On May 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (USDC-DC) issued a preliminary injunction ruling staying the imposition of President Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This preliminary injunction applies to tariffs that would be paid by the two named plaintiffs – Learning Resources, Inc. and
After CIT Blocks President Trump’s IEEPA Tariffs, CAFC Stays Order Pending Review of the CIT’s Judgment and Injunction
On May 29, 2025, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) stayed the decision of the Court of International Trade (CIT) from the previous day, which had vacated both tranches of President Donald Trump’s tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq.). President
Treasury Relaxes U.S. Economic Sanctions on Syria
On May 23, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) No. 25 relaxing sanctions against the Government of Syria and twenty-eight (28) previously blocked Syrian entities and persons. GL 25 authorizes transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under the U.S. economic sanctions on Syria, including new investment
CBP Issues Notice Addressing Refunds to Address Tariff “Stacking” Updates
On May 16, 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Notice to implement President Donald Trump’s earlier Executive Order (EO) 14289 that eliminated the “stacking” (or accumulation) of certain overlapping tariffs. These overlapping tariffs included the IEEPA tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the Section 232 automobile and automotive part tariffs, and the Section 232
China and the United States Agree to Temporarily Lower Tariff Rates
- The United States will (i) modify the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on
Department of Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation of Imports of Commercial Aircraft and Jet Engines
On May 1, 2025, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced that, pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, it was initiating an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines. Interested parties may submit written
President Trump Announces General Terms to a Forthcoming Trade Deal with the United Kingdom, Keeping 10% Baseline Tariffs But Dropping Tariffs on British Autos, Steel, and Aluminum
On May 8, 2025, the White House published general terms for a future trade deal “to enhance [the] economic partnership” between the United States and the United Kingdom. The general terms, which names the forthcoming agreement as the U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal, “do[] not constitute a legally binding agreement” but rather memorialize a set of
DOJ Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Affiliates for Alleged Underpayment of Customs Duties
On April 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the filing of a civil complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc., its executives Kenny and David Chan, and several affiliated companies. The complaint alleges violations of the False Claims Act (FCA) through a scheme to underpay customs duties on imported apparel. The case, originally filed
White House Amends Automobile Parts Tariffs to Ease Burden on U.S. Automakers
On April 29, 2025, President Trump signed a Proclamation amending the previously announced tariffs on automobile parts used in passenger vehicles and light trucks. This amendment follows Proclamation 10908, which announced 25% section 232 tariffs on imports of certain final, assembled passenger vehicles and light trucks (“automobiles”), effective April 3, 2025, and imports of
President Trump Issues Clarification on Application of Various IEEPA Tariffs
On April 29, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) clarifying that each of the tariffs he has imposed pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, serve separate and distinct policy purposes, but should “not all have a cumulative effect (or ‘stack’