News Articles

Section 232 Iron

Section 232 and Iron: What CBP’s New Guidance Means for Your Imports – The Difference Between Steel and Iron Has Never Mattered More

Kerry Wang April 1, 2026

We are operating in one of the most volatile trade environments in recent memory. Tariff policy is shifting faster than most compliance programs can absorb. In that context, CBP’s March 15 guidance on Section 232 content value is not just a technical update. It brings meaningful clarity and importers who move quickly may find real money on the table.

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301 Tariffs

Section 301 Tariffs: A New Phase in U.S. Trade Policy

Adrienne Braumiller April 1, 2026

The resurgence of Section 301 tariff investigations marks a pivotal shift in U.S. trade policy. Following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has turned to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a more durable legal pathway to reimpose and potentially expand tariff measures.

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AI Legislation

AI Legislative Framework Proposed by the White House

James Holbein March 31, 2026

On March 20, 2026, the Trump Administration announced that it, “is committed to winning the AI race to usher in a new era of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people.“ The White House issued a new comprehensive national legislative framework that addresses six key objectives.

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IEEPA

Supreme Court Clarifies Separation of Powers in IEEPA Tariffs Decision

James Holbein March 31, 2026

In the final analysis, this case stands as one of the most important separation of powers decisions in the economic domain in U.S. history. It clarifies that tariffs are a form of taxation reserved to Congress, embeds the major questions doctrine in trade law, and reasserts the structural boundary between legislative and executive authority.

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Canada Carney

Goodbye USA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s MiddlePowers Playbook is Officially in Play, Part 2

Bob Brewer March 20, 2026

One of my recently published articles covered the World Economic Forum Davos speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he summoned the middle powers of the earth to unite against the US forces who are demanding that they take a knee and capitulate, per Governor Newsom who was in attendance handing out knee pads. (Really) Well, to say the least, that’s not happening by even the longest stretch of anyone’s imagination.

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CTPAT Investigation

Keeping the Chain Secure: A Deep Dive into the Latest CTPAT Investigation

Judy Davis March 20, 2026

The global supply chain is the backbone of the U.S. economy, moving millions of tons of cargo daily. To keep things running smoothly and safely, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) place a significant reliance on the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT). This voluntary program trades “gold star” benefits—like fewer inspections, business resumption priority, and faster border crossings—for a company’s commitment to high-level security.


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Statute of Limitations

CBP Statute of Limitations Waivers – Overview of Issues and Operation

Paul Fudacz March 13, 2026

Many trade practitioners that have had experience with a CBP prior disclosure or penalty action have encountered a request by CBP to execute a Statute of Limitations (SOL) waiver. These are usually accompanied by a request for the importer to provide a corporate resolution or the equivalent evidencing the authority of the SOL waiver signatory to sign the waiver on behalf of the importer / company.

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Mexico

Contratos Celebrados por Importadores Mexicanos (Su Relevancia en la Materialidad de las Operaciones Aduaneras y de Comercio Exterior)

BCG February 25, 2026

El marco jurídico mexicano en materia aduanera y de comercio exterior ha evolucionado hacia un modelo de cumplimiento más estricto y controlado.  Las autoridades ya no solo exigen que los importadores identifiquen cual es la mercancía objeto de la importación, sino también que acrediten bajo que términos y condiciones se realiza la operación de comercio exterior.

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Mexican Customs

New Mexican Customs Law – Nueva Ley Aduanera de Mexico

Brenda Cordova November 30, 2025

On November 19, 2025, a Decree amending, adding and repealing various legal provisions of the Mexican Customs law was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federacion (Mexican Official Gazette). This reform will enter into force on January 1, 2026. Although the Customs Law has been amended multiple times in the last 30 years, this reform is widely considered the most significant since December 15, 1995.

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tequila

Developing a Tequila Brand for Export from Mexico

Brenda Cordova November 30, 2025

The development of a tequila brand begins with a foundational step: registering a trademark in Mexico, the United States, or any other intended markets. However, trademark protection is only the starting point. Building a tequila brand requires a broader business and regulatory strategy involving multiple teams—Customs and trade, finance, marketing, and legal—to plan for production, cost structures, distribution, sales, and export-related compliance.

