August 20, 2025—Top Stories:
Trump Administration Fights for America’s Economic and National Security, Designating New Chinese Industry Sectors as High-Priority for Enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
Recently, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bolstered America’s economic and national security by adding steel, copper, lithium, caustic soda, and red dates as high-priority sectors for enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which restricts Chinese goods made with forced labor from entering the United States.
Trade Partners’ Tariff Joint Statements Delaying Auto and Other Tariff Relief
EU, Japan and South Korea may have to wait weeks or even longer before Trump makes good on his promise to cut tariffs on their autos to 15 percent, from 27.5 percent now. According to Politico reporting, the Trump administration wants to complete work first on joint statements with each of the three trading partners to enshrine details of the deals announced in recent weeks before moving to formalize the auto tariff cuts. It is being reported that the biggest trade deals could take as long as October. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview earlier this week, said the administration hopes to finalize its biggest trade in the next few months. However, he was not specifically asked about a timetable for individual trading partners.
Commerce Expands Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
EU, Japan and South Korea may have to wait weeks or even longer before Trump makes good on his promise to cut tariffs on their autos to 15 percent, from 27.5 percent now. According to Politico reporting, the Trump administration wants to complete work first on joint statements with each of the three trading partners to enshrine details of the deals announced in recent weeks before moving to formalize the auto tariff cuts. It is being reported that the biggest trade deals could take as long as October. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview earlier this week, said the administration hopes to finalize its biggest trade in the next few months. However, he was not specifically asked about a timetable for individual trading partners.
Trump Signs Bill Expanding Export Control Reporting Requirements
President Trump signed a bill, H.R. 1316 (119), that would seek to ensure Congress has basic transparency into decisions from the Bureau of Industry and Security to grant permits to export sensitive U.S. technologies to companies like Huawei and SMIC that operate in China. Under the bill, the government have to disclose who sought export licenses, how much they are worth and whether the application was approved. The bipartisan legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously.
Proposed External Revenue Service Agency Loses Steam
After President Trump’s inauguration, he announced plans to create an External Revenue Services (ERS), which he said would be charged with collecting tariffs, duties, and all revenue that comes from foreign sources. Six months into the new administration, there has been little said about the proposal. Some insiders have stated that the president’s forecasts for tariff revenue fell short, which tempered plans for a new agency. In the early days of the administration, Commerce, USTR, and Treasury were jockeying for control of the agency, with President Trump finally settling on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to lead the project to create ERS. The White House has recently stated that a feasibility study, in consultation with the Commerce and Homeland Security departments’ secretaries is in the works, with no status report issued.
Democratic Joint Economic Committee’s Report on the Cost of Trump Administration Trade Agenda
“President Trump’s approach to trade and tariffs could cost U.S. manufacturers $490 billion worth of investment through 2029,” according to a report released Monday by Democrats on the congressional Joint Economic Committee.
Port of Los Angeles Breaks Century-Old Volume Record
The front-loading of Chinese goods ahead of the tariff deadline pushed container volumes at the Port of Los Angeles to levels it has never seen in its 117-year history. The port processed 1,019,837 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in July. Imports came in at 543,728,000 TEUs, also a record.
House Ways and Means Chair’s Op Ed on Trump’s Trade Agenda
“After four years of weakness, global chaos, and a White House more interested in apologizing for America than fighting for it, the world is again hearing loud and clear: the United States of America is back, and the apology tour is over,” says House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith in a Washington Examiner article.
“Trump’s trade agenda will fuel an economic boom,” stated the Washington Examiner.
Industry Insight: Achieving End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility
Global trade is entering a new era where end-to-end supply chain visibility isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity. Companies must look beyond Tier-1 suppliers to truly understand risk and compliance. Anne Marie Lacourse and Melina Villavicencio of Sayari, share how responsible AI and global data can help businesses track ownership, anticipate disruptions, and strengthen resilience across the entire supply chain. [Read More]
Industry Insight: Potential Process for Duty Refunds if IEEPA Based Reciprocal Tariffs Are Struck Down by the Courts
This year has been eventful for importers and practitioners alike. The use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) for “reciprocal” tariffs has been novel. As a result, we have seen a burst of litigation challenging these new tariff measures.
In the cases of V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump and Oregon v. Trump, plaintiffs have challenged the President’s authority to base increased tariffs on emergency powers provided by IEEPA, which allows the regulation of imports but not explicitly imposition of tariffs.
On May 28, 2025, the U.S. Court of International Trade (“USCIT”) held in the affirmative for the V.O.S. plaintiffs, which is now pending appeal. [Read More]
