investments in the USA amounting to” $200 billion by the end of 2028.
The Council of the European Union agreed Nov. 13 to eliminate its de minimis provision, through which goods worth under $174 could enter the EU without customs duties being paid. The council said the new rule will start applying once the EU customs data hub is running, which is expected to be in 2028, since the hub is "currently under negotiation between the Council and the European Parliament as part of a broader fundamental reform of the EU customs framework." The customs data hub will allow for calculation and notification of customs debt on a "per-item basis." To facilitate a speedier implementation of the end of the de minimis provision, however, the council said it committed to work toward a "simple, temporary solution" to impose duties on goods under the de minimis threshold by 2026. No further specifics were provided.
The EPA is extending by 90 days the postponement of certain regulatory provisions that are part of a final rule on trichloroethylene, or TCE, according to a Federal Register notice. The postponement is now through Feb. 17, 2026.
The EPA is extending the comment period to Nov. 21 for those wanting to provide feedback on the agency's proposed rule reconsidering some of the regulatory requirements related to the phase-down of hydrocarbons, according to a Federal Register notice.
Trade talks with Taiwan have "made a lot of advances," according to a senior administration official, speaking on background with a group of reporters Nov. 13. He had been announcing frameworks with El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador and Argentina, and was asked about which countries might come next.
The Court of International Trade on Nov. 12 granted default judgment against importer Rago Tires for negligence in importing tires by not declaring the goods as subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese truck and bus tires. Judge Joseph Laroski ordered Rago to pay a $14,108.87 penalty.
DOJ has increasingly relied on an undervaluation theory for trade enforcement cases brought under the False Claims Act in its increased attempt to police trade fraud and may be looking to include "corporate integrity agreements" as part of trade-related FCA settlements, attorneys at Faegre Drinker said during a Nov. 13 webinar that focused on increased trade enforcement.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP has been liquidating entries related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs faster than the typical 314-day cycle, so importers should monitor and track those entries that they plan to file protests on, a trade attorney suggested in a note to clients this week.
Should the Supreme Court rule that the tariffs administered under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are not valid, importers of record, who could potentially receive duty refunds, may also end up in legal battles with others who shared in the importer's tariff burden, founding member and principal of Sandler and Travis said during Flexport's Nov. 12 webinar on tariff trends.