January 22, 2025—Top Stories
White House Update
On Day 1 in the White House, President Donald Trump directed the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security to review existing trade agreements and address trade deficits and currency manipulation by April 1, 2025. While the President did not impose tariffs, he did instruct the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate the possibility to impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners. Read the America First Trade Policy Executive Order here and a summary here.
Legislative Update
Confirmation hearings for President Trump’s appointees continue this week, with the hearing for Brooke Rollins for the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday. Watch the hearing here.
Regulatory Update
The de minimis exemption could no longer apply to merchandise “subject to specified trade or national security actions” according to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection yesterday. Read the notice here.
Industry Insight
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a final rule this month to implement the electronic filing of certificate of compliance information for imports regulated by the CPSC, effective on July 8, 2026. Read more about the requirements from Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
More Stories to Stay Informed:
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly dismissed the members of its advisory committees today, as part of a Trump-administration drive to cut costs at the agency. It is yet unclear how this memo could affect the COAC and TSN and whether other agencies will be required to eliminate advisory committees like the District Export Councils and the International Trade Advisory Councils.
• DHS released an interim final rule last week that would add to CBP regulations for preferential treatment and customs provisions of USMCA and would amend the regulations to implement the temporary admission of goods, among other changes. Comments regarding this interim final rule are due March 18, 2025.