Trade agreements and origin
USMCA, free trade agreements, rules of origin and country-specific measures.
- IEEPA refunds and CAPE
- Section 232
- Section 301 and China
- Antidumping and countervailing duties
- Seizures, penalties and forfeiture
- Customs compliance
- Export controls and sanctions
- FMC and maritime
- Forced labor and UFLPA
- Trade agreements and origin
- Intellectual property
- Business and litigation
- Trade policy
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New Section 338 Updates
U.S. Updates Trade Measures Regarding Canada: Section 338 Import Restrictions and Tariff Adjustments Trade discussions between the United States and Canada recently encountered hurdles as bilateral negotiations concluded without a…
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Navigating the Great Transshipment Scam: What Importers Need to Know
On August 13th, 2026, the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy released a comprehensive report titled “The Great Transshipment Scam: Rise, Scope, and Costs”. For importers navigating complex international supply chains,…
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The USMCA Review Deadline: Navigating Uncertainty in North American Trade
The future of North American trade has been thrown into sharp uncertainty following President Donald Trump’s recent declaration that his administration is “not looking to renew” the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).…
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U.S. Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Key Chinese Imports Following Trade Truce
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced a significant one-year extension of tariff exclusions for a broad range of Chinese industrial and medical imports, marking one of the first major implementation steps…
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U.S.–China Trade Rebalancing: Key Takeaways from the New Agreement
This week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a sweeping economic agreement following high-level talks in Seoul. The deal marks a new phase in the evolving U.S.–China trade relationship. It represents…
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Peace Agreements and New Trade Corridor Could Reshape the South Caucasus and Central Asia’s Economic Future
On August 8, 2025 the White House announced a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that carries serious implications for international trade. Alongside the peace declaration, the parties signed bilateral economic…
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New 35–40% Tariffs on Canadian Goods Take Effect August 1
Starting August 1, 2025, U.S. importers will face steep new tariffs on a broad range of products from Canada. Under updated guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), all imports from Canada—unless specifically…
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U.S. And E.U. Make A Deal: 15%Tarriffs On Most Goods
On July 27, 2025, the United States and European Union reached a trade agreement that imposes a 15% tariff on most EU goods entering the U.S. The agreement, finalized during a meeting at President Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in…
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U.S. Announces 30% Tariffs on Mexico and EU Imports Starting August 2025; Negotiations Ongoing
In a new escalation of U.S. trade policy, President Trump announced that beginning in August 2025, the United States will impose a 30% tariff on products imported from both Mexico and the European Union. The announcement came through…
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Vietnam Trade Deal Announced
On July 2, 2025, President Trump announced that the United States has entered into a new trade agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This agreement introduces significant reductions in the country-specific rate for…
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TARIFFS REDUCED: U.S. and China strike a trade deal in Geneva.
Under a shady tree on Lake Geneva, delegates from the United States and China reached a trade deal that will see the relaxing of reciprocal tariffs on both sides. The deal was concluded this weekend during planned negotiations between…
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Update: Mexico And Canada Tariffs Paused Indefinitely
On Thursday March 6, 2025, President Trump announced a pause on newly instituted tariffs on Mexico which went into effect earlier this week. The President said, via Truth Social: After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of…
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Mexico Tariffs Paused
Today, Thursday, March 6, 2025, President Trump announced a pause on newly instituted tariffs on Mexico which went into effect earlier this week. The President said, via Truth Social: After speaking with President Claudia Sheinbaum of…
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Canada, Mexico, and China Tariff Updates: What You Need To Know
At 12:01 AM this morning, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, tariffs on Mexico and Canada came into effect in full force. Additionally, the tariffs on China were amended on Monday, March 3. Here’s what you need to know about the changes: Mexico…
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Incoming Tariffs: Retaliatory Tariffs on Digital Service Tax Countries Revived By Trump Administration
On February 21, 2025, President Trump signed a new executive order (“EO”) that could lead to more tariffs. The EO could revive previous actions taken under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which could see tariffs up to 25% placed…
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CHINA RETALIATES: Tariff lawyers expect additional tariffs on China in the near future
On February 4, 2025, China unveiled a program of new tariffs and import controls on the United States, in response to tariffs placed by the US on China which came into effect that day. On February 1, 2025 President Trump signed three…
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NEW CANADA TARIFFS EXPLAINED: WHAT TARIFF LAWYERS KNOW ABOUT THE FEBRUARY 1 EXECUTIVE ORDER
The situation regarding tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China continues to develop. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing a tariff of 10% on Canadian origin energy resources, and 25% on all…
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NEW MEXICO TARIFFS EXPLAINED: WHAT TARIFF LAWYERS KNOW ABOUT THE FEBRUARY 1 EXECUTIVE ORDER
The situation regarding tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China continues to develop. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing a tariff of 25% on all Mexican origin goods. The essential elements are…
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Incoming this weekend: China, Mexico, and Canada Tariffs
On January 31, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump will be moving forward with tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada starting on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The Press Secretary also confirmed…
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U.S.-Colombia Tariffs and Sanctions: status update
A standoff between the United States and Colombia ended Sunday night with an agreement between the two countries. Even so, until further notice Columbian cargo may be subject to heightened scrutiny by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.…
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Jamieson Greer To Be Next USTR
This morning President-Elect Trump announced his long awaited pick for United States Trade Representative (“USTR”): Jamieson Greer. Mr. Greer is a familiar face, having served as the Chief of Staff to USTR Robert Lighthizer during the…
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Trump Tariffs On Day One: Can He Do That?
