February 19, 2025–Top Stories
White House Update
President Trump signed a memorandum last week calling for “fair and reciprocal” tariffs on all U.S. trading partners equal to the existing tariffs and non-tariff barriers that foreign countries have placed on U.S. goods.
These trade barriers may come from USTR reports during the first Trump Administration and last year. Read more on this topic: “Reciprocal Tariffs: Where Might Trump Find Trade Barriers?”
In response to the Trump Administration’s recent tariff actions, AAEI’s Customs Committee is launching a Tariff Working Group. The Customs Committee meets next on February 26, 2025.
If you are interested this working group or a Committee, please visit AAEI’s Member Hub to join.
If you have questions about AAEI Working Groups or Committees, please email Government Affairs Manager Mitchell Hart.
Legislative Update
The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick as Secretary of the Commerce Department yesterday in a 51-45 vote.
Commerce Department Officials will speak at AAEI’s Hybrid Trade Matters Fly-In on March 26, 2025. Space is limited–register now. Virtual Registration is available.
Regulatory Update
CBP’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will hold its quarterly meeting on March 5, 2025, in Atlanta, according to a DHS notice last week.
Industry Insight
The Trade Compliance market is shifting as companies face skill shortages, rising contract employment, and evolving global hiring trends. To stay competitive, companies must learn how to adapt. Garrett Stephenson, President of Gateway Recruiting, breaks down challenges and strategies for attracting and retaining top talent.
Take advantage of AAEI’s Career Center–members receive free job postings and a resume review.
More Stories to Stay Informed:
- President Trump signed Presidential Proclamations last week to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The tariffs also apply to specific steel and aluminum derivatives, which are listed in two separate notices. The list for steel can be found on page 12 of the Steel Tariffs Proclamation, and the list for aluminum is on page 9 of the Aluminum Tariffs Proclamation.
- The European Commission released a statement last week criticizing President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs memorandum, stating that the “EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.”
- President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on a deal last week for India to import more American oil and gas, following Trump’s reciprocal tariffs memorandum.
- Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) introduced a bill this month that would impose stronger export controls to prevent China’s military from acquiring U.S. technology and intellectual property.
- BIS will hold its 37th annual Update Conference on March 18-20, 2025, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. Click here to register.
- BIS’s Emerging Technology Technical Advisory Committee (ETTAC) will meet on March 10, 2025, in a partially closed meeting, according to a BIS notice this morning.
- BIS has reportedly paused new export license applications. BIS licensing officers reportedly state that the agency was told to “hold without action” all new export license applications filed after February 5, 2025. AAEI’s Export and Global Trade Compliance Committee will discuss this at its next meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
- CBP will retire the legacy Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal on February 22, 2025, and will migrate user access to the modernized ACE Portal.
