According to President Trump, “Tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump promised to use tariffs as a central part of his foreign policy strategy. His America First Trade Policy memorandum also directs the administration to review various tariff- and tariff-adjacent levers the United States could use to further
Federal court permanently enjoins “fentanyl” and reciprocal tariffs; Trump requests stay
Update: On May 29, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an immediate administrative stay of the CIT’s judgment and injunction. The plaintiffs-appellees will have until June 5 to respond to the government’s motion for a stay. The government will have until June 9 to file a reply brief. The Federal Circuit will
U.S. eases Syrian sanctions; export controls remain unchanged
On May 23, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License 25, which authorizes a significant portion of previously prohibited transactions. The general license does not, however, amend or modify any of the existing Syria-related export controls under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations.
What does the
BIS plans to rescind Biden-era AI diffusion rule; imposes other controls on AI chips
On May 13, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced its intent to rescind the Biden administration’s Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion (AI Diffusion Rule) that is scheduled to go into effect on May 15. BIS will publish a Federal Register notice formalizing its decision. In the meantime, Under Secretary of Commerce for
USTR imposes fees and restrictions on certain maritime transport services
On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a series of fees and restrictions intended to address China’s targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The announcement follows the USTR’s year-long investigation into China’s acts, policies, and practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Maritime transport services
U.S. imposes 10% baseline tariffs; higher reciprocal tariffs for targeted countries
Updated: April 3, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. ET to reflect the specific exemptions outlined in the unofficial version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) modifications that will implement the reciprocal tariffs.
On April 2, President Trump signed a pair of executive orders as part of a “Liberation Day” ceremony in the
Tariff mitigation through alternative sourcing: Navigating customs country of origin compliance risks
In a time of escalating tariff tensions, companies are investing heavily in analyzing the impact of tariff changes on their business and adapting to the shifting trade landscape. To mitigate tariff impacts and maintain competitiveness, many explore supply chain adjustments, such as alternative sourcing or relocating production. While “tariff engineering” is becoming an increasingly popular
Trump adjusts steel and aluminum tariffs; directs Customs to increase enforcement
On February 10, President Trump signed two proclamations adjusting the already-existing Section 232 tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum. He also directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to “dramatically increase” its enforcement efforts to prevent circumvention.
Increased tariff enforcement
The proclamations direct CBP to prioritize reviews of the classification of imported steel and
U.S. imposes tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico; retaliation promised
- U.S. imposes tariffs
Navigating the FY 2025 NDAA: Impact on U.S. government contracting
On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159) into law. The legislation authorizes $895.2 billion in funding for Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE) national security programs. Beyond authorizing spending and setting other priorities, NDAA introduces a range of provisions –