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New Value Manifest

New Value Manifest/Manifestacion de Valor – via VUCEM

Brenda Cordova November 30, 2025

Beginning December 9, 2025, importers in Mexico will be required to complete and submit the Electronic Value Manifest through VUCEM (Mexico’s Electronic Single Window). This measure increases the importer’s direct participation and responsibility in determining and declaring the correct customs value of imported goods.

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tariffs

Tariffs, Deals, Steel, Aluminum and AI – Oh My!  Welcome to the New Normal

Bruce Leeds November 30, 2025

New tariffs, changed tariffs, and reduced tariffs are announced with short notice. The duties on merchandise can change while a shipment is in the middle of the ocean. The status of free trade agreements has become uncertain. New detailed duties are assessed on steel and aluminum and their derivatives. Artificial intelligence is playing an increasing role.

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Stablecoin

Activating HTTP 402: The x402 Protocol and Legal Framework for Internet-Native Stablecoin Payments

James Holbein November 30, 2025

The convergence of payment stablecoins, blockchain settlement infrastructure, and the regulatory clarity provided by the GENIUS Act of 2025 has created conditions for HTTP 402’s activation. The x402 protocol, developed by Coinbase in collaboration with Cloudflare and others through the x402 Foundation, operationalizes this long-reserved status code to enable instant, automated payments: particularly for autonomous AI agents conducting machine-to-machine commerce.

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critical Minerals

Critical Minerals Focus of White House Trade Agreements in 2025

James Holbein November 30, 2025

The Trump Administration is pursuing a new style of trade management based on use of tariffs to rectify trade deficits and to set new “reciprocal” tariff rates to level the playing field for all of its trading partners. Critical minerals are a key component of the strategy, because the U.S. is heavily dependent of foreign sources for most of the critical minerals used in modern manufacturing. In response to Trump-imposed tariffs and threats of other trade actions, China has repeatedly used export controls on rare earths and other critical minerals as leverage. This article looks at the current state of critical minerals trade actions, starting with new US agreements with multiple trading partners, then reviewing international norms and proceeding through other trade actions involving critical minerals.

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BIS

BIS “Affiliates Rule” Suspended One Year, But No Time to Rest

Megan Mohler November 30, 2025

On November 10, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) delayed the effective date of its new Affiliates Rule for a one-year period, until November 9, 2026, after U.S. and China trade talks. The Affiliates Rule, announced on September 29, 2025, expands export controls under the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) to extend to non-listed “affiliates” owned or controlled by listed entities (on the Entity List, the Military End User List “MEU”, or certain sanctioned parties) 50% or more in the aggregate.

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section 232

Section 232 Steel & Aluminum Derivative Products Inclusion Process Expands Scope of the National Security Purpose of Section 232 Investigations

Paul Fudacz November 30, 2025

On February 10, 2025, the President issued Presidential Proclamations Under Section 232 of the U.S. Code adjusting imports of steel and aluminum into the United States. These Proclamations provided an expanded listing of steel and aluminum derivative articles but also instructed the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to establish a process for including additional derivative aluminum and steel articles within the scope of the ad valorem duties.

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auto industry and china

The Automotive Industry, China’s Semi Grip on Supply Chains, and General Motors 2027 Exit Strategy for Suppliers (Is a clean break even possible?)

Bob Brewer November 20, 2025

General Motors (GM) has instructed thousands of its suppliers to phase out sourcing parts and materials from China by 2027. The exit strategy began in early 2024, with the directive gaining momentum in spring of this year, 2025. This directive is part of GM’s broader strategy to enhance supply chain resiliency and reduce exposure to geopolitical risks, particularly amid escalating, or let’s just say, continuously fluctuating, U.S.–China trade tensions.

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brics

Can BRICS Break the Dollar’s Grip?

Victoria Holmes October 1, 2025

For decades, the U.S. dollar has ruled the world. Whether a Brazilian farmer sells soybeans to China or an Indian company buys oil from the Middle East, chances are the transaction runs through greenbacks. Nearly 80 percent of global trade is still denominated in dollars—even when neither the buyer nor the seller is American.

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