The Trump administration on May 9 issued an executive order declaring that it will disfavor criminal enforcement of regulatory offenses in an effort to combat overregulation. Criminal customs enforcement likely won't be affected by the order, since the administration is placing a larger emphasis on trade enforcement and these cases arise out of statutes and not federal regulations, trade lawyers told us.
A listing of recent Commerce Department antidumping and countervailing duty messages posted on CBP's website May 12, along with the case number(s) and CBP message number, is provided below. The messages are available by searching for the listed CBP message number at CBP's ADCVD Search page.
Revenue generated from audits totaled $117 million in April, down 62% from March's audit revenue total of $310 million but 228% higher than the $13 million generated in April 2024, according to CBP's monthly update.
CBP has issued a final rule setting emergency import restrictions for certain categories of archaeological and ethnological material of Lebanon, according to a notice released May 13. "Importation of covered material from Lebanon will be restricted until January 23, 2029, unless the conditions set forth in 19 U.S.C. 2606 and 19 CFR 12.104c are met," CBP said.
President Donald Trump's nominee to lead CBP, Rodney Scott, was recommended by the Senate Finance Committee on a 14-13 vote on May 13. All Republicans supported his nomination, and all Democrats voted against Scott.
Companies are starting to feel their way into a long-range import plan while still coping with a number of unknowns in the near term, according to a DHL official speaking during a May 12 company webinar on U.S. tariff updates.
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.
A bill being considered in the House Ways and Means Committee that would extend Trump tax cuts that would otherwise expire at the end of the year is looking to international trade to pay for part of the cost of income tax reductions. The bill also adds new tax breaks, such as on overtime pay and tips.
CBP released guidance on the decrease of the reciprocal tariff rate on China to 10% beginning at 12:01 a.m. EDT on May 14. As provided in the executive order issued by President Donald Trump the previous day, the guidance says filers of entries from China, Hong Kong and Macau after the effective date should report subheading 9903.01.25, which is the subheading for the 10% universal tariff applicable to almost all countries.
The Court of International Trade on May 13 heard arguments in the lead case on the president's ability to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Judges Jane Restani, Gary Katzmann and Timothy Reif pressed counsel for the plaintiffs, the Liberty Justice Center's Jeffrey Schwab, and DOJ attorney Eric Hamilton on whether the court can review whether a declared emergency is "unusual and extraordinary," as well as the applicability of Yoshida International v. U.S., a key precedential decision on the issue, and whether the major questions doctrine applies and controls the case (V.O.S. Selections v. Trump, CIT # 25-00066).