Top Stories: CBP Challenges

CBP Meets with AAEI Members on Top Challenges December 4, 2024 – Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) answered AAEI members’ questions this week at a special meeting of AAEI’s Customs Committee. The discussion included CBP’s efforts on the committee’s big trade issues, including agency staffing, customs modernization, and screening improvements on de […]

Top Stories: Trump’s Trade Leaders

Trump Selects Rubio, Noem, Homan for Key Trade and Security Roles November 13, 2024 – President-elect Donald Trump is assembling his cabinet and high-ranking administration officials, following his election victory last week. He has selected Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) as Secretary of State, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, and former […]

Top Stories: Trump Trade 2.0

Trade Community Braces for New Era of U.S. Trade Policy November 6, 2024 – Former President Donald Trump secured enough Electoral College votes overnight to become President-elect following yesterday’s general election. AAEI has been preparing members for post-election trade strategies. During his campaign, Trump outlined the trade policies he plans to pursue, including potential 10-20% […]

Top Stories: New Tariff Regime?

Companies Plan for New Tariff Regime by Raising Prices for U.S. Consumers October 30, 2024 – U.S. companies that depend on imports and imported components for manufacturing and consumer sales are already planning for high tariffs in the near future. Stanley Black & Decker, for example, intends to raise prices and shift its production to […]

Top Stories: Next Trade Leaders

Media Reports: Front-runners to be Next Trade Leaders October 23, 2024 – With the Presidential Election less than two weeks away, analysts are projecting who might fill Cabinet positions depending on the outcome. Politico reports (here and here): U.S. Trade Representative Harris Rahm Emanuel – Former White House Chief of Staff (2009-2010) Nelson Cunningham – […]

Top Stories: Tariff Exclusions

USTR Opens Exclusion Process for Section 301 Tariffs October 16, 2024 – The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) opened the exclusion process for certain machinery in domestic manufacturing to be temporarily excluded from Section 301 tariffs. USTR provided a list of eligible subheadings. The docket closes on March 31, 2025. Other Stories: CBP announced a 30-day […]

Top Stories: Strike Effects

Three-Day Port Strike Leaves Lasting Effects October 9, 2024 – The strike at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports ended after 3 days last week, with a tentative agreement resulting in dockworkers returning to work until January 15, 2025. Analysts say the strike will not have a long-term impact on the U.S. economy, while some […]

Top Stories: Port Strike

Importers Scramble to Adjust to East Coast Port Strike October 2, 2024 – A strike by dockworkers on the Gulf Coast began this week, stopping shipments at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports. There are reportedly no negotiations scheduled between the two sides. Many affected ports have issued industry advisories about what shippers can expect […]

Top Stories: Treasury Customs Functions

AAEI Members Hear Why Treasury May Shift Functions to DHS September 25, 2024 – Members of AAEI’s Customs Committee heard from the Treasury Department today about a possible plan to delegate its Customs revenue authorities to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Some Customs revenue authorities were already delegated under Treasury Order 100-016. Treasury Department […]

Top Stories: De Minimis

White House Takes Action on De Minimis Exemption September 18, 2024 – The Biden Administration announced last week that it intends to propose new regulations to reduce de minimis imports. The regulations include excluding shipments of products covered by Section 301, Section 201, or Section 232 tariffs from the de minimis exemption. The proposed regulations […]