On February 4, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) stating that Iran’s malign behavior and influence threaten the national interest of the United States and that it is “in the national interest to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to end its nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop
President Trump Initiates Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China Under the IEEPA – Tariffs on Mexico and Canada Suspended until March 4 but Tariffs on China Start February 4
UPDATE: On February 7, President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) addressing the additional duties placed on imports into the United States of products of China. The article below stated that use of duty-free de minimis treatment on imports for shipments under $800 was being removed for shipments from China. The president has since
President Trump Removes West Bank-Related Sanctions
On January 24, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) revoking numerous EOs and actions implemented during the administration of former President Joseph Biden. Included in this action was the revocation of Executive Order 14115 of February 1, 2024 (Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank)
President Trump Announces “America First Trade Policy”
- Directing the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Trade Representative to “investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent
New Export Controls on Advanced Computing ICs and Certain Closed AI Model Weights
On January 13, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced controls on advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs) and certain closed artificial intelligence (AI) model weights. “To strengthen U.S. security and economic strength,” the Biden-Harris administration released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) titled “Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion.” The rule
Department of Commerce Adjusts Levels of Civil Monetary Penalties for 2025
On January 15, 2025, the Department of Commerce’s inflation-adjusted civil monetary penalties for 2025 went into effect. The adjustments, which the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2024, update the penalty rates for violations of laws and regulations enforced by the agency and its bureaus.
While over 40 civil
DDTC Issues Interim Final Rule to Amend Provisions of the ITAR and USML Categories
On January 17, 2025, the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published an Interim Final Rule that will amend §§ 121.0 and 121.1 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) by revising certain U.S. Munitions List (USML) definitions, adding new definitions, and updating certain parts of the USML under categories II
CBP Publishes Proposed Rule to Limit Duty Exemption for Certain Low-Value Shipments
On January 17, 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) intended to tighten the de minimis duty exemption for certain low-value shipments entering the United States. Under the proposed rule, merchandise subject to specific trade and national security actions would no longer qualify for the de minimis exemption and
USTR Releases Determination Finding that China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance Is Actionable Under Section 301
On January 16, 2025, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released its report and findings in the Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance, concluding that China’s targeted dominance in these sectors is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and is thus “actionable” under
DHS Updates UFLPA Entity List with Additional Chinese Companies; USTR Releases Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor
On January 14, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of 37 companies based in China to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, bringing the total number of entities on the UFLPA Entity List to nearly 150 entities.
According to a press release by DHS, the entities added include globally recognized