On January 29, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and El Salvador have signed the U.S.-El Salvador Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (Agreement). According to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the USTR: “Today’s signing of the first Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in the Western Hemisphere will further strengthen markets for
United States and Guatemala Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Trade
On January 30, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and Guatemala have signed the United States–Guatemala Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (Agreement). According to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the USTR: “Today’s signing of another Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in the Western Hemisphere addresses trade barriers facing American workers and
President Trump Announces New 25% Section 232 Tariff on Narrow Category of Semiconductors Critical to AI
On January 14, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation 11002, announcing that, effective January 15, 2026, the United States is levying a 25% tariff on “a very narrow category of semiconductors” critical to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, unless those semiconductors are imported “to support the buildout of the United States supply chain.” The
No Section 232 Tariff Now on Processed Critical Minerals and Their Derivative Products
On January 14, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Proclamation 11001, concluding that processed critical minerals and their derivative products (PCMDPs) would not be subject now to an additional tariff under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Section 232 authorizes the president to adjust duties on goods imported in quantities or under
United States and Taiwan Sign Agreement on Trade & Investment
On January 15, 2026, the United States and Taiwan agreed to a trade deal to establish “a strategic economic partnership … to decisively strengthen U.S. domestic semiconductor supply chains and secure America’s technological and industrial leadership.” While the text and full terms of the trade deal were not released, the Department of Commerce released a
CBP to Issue All Refunds Electronically Starting February 6, 2026
On January 2, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, published an interim final rule announcing it will move to an all-electronic refund system beginning February 6, 2026. As a result, the agency will no longer issue paper checks for refunds—including tariff refunds—absent a waiver approved
Importers of Record Flood CIT with IEEPA Tariff Refund Complaints
- Hundreds of new cases have been filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) since the November 5, 2025 oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court (“SCOTUS”) in the appeal challenging the legality of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) as the statutory authority to impose tariffs and seeking to preserve
President Trump Delays Section 232 Tariff Increase on Wood Furniture, Cabinets and Vanities
On December 31, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation announcing that he was delaying an increase in the duty rates for imports of upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. Referencing “productive negotiations of agreements with multiple countries to address the threatened impairment of the national security with respect to imports of wood products,” President
USTR Issues Affirmative Determination in China Semiconductor Section 301 Investigation
On December 23, 2025, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) determined that China’s acts, policies, and practices related to targeting of the semiconductor industry for dominance are actionable under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Accordingly, the USTR will take tariff action on U.S. imports of semiconductors from China, with an initial tariff
United States Retroactively Implements Reduced Tariff Rates for Imports from Switzerland
On December 18, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) issued a notice that the United States was implementing certain tariff-related elements of the Framework for a United States-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Agreement on Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade. The framework for this agreement was announced in mid-November 2025 and covered various areas of negotiations addressing