July 30, 2025—Top Stories:
EU-US Agree on Trade Deal; Other Deals to Come?
The Trump Administration announced a deal with the EU imposing tariffs of 15% on most goods entering the US from Europe and requiring the EU to make huge investments in US energy products, averting a trade war between the two of the world’s largest economies.
The 15% tariff will cover most US imports, including 232 products like autos/auto parts, most pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. The US will have a 0% tariff for some items including equipment for US manufacturing and generic medicines. The US will keep in place a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, with considerations of tariff quotas.
The EU agreed to buy, over three years, $750bn (£560bn) worth of oil, gas, nuclear fuel and semi-conductors, including liquified gas, while at the same time agreeing to invest $600bn (£446bn) in the US, including purchases of military equipment. Left out of the deal are agreements around digital sales taxes, spirits, and wines, and economic security cooperation against China.
Where Tariff Talks Stand with Other Trading Partners:
China: China and the U.S. met this week to discuss the Aug. 12th deadline to enforce tariffs. If the August deadline is not met, then tariffs will go back to April higher-level tariffs. They currently stand at US tariffs of 30% on Chinese goods, and China’s 10% tariff on US products. There was also no agreement on export controls and fentanyl.
Brazil: President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and the U.S. has a 301 investigation into Brazil’s alleged unfair trade practices.
Canada and Mexico: Both countries are charged a 25% tariff for goods outside of USMCA, with a potential rise to 30% after August 1st. Mexico has received a new list of security and trade issues that need to be addressed before a deal is made. Canadian officials believe that the U.S. levies might continue even with an agreement. Currently for both countries, 50%-60% of goods traded with the U.S. fall under USMCA.
India: India’s government has noted that there is great progress in talks; however, no deal or potential deal’s components have been released to the public. Until an agreement is reached, President Trump will move forward with a 25% tariff on India.
America's Copper Industry
Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation to address the effects of copper imports on America’s national security, including by imposing tariffs on several categories of copper imports.
Seven Takeaways from the U.S.’s Tariff Trade Deals
As the August 1st trade deal arrives, here are seven takeaways.
USTR, Commerce, BIS Could See Increased Funding
Congress is looking to provide more funding to the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office for the next year. The Trump Administration has asked for a boost in funding to the Bureau of Industry and Security.
The Senate is looking to fund trade-related agencies at far higher levels than the White House requested. Its appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies proposes increasing spending for USTR from $59 million in fiscal 2025 to $65 million for fiscal 2026, with an additional $15 million for the trade enforcement trust fund. It also would increase BIS’ funding from $191 million to $211 million, while maintaining funding of $122 million for the International Trade Commission, which investigates trade issues. But it would cut funding for the International Trade Administration, which enforces anti-dumping laws and countervailing duties, from $623 million to $605 million.
The House Republicans could use the White House’s budget requests, which push more funding for the enforcement agencies like BIS and International Trade Commission (ITC), but keeps USTR at the same level.
AAEI Meets with Canadian Parliament Members
AAEI President and CEO Eugene Laney hosted two members of the Canadian Parliament: Jacob Mantle, International Trade Committee, and James Bezan, Shadow Minister for National Defense. Mantle and Miller discussed current trade policy developments, including USMCA review, Canadian and US relations, and how to work together to increase cross border trade between the U.S. and Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada’s premiers are tempering expectations that they’ll strike a new economic and security deal with the U.S. A team of Canadian negotiators was in Washington this week, including Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Carney’s chief-of-staff, Marc-André Blanchard.
AAEI Participates in CTA Virtual Trade Roundtable
AAEI participated in a Consumer Technology Association (CTA) virtual roundtable discussion for our CTA members, in anticipation of the reciprocal, copper, and possibly other tariffs set to take effect August 1st. The roundtable included Eugene Laney, AAEI CEO, Black Harden, Vice President of International Trade Retail Industry Leaders, and Peter, Peter Harrell, former Biden Administration National Security Council lead. The panel explored the economic, legal, and geopolitical implications of the proposed tariff measures and what they mean for the consumer technology industry. CTA’s roundtables provide insights to CIT members on how businesses can prepare for the measures and continue to track global trends of trade policy.
CIT Denies Importer Injunction Related to IEEPA and De Minimis
The Court of International Trade (CIT) on July 28th denied importer Detroit Axle’s motion for a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump’s decision to eliminate the de minimis threshold for Chinese goods. Judges Gary Katzmann, Timothy Reif and Jane Restani said Detroit Axle can’t succeed in “obtaining the relief it seeks,” since the trade court already granted the relief the importer seeks in the lead case on Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit stayed that relief pending appeal. The court then stayed the remainder of Detroit Axle’s case pending resolution of the lead IEEPA tariff case.
Latest Signs Could Point to US Remaining in WTO
A State Department report due to the White House in early August could set the stage for President Donald Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the World Trade Organization — or finally pay the approximately $58 million it owes in past dues for 2024 and 2025. Trump has put U.S. funding on hold while directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to carry out a review of all U.S. contributions to international organizations. Trump also nominated Joseph Barloon, who was general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Trump’s first administration, to be ambassador to the WTO — one of the strongest signs that he will not pull out. On Monday, WTO Director-General Ngoz Okonio-Iweala picked a former Trump official to serve as one of the WTO’s four deputy directors, replacing Angela Ellard, former House Ways & Means counsel. These developments seem to point to Trump’s position to keep the U.S. within the WTO.
Possible “Bifurcated” Process for Duty Refund if IEEPA Plaintiffs Prevail
Some industry professionals believe that there may be a “bifurcated” process for duty refund should the plaintiffs prevail in litigation over the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This would consist of a court-ordered process for the parties to the case and an administrative process to file claims for those refunds.
Many attorneys cite a 1998 Supreme Court case that ruled that a harbor maintenance fee for exports was unconstitutional. The government then had to refund the plaintiffs and, through an administrative process, refund shippers and other port users. In an IEEPA tariff refund, the question becomes whether the court orders refunds for the plaintiffs and/or all parties impacted by the IEEPA tariffs, which would require CBP to create a refund process. According to many sources, any refunds more than likely would include those entries that have been liquidated.
Note, in a potential litigation loss by the Trump Administration, the government could still use another trade law, like Section 338, that would improve the President’s authority to impose tariffs, which would then make refunds moot.
Trump Suspends De Minimis; CBP Seeks to Continue 321 Data Pilot Program
Effective August 29, imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties.
CBP is also seeking public comments on an information collection involving an extension of its Section 321 e-commerce data collection pilot program, it said in a Federal Register notice.Continuing the pilot program would enable CBP to explore different new technologies that could “streamline” the data collection process, the agency said in the notice. The information gleaned from this pilot also could be incorporated into future regulation updates, it said. Comments are due by Sept. 29.
Bridging the Gap: Turning Trade Compliance into C‑Suite Strategy
On Day 2 of AAEI’s 104th Annual Conference, AAEI member Cindy DeLeon led a discussion with Matthew Pittman, COO of Trinity Industries, focused on how trade professionals can and should translate complex compliance issues into strategic insights for the C-Suite. From risk framing to executive-ready formats, they shared how clear, timely communication helps better position trade as an executive-level priority. Read more here.
