On March 26, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a Proclamation imposing 25% tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts, citing “a critical threat to U.S. national security.” The tariffs will apply to final assembled automobiles, entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for
Section 232 Investigations
BIS Seeks Public Comments on Section 232 Investigations of Imports of Copper and Lumber
The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued Federal Register notices announcing that interested parties may submit written comments, data or other information pertinent to these investigations. Comments are due no later than April 1, 2025.
Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Copper
This investigation was initiated on February…
Trump Administration Imposes Section 232 Steel and Aluminum 25% Tariffs March 12, 2025; EU and Canada Retaliate
As previously announced by President Donald Trump, the Section 232 steel and aluminum 25% ad valorem tariffs went into effect 12:01 a.m., March 12, 2025, against all steel and aluminum articles and all listed derivatives, including many automotive, construction and consumer products. Aluminum articles and their derivative products from Russia are subject to 200% tariffs.
Trump Administration Initiates Section 232 Investigation into Imports of Timber and Lumber that May Lead to New Tariffs
On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) initiating an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects on national security of imports of timber, lumber and their derivative products (including paper products, furniture and cabinetry) dumped into the U.S. market. The EO states…
Trump Administration Initiates Section 232 Investigation into Imports of Copper and Copper Derivatives That May Lead to New Tariffs
On February 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) initiating an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects on national security of imports of copper in all forms, including but not limited to: (i) raw mined copper; (ii) copper concentrates; (iii) refined copper; (iv) copper alloys; (v) scrap copper…
White House Releases Annexes of Steel & Aluminum Derivative Items Subject to Section 232 25% Tariffs

On February 14, 2025, the White House released annexes specifying steel (see page 24) and aluminum (see page 19) derivative items that will be subject to the 25% tariffs under Section 232, as announced by President Trump on February 10, 2025. For further details, refer to our blog post of February 12, 2025.
The…
President Trump Announces New Tariffs on Imported Steel and Aluminum Articles and Derivatives from All Countries with No Exemptions or Exclusions
UPDATE: On February 14, the Federal Register released the formal Presidential Proclamations on the steel and aluminum tariffs that include the annexes for each Proclamation that detail the list of in-scope steel or aluminum articles and derivatives that will be subject to the 25% ad valorem tariffs. The links in this post have been updated…
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
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…
United States and Mexico Act to Protect North American Steel and Aluminum Markets from Unfair Trade
On July 10, 2024, the United States and Mexico jointly announced measures to protect the North American steel and aluminum markets from unfair trade. Both countries will implement policies to prevent tariff evasion on steel and aluminum and undertake efforts to strengthen North American steel and aluminum supply chains. These efforts are intended to prevent…