The Trump administration’s China policy looks more like an effort to preserve the fragile trade truce than a negotiation toward a comprehensive trade agreement, according to former U.S. trade officials during a webinar hosted by the Washington International Trade Association last week.
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 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.
Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., introduced a bill last week to create a chief critical minerals negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He was joined by three other Republicans.
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.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he expects the U.S. will announce more trade deals, and release text about previously announced framework deals "in the coming weeks."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it will impose a 10% Section 301 tariff on Nicaraguan imports beginning Jan. 1, 2027, but the tariffs won't apply to goods that qualify for the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). That tariff would be in addition to the 18% reciprocal tariff and most-favored nation rates, USTR said Dec. 10. The announcement says the Section 301 tariffs, which are intended to address human and labor rights abuses and the "dismantling of the rule of law," would increase to 15% on Jan. 1, 2028. "Further, should Nicaragua show a lack of progress in addressing these issues, this timeline and these rates may be modified," USTR said.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer signaled that the Trump administration is preparing a broad overhaul of key parts of the USMCA, focusing on changing non-automobile rules of origin to incentivize U.S. production.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 37-3 to recommend a renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act through the end of 2028, with retroactive benefits since the program expired Sept. 30 (see 2512090051). Requests for liquidation or reliquidation would have to be filed within 180 days of enactment of the law, and CBP would have to pay within 90 days. No interest would be offered on the tariff refunds.
Former trade officials said the Trump administration's tariff policy in Asia is being tested by China’s concern over recently completed U.S. tariff arrangements with Malaysia and Cambodia, which could complicate the administration’s push to wrap up deals with Vietnam and Indonesia.