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.
As customs brokers and importers respond to sudden changes in U.S. trade compliance regulations, the trade will need to come up with new models that can allow companies to be nimble when those changes trickle down to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, trade expert Cindy Allen said recently at the Automotive Industry Action Group's North American Customs and Trade Town Hall on Nov. 6 in Detroit.
President Donald Trump told a TV interviewer that there would be "surgical" reductions to reciprocal tariffs, and that he intends to lower tariffs on coffee.
China has suspended port fees for U.S. ships and sanctions on five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Marine Corporation in response to the Trump administration's decision last week to drop ship fees for Chinese vessels and slash tariffs on Chinese goods (see 2511030005).
China suspended export controls for a year on certain key critical minerals and other dual-use items that were banned from being shipped to the U.S. for military uses, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a Nov. 9 press release. The ban on exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and “superhard materials” was originally instated in December 2024 (see 2412030022). The move comes amid a thaw in the trade conflict between the U.S. and China after talks between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping at the end of last month (see 2510300003).
On Nov. 7, the FDA posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:
Arkansas’ six-member congressional delegation urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Nov. 6 to delay implementation of the new U.S.-EU trade deal (see 2507280027 and 2508210017) until the EU revises its deforestation reporting requirements. In a letter to Greer, the lawmakers reiterated their view that the regulation would harm American timber exports (see 2503170052). Greer’s office didn't respond to a request for comment.
The Senate passed a motion allowing Congress to move toward ending the government shutdown, though several potential roadblocks remain. Seven Democratic senators (and one independent who caucuses with the Democratic party) joined Republicans late Sunday night to back a measure that would end the government shutdown.
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump promised to give dividends of $2,000 to Americans from the revenues collected from his tariff policy.
CBP is taking steps to automate the broker license applications, according to a Nov. 10 cargo systems message.