Given the prohibitively high tariff levels placed on China, and the uncertainty surrounding reciprocal tariffs on other countries, USMCA-qualifying goods from Canada and Mexico are advantageous options for importers, according to compliance experts speaking at an Automotive Industry Action Group event on April 9.
Two members of the Blackfeet Nation tribe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana against various tariff actions by President Donald Trump, arguing that Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is an "unconstitutional exercise of congressional authority." The individuals, Montana state Sen. Susan Webber and rancher Jonathan St. Goddard, also claimed that Trump's tariff orders unconstitutionally deprived them of procedural due process and are "void for vagueness."
The most unwavering defenders of President Donald Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" policy -- including House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo. -- were a bit undercut during a four-hour hearing on the president's trade agenda, because Trump reacted to Treasury market volatility and backed down.
Only 13 hours after reciprocal tariffs of 11% to 84% began, President Donald Trump said he is pausing the higher country-specific tariffs for 90 days -- except for China, whose total emergency tariff will go from 104% to 125%, according to a White House spokesperson. The baseline additional 10% tariff -- which applies to nearly all countries, but not Mexico and Canada -- remains in place.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the lead Republican on a bill that would prevent future executive tariffs from lasting more than 60 days without an approval in Congress, said on a phone call with reporters that it was a deliberate choice not to have the bill roll back Section 232 tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, Section 301 tariffs on China, or tariffs on nearly all countries under the guise of national emergencies.
Beer in glass bottles under subheading 2203.00.0030 isn’t subject to Section 232 tariffs, CBP said April 7 in an update to a FAQ on its website.
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President Donald Trump declared that if China doesn't withdraw its 34% retaliatory tariff hike, "above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Correction: The list of products exempt from reciprocal tariffs doesn’t include furniture or cabinets, despite those products’ inclusion in the Section 232 report on lumber (see 2504020072).
Republicans are not exactly turning against the dramatic tariff actions President Donald Trump is taking, but some are expressing hope that the reciprocal tariffs will be temporary cudgels to liberalize trade, and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, acknowledged that the free trade advocates in the Republican Party may not be right about that being where this is heading.