On August 28, 2025, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the extension of remaining product exclusions in the Section 301 Investigation of China’s Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation. Based on continued consideration of the comments received in response to the December 29, 2023 Federal Register
Samir D. Varma
Samir advises multinational corporations on export controls, economic sanctions and customs, and counsels individuals and corporations on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws. He represents clients in enforcement actions before U.S. regulatory agencies and conducts corporate internal investigations.
Treasury Releases Annual CFIUS Report
On August 7, 2025, the Treasury Department, as the lead agency of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), released a public version of its 2024 Annual Report to Congress regarding foreign direct investment in the United States. The report highlights key indicators of the CFIUS process and provides statistics on transactions that…
President Trump Announces Additional Tariffs on India for Russian Federation Oil Purchases
On August 6, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) stating that it “is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil.” As a result, beginning on August 27, 2025, an additional tariff of 25% will…
President Trump Announces Higher Reciprocal Tariffs for Canada and Extends Mexico’s Current Tariff Rate for 90 Days During Ongoing Negotiations
On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order amending the tariff rate on imports from Canada and announced that Mexico’s current tariff rate will remain unchanged for an additional 90 days to allow for continued negotiations.
Canada Tariffs – Pursuant to a July 31, 2025 Executive Order, President Trump has modified…
President Trump Announces Implementation of Reciprocal Tariffs under the IEEPA
On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order announcing that he was modifying and implementing the reciprocal tariff first announced on April 2, 2025, to rectify trade practices that his administration has determined contribute to “large and persistent annual United States goods trade deficits.” Effective August 7, 2025, reciprocal tariffs ranging from…
Invoking IEEPA, President Trump Imposes an Additional 40% Tariff on Brazil
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…
President Suspends Duty-Free De Minimis Imports for All Countries and Imposes New Tariffs on Low-Value Shipments
On July 30, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order suspending duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments. The President determined that suspending the duty-free status is necessary to address threats such as the flow of illicit drugs and large trade deficits and to ensure that tariffs are effective. The suspension applies to…
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…
