On July 6, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued an Order announcing resolution of all pending but stayed China Section 301 cases because of the June 15, 2026 U.S. Supreme Court decision denying the petition for a writ of certiorari in HMTX Industries LLC v. United States. To facilitate resolution of
Department of Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation of Anthracite Coal Imports
On June 29, 2026, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, to determine the effects on the national security of imports of anthracite coal. For the purposes of this investigation, anthracite coal encompasses products classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
USTR Issues Statement on Status of USMCA Review
On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a formal statement regarding the joint review of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA). The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020, and contains a clause requiring that the parties meet on the sixth anniversary
CBP Issues Interim Final Rules Indefinitely Suspending the De Minimis Exemption for Imports
On June 24, 2026, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued two Interim Final Rules indefinitely suspending the $800 de minimis duty exemption for all modes of importation of goods into the United States and establish a new informal entry and bonding process for international mail shipments. Public comments on these two interim rules are due
CBP Confirms June 29, 2026 IEEPA Tariff Refund Process Phase 2 Launch
On June 23, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) published Cargo Systems Messaging Service (“CSMS”) #69035485, confirming that Phase 2 of the process for refunding duties paid by importers of record under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) will be deployed in the Automated Commercial Environment (“ACE”) Portal on June 29, 2026.
USTR Launches Section 301 Investigation into Germany’s Underpayment for Pharmaceutical Products
On June 18, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was launching an investigation of Germany under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigation will seek to determine “whether persistent underpayment for innovative pharmaceutical products by Germany is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.”
New Executive Order Imposes Sweeping Customs Enforcement Reforms
On June 3, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order, “Strengthening Customs Enforcement,” (Order) directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement comprehensive reforms targeting importers of record, customs brokers, and international supply chains.
Key Provisions
Importer of Record Requirements. Within 180 days
CBP Announces Phases 2 and 3 of the IEEPA Tariff Refund Process
At a show cause hearing before the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) on June 9, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) confirmed that it will roll out Phases 2 and 3 of its process for refunding duties paid by importers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) later this summer, with Phase
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review of China Section 301 Tariff Challenge
On June 15, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court denied without comment the plaintiff group’s petition for certiorari in the test case for the China Section 301 tariff refund litigation (HMTX Industries LLC, et al. v. United States et al.). The petition sought review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
President Trump Modifies Section 232 Tariffs on Aluminum, Copper and Steel Imports
On June 1, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a Proclamation amending the rates, scope, and administration of the Section 232 tariff regimes for aluminum, steel, and copper and their derivative products. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the president to adjust duties on goods imported in quantities or under circumstances that