Tag: IEEPA

Court actions on IEEPA Tariffs

Last week, the Court of International Trade said the use of IEEPA tor tariffs by President Trump, but the orders are currently stayed pending appeal. The details were summarized well by CBP in a Cargo Systems Messaging Service notice, quoted below:

CSMS # 65201384 – Court of International Trade (CIT) Judgment – International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Tariffs
On May 28, 2025, the United States Court of International Trade (CIT) issued judgment in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. et al. v. United States et al., Court No. 25-00066, and Oregon et al. v. Dep’t of Homeland Security et al., Court No. 25-00077, concerning the tariffs imposed by the following Executive Orders (the Challenged Tariff Orders), including all modifications and amendments thereto:

      • Executive Order 14193, Imposing Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border, 90 Fed. Reg. 9113 (Feb. 1, 2025);
      • Executive Order 14194, Imposing Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border, 90 Fed. Reg. 9117 (Feb. 1, 2025);
      • Executive Order 14195, Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China, 90 Fed. Reg. 9121 (Feb. 1, 2025);
      • Executive Order 14257, Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits, 90 Fed. Reg. 15041 (Apr. 2, 2025).

The CIT enjoined “the operations of the Challenged Tariff Orders” including all modifications and amendments. The United States appealed the CIT’s decision and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit temporarily stayed with the CIT’s decision while the Federal Circuit considers the Government’s Motion to Stay pending appeal.

In addition, on May 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Learning Resources, Inc. et al. v. Trump et al., Court No. 25-1248 (RC), which the United States has also appealed.

IEEPA Tariff Questions?

Do you have questions about the IEEPA tariffs? We have answers for you. Great Lakes Customs Law has been advising importers for more than 15 years. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out the form below:

Name(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

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US Lowers Some Tariffs on China

The United States will drop additional tariffs placed on China on April 8 and April 9, 2025, but will maintain all tariffs imposed on China prior to April 2, 2025, including Section 301 tariffs, Section 232 tariffs, tariffs imposed in response to the fentanyl national emergency invoked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (20%), and normal/MFN HTSUS tariff rates. This represents a large yet modest de-escalation in trade tensions with China, considering there is a new 30% base level tariff imposed since pre-Trump 2025.

The US will suspend its 34% reciprocal tariff imposed on April 2, 2025, for 90 days, but retain a 10% tariff during the 90 day period.

The executive order is available here, with a high level promotional summary here: fact sheet is available with more details.

China Tariff Questions?

Do you have questions about the China tariffs? We have answers for you. Great Lakes Customs Law has been advising importers for more than 15 years. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out the form below:

Name(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

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[lastupdate]

Trump Tariff Exemption: IEEPA and 50 USC 1702(b)(3)

There is an exemption to certain tariffs imposed by President Trump under authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The law is 50 USC 1702(b), which exempts from duty the following:

information or informational materials, including but not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact disks, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds.

These exceptions have found their way into the HTSUS. CBP explains it as follows:

Headings 9903.01.22, 9903.01.12, 9903.01.03, and 9903.01.31 describe informational materials, including but not limited to, publications, films, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes, compact discs, CD ROMs, artworks, and news wire feeds.

Goods properly classified under the following headings and subheadings of the HTSUS may qualify for the exception under 9903.01.22, 9903.01.12, 9903.01.03, and 9903.01.31:  Chapter 49; goods provided for in headings 3704, 3705, 3706, 5807, 8310, and 9701 through 9705, inclusive; goods provided for in subheadings 6307.90.30, 6307.90.85, 8523.80.10, 8523.29, 8523.41, 8523.49, 9405.61, and 9405.69.

You can read the FAQ here. That’s all the guidance that exists for what type of goods qualify for this exemption, with sparse instances of how it has been interpreted; for example, in the past, religious texts have been considered to qualify as informational materials when coming from Iran.

To learn if your goods qualify for this exemption, consider hiring us to make a Binding Ruling Request with CBP.

IEEPA Tariff exemption questions?

Do you have questions about IEEPA tariff exemptions? We have answers for you. Great Lakes Customs Law has been advising importers for more than 15 years. Call us at (734) 855-4999 or fill out the form below:

Name(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

SMS/Text Msg Us  WhatsApp Chat

[lastupdate]

 

President Trump signs proclamation imposing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum

Trump imposes 25% on Canada and Mexico effective March 4

Canada and Mexico, and America, wake up to new tariffs on March 4. The details are here for Canada (10% Energy, 25% all else):

Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of Canada Pursuant to the President’s Executive Order 14193, Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border

The details are here for Mexico (25% on everything):

Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of Mexico Pursuant to the President’s Executive Order 14194, Imposing Duties to Address the Situation At Our Southern Border

Stay Informed and Prepared:

The landscape of international trade is shifting rapidly with the impending Trump tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico and on steel, aluminum, and copper, and so much more. Don’t be caught off guard.

Contact Great Lakes Customs for advice and assistance. If you have questions or need help navigating these changes, we’re here to support you.

President Trump signs proclamation imposing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum

Trump rachets up China tariff to 20%

By means of Executive Order, President Trump has increased the recently imposed additional 10% tariff on goods originating from China to 20%. The change is effective as of March 4, 2025.

You can read it here: Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of the People’s Republic of China Pursuant to the President’s Executive Order 14195, Imposing Duties to Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China

THESE TARIFFS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE SECTION 301 TARIFFS WHICH RANGE FROM 7.5% TO 25%.

So if your business has been paying 25% tariff on China originating goods, it would now be 45%.

He previously promised these tariffs, which I blogged about (briefly) here.

De Minimis Changes Taking Effect

As of April 2, 2025, the de minimis except for shipments under $800 as disappearing as to China, by virtue of the following executive order:

Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports

The de minimis exception expires on May 2, 2025, on which date duties will be required for these entries.

Stay Informed and Prepared:

The landscape of international trade is shifting rapidly with the impending Trump tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico and on steel, aluminum, and copper, and so much more. Don’t be caught off guard.

Contact Great Lakes Customs for advice and assistance. If you have questions or need help navigating these changes, we’re here to support you.

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