On May 12, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued updated policy memoranda relating to the investigation and prosecution of white collar crimes, including its White-Collar Enforcement Plan, Revised Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, Memorandum on Selection of Monitors in Criminal Division Matters, and the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Revisited. These
Trade Remedy/Enforcement
China and the United States Agree to Temporarily Lower Tariff Rates
- The United States will (i) modify the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on
Department of Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation of Imports of Commercial Aircraft and Jet Engines
On May 1, 2025, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced that, pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, it was initiating an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and parts for commercial aircraft and jet engines. Interested parties may submit written…
DOJ Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Barco Uniforms and Affiliates for Alleged Underpayment of Customs Duties
On April 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the filing of a civil complaint against Barco Uniforms Inc., its executives Kenny and David Chan, and several affiliated companies. The complaint alleges violations of the False Claims Act (FCA) through a scheme to underpay customs duties on imported apparel. The case, originally filed…
Department of Commerce Initiates Section 232 Investigation of Imports of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks and Related Parts
On April 22, 2025, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced that, pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, it was initiating an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, medium- and heavy-duty truck parts, and their derivative products.
The Federal Register notice…
President Trump Directs Commerce to Initiate Section 232 Investigation of Critical Mineral Imports
On April 15, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) directing the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to initiate an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects on national security of imports of processed critical minerals and their derivative products. Because “processed critical minerals and their…
Commerce Initiates Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment
On April 1, 2025, it was announced that the Department of Commerce had initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects on the national security of imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), and their derivative products. This includes, among other things, semiconductor substrates and…
Commerce Initiates Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Pharmaceuticals & Pharmaceutical Ingredients
On April 1, 2025, it was announced that the Department of Commerce had initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to determine the effects on the national security of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients and their derivative products. This includes both finished generic and non-generic drug products, medical countermeasures, critical…
White House Releases List of Products Not Subject to Reciprocal Tariffs
On April 11, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum providing clarification of allowable exceptions under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 (i.e., implementation of reciprocal tariffs). The memorandum clarifies that one excepted product is the importation into the United States of “semiconductors.” The memo proceeds to define this term as including products…
President Trump Pauses Country-Specific Reciprocal Tariffs for 90 Days but Increases Tariffs on China
On April 9, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) announcing that he was pausing the country-specific reciprocal tariffs and, instead, leaving in place for 90 days the baseline 10% tariffs on all countries that was implemented on April 5, 2025. The President, however, noted that this pause would not apply to imports…