August 13, 2025—Top Stories:
China, U.S. agree to Tariff Extension
The United States and China agreed to pause tariff hikes on each other’s goods for an additional 90 days. Without the agreement, tariffs were set to immediately surge, risking a return to ultra-high levels that had formed an effective blockade on trade between the world’s two largest economies. The U.S. will suspend 24 percentage points of the previous rate for an additional period of 90 days, starting on August 12, 2025, while retaining the remaining ad valorem rate of 10. Chinese goods were set to rise to 64% from 30%. China will continue to charge 10% tariffs.
Census Issues USPPI Final Rule
The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) issues this final rule to clarify its regulations governing in-transit shipments from foreign countries through the United States that are subsequently exported to a foreign destination. Specifically, the final rule addresses the identification of the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) in scenarios where goods are entered into the United States for consumption or warehousing and subsequently stored in a warehouse or storage facility, admitted into a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), or entered into a bonded warehouse before being exported.
Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China Chip Sale Revenues to US Government
Nvidia and AMD have agreed to give the U.S. government 15% of the revenues from chip sales in China, as part of an agreement with the Trump administration to obtain export licenses for the semiconductors. Nvidia agreed to share 15% of the revenues from H20 chip sales in China and AMD would provide 15% of the revenues from MI308 chip revenues. Export control experts have raised red flags around the agreement. Some have noted that the U.S. Export Control Reform Act forbids fees for the processing and issuing of export licenses. Other trade experts have questioned whether the agreement is a fee for the right to export or an export tax, which the U.S. Constitution forbids.
As the agreement reached the public, Chinse authorities sent letters to several Chinese firms discouraging the use of Nvidia’s H20 GPU’s for AI applications, particularly those involved in government or national security-related work.
DOJ’S DIRE TARIFF REFUND PREDICTION
The United States will face “financial ruin” if the Trump administration is forced to pay back tariffs it has not yet collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Justice Department said Monday in a letter to the federal appeals court hearing the case. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer appeared to grossly overstate the financial stakes of the case by referring to the possible refund of “trillions of dollars” of tariffs. “The president believes that our country would not be able to pay back the trillions of dollars that other countries have already committed to pay, which could lead to financial ruin,” he wrote. Carrying the argument even further, Sauer said Trump believes “a forced dissolution” of the deals he has struck with various trading partners using the threat of IEEPA tariffs “could lead to a 1929-style result.” “In such a scenario, people would be forced from their homes, millions of jobs would be eliminated, hard-working Americans would lose their savings, and even Social Security and Medicare would be threatened,” Sauer wrote.
APHIS Sunsets the Paper PPQ 505 Form for Lacey Act Declarations on January 1, 2026
In alignment with Executive Order 13659- Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses and the Paperwork Reduction Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the sunsetting of paper submissions of the Lacey Act Declaration.
Effective January 1, 2026, USDA-APHIS will no longer accept paper Lacey Act Declarations.
From that date forward, declarations must be filed electronically via the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or the Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). The associated disclaim code D, used to denote paper filings in ACE and LAWGS will also be discontinued across all electronic platforms.
In the event of a system outage where neither platform is operational or other extraordinary circumstances, paper declarations may be accepted strictly on a case-by-case basis. Such exceptions require approval from the Lacey Act Program via the program inbox at [email protected].
Stakeholders who are unfamiliar with the Lacey Act Declaration requirement or need guidance during this transition should contact the Lacey Act Team using the same email address
Links to ACE Login and LAWGS Login
Click here for more information
Industry Insight: The U.S. Tariff Landscape Has Changed, Again.
The U.S. tariff landscape has shifted dramatically in recent weeks—with the end of temporary pauses, the rollout of country-specific “reciprocal” rates, and new penalties on transshipment. From 100% duties on chips to rising steel and aluminum tariffs, these changes directly impact import costs and supply chains. Michael Ford of TradeBridge Consulting shares what you need to know. Read more
Industry Insight: Driving Smarter Trade Compliance Through Strategic Data Sharing
Building off discussions at #AAEI2025, Anand Raghavendran of KlearNow.AI reveals how strategic data sharing is reshaping trade compliance.
In a world dealing with rapidly shifting trade policy, AI is delivering real-time tariff impact reports and instant SKU-level visibility—transforming raw data into the strategic insights compliance teams need, when they need them. Read more