On November 25, 2024 President Elect Donald Trump promised an executive order on his first day in office which would impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada. He also heralded an additional 10% tariff above all…
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FMC Increases Penalties for Shipping Act Violations
The Federal Maritime Commission has increased the maximum penalties assessed for statutory violations effective January 15, 2021, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. The increases are tied to the…
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Changes in Matters Subject to Protest
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued a memorandum providing new guidance regarding acceptable mechanisms for submission of post-importation preference claims (Post-Entry Amendments (PEAs), Post Summary Corrections (PSCs),…
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FMC Penalizes Seven OTIs and One Vessel Operator One Half Million Dollars
On Friday October 10, 2014 the Federal Maritime Commission announced “compromise agreements” totaling $503,000 in civil penalties from five NVOCCs, two unlicensed OTIs, and one vessel-operator. “Compromise agreements” do not admit…
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Panama Canal Expansion: Impact on Southeastern Ports
We just wrote about the Panama Canal Expansion project (also called the Third Set of Locks Project) and its likely impact on Florida. The expansion, scheduled to be completed in April of 2015, will double the capacity of the Panama…
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Panama Canal Expansion: What Does it Mean for Florida?
The Panama Canal Expansion project (also called the Third Set of Locks Project) is projected to be completed in April of 2015. The project was announced with the purpose of increasing Panama’s ability to benefit from the growing traffic…
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TRADE POLICY: OBAMA vs ROMNEY
International trade is vital to our economy, so much of the debate in the upcoming Presidential election has surrounded the candidates’ foreign trade policies. President Barack Obama (D) and his challenger, Governor Mitt Romney (R),…
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Wholesalers To Colombia Beware: Your Business Could Be Part Of An International Money-Laundering Scheme
The Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE) is a long lived and widely used method for converting Colombian pesos into US dollars and vice versa. Boasting the ability to exchange money at a much lower rate, the BMPE evolved from the black…
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Importer Tips to Avoid Misclassification of Goods
When importing goods into the United States the importer of record (the owner, purchaser, or a licensed Customs broker) must file entry documents with Customs at the port of entry. Among the information contained in the entry documents…
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Resources for Exporting: A Visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Last week I visited the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast to attend the Gulf States Trade Alliance’s 2012 Annual Export conference from April 10-12 at the Beau Rivage Resort. The theme for the event was “Export Resources and New Market…
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Free Trade Agreement Series: Part 5- Peru and Colombia FTAs
As the US seeks to reap the benefits of free trade throughout the world, it is imperative that agreements are reached with our regional trading partners. The past two administrations have secured Free Trade Agreements with multiple…
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Free Trade Agreement Series: Part 4- The New Korean Market and Rules of Origin
A free trade agreement approximately six years in the making is now a reality for Korea and the United States. Just as with other FTAs, this new market access allows for reduced and sometimes eliminated tariff rates and quotas as well…
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Free Trade Agreement Series: Part 3- Andean Free Trade on a Roller Coaster
The Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) was enacted in 2002 by the second Bush administration. This trade preference agreement sought to grant four South American nations preferential treatment when exporting goods…
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Free Trade Agreement Series: Part 2- Importer Requirements Under NAFTA
Having originated nearly 20 years ago NAFTA, is a well established free trade agreement that continues to have a significant impact on importers and exporters. In efforts to open global markets to U.S. businesses, the U.S. government…
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Free Trade Agreement Series: Part 1- Exporter Requirements Under NAFTA
When you are preparing to export goods to Mexico or Canada (“NAFTA Countries”), you are likely going to seek preferential treatment of your goods under NAFTA. However, before you ship the goods to your buyer, make sure you are familiar…
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Service Contract Held Inapplicable In Favor Of Bill Of Lading: Entire Yacht Is A “Package” Under COGSA And Liability Limited To $500
Until the Rotterdam Rules take hold, we will continue to examine COGSA cases worthy of note. A case involving the dropping of a $4,000,000 yacht due to a collapsed crane is noteworthy in our book, especially when the ocean carrier…
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