Following a threat posted on his social media site Truth Social in early July, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (“EO”) on July 30, 2025, imposing an additional 40% tariff on U.S. imports from Brazil, effective August 6, 2025. With the 10% baseline reciprocal tariff established by President Trump’s April 2, 2025 EO, tariffs
David M. Schwartz
David is the leader of Thompson Hine's International Trade practice group and a member of the firm's International Committee. He advises clients on the risks and opportunities presented by U.S. international trade laws and regulations and international trade agreements. He focuses on antidumping (AD), countervailing duty (CVD) and safeguard litigation, international trade policy, and cross-border compliance issues affecting goods, services, technology and investments that involve transportation, customs, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott and anti-bribery laws and regulations.
President Trump Announces 50% Tariff on U.S. Imports of Copper
Update: On July 31, 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) # 65794272 providing guidance on applying the 50% Section 232 ad valorem duty on all imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products imposed by President Donald Trump on July 30, 2025. This guidance provides instructions on…
USTR Initiates Section 301 Investigation of Brazil’s Trading Practices
On July 15, 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), at the direction of President Donald Trump, initiated an investigation of Brazil under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigation will seek to determine whether acts, policies, and practices of the government of Brazil related to digital trade and…
Trump Administration Initiates Section 232 Investigation into Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Seeks Public Comments
On July 1, 2025, the Department of 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 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their parts and components. The Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) subsequently issued a Notice…
Trump Administration Initiates Section 232 Investigation into Imports of Polysilicon and Seeks Public Comments
On July 1, 2025, the Department of Commerce initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, as amended, to determine the effects on the national security of imports of polysilicon and its derivatives (items considered to be critical solar energy inputs). The Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) subsequently issued a…
President Trump Extends the Deadline for Implementing Reciprocal Tariffs
On July 7, 2025, based on “additional information and recommendation from various senior officials”, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order determining that it is “necessary and appropriate” to again extend the suspension on reciprocal tariffs originally implemented by an earlier Executive Order on April 2, 2025. The proposed reciprocal tariffs will be suspended until…
Commerce Publishes Federal Register Notice Modifying HTSUS for Implementing General Terms of U.S. and UK Trade Deal
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has published a Federal Register notice indicating that effective June 30, 2025, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. International Trade Commission, it has revised relevant provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United State (HTSUS) to conform with changes specified…
US and UK Implement General Terms of Trade Deal
On June 16, 2025, the United States and the United Kingdom formally implemented the General Terms for the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Economic Prosperity Deal (the “General Terms”). In a related Executive Order (EO), President Donald Trump set forth agreements reached with the UK regarding…
USTR Proposes Modifications to Section 301 Actions on Chinese Vessels and Maritime Transport Operators
On June 12, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) proposed two modifications to its April 17 announcement of actions under Section 301, which are scheduled to take effect starting on October 14, 2025. The actions aim to counter China’s dominance in the maritime sector.
The first proposed modification would revise the method for…
CAFC Maintains President Trump’s IEEPA Tariffs Pending Final Decision
On June 10, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued a stay keeping 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.) in effect until final adjudication by the appellate court. The per curiam (…
