Hot Topics in International Trade A Tariff Christmas Message for US Kids
Hey kids in the US please pay attention and beware. Yes, Santa is still coming but regarding this you should care. Due to the import tariffs on Chinese products his sack will be lighter but don’t blame Santa, the Christmas funds had to get tighter. He’ll still bring some gifts from your long Christmas list but some of those gift had still and aluminum parts so they got 50% hits. Please understand there is a trade war going on and our relationship with China isn’t that strong so just suck it up and feel blessed with what you have gotten. Maybe in another year these Christmas woes are forgotten. Merry Christmas and all that.
Hot Topics in International Trade Section 232 with Senior Associate Attorney Kerry Wang and Bob Brewer
Senior Associate Attorney at Braumiller Law Group Kerry Wang sits down with Bob Brewer to discuss trade including the current administrations use of section 232.
Can BRICS Break the Dollar’s Grip?
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.
China’s Global Port Investments – It’s About Control and the Reshaping of Trade Flows
China owns outright or has majority control in 17 overseas ports globally, according to recent estimates. However, its broader footprint is much larger with 129 port projects worldwide that involve Chinese investment, construction, or operational control. 115 of these are active, spanning every continent except Antarctica, which is next.
Rare Earth Minerals-Part 2 – Enter Greenland’s Global Significance
It’s been more than a little concerning to the Trump Administration as these deposits have everything to do with international security as they are needed in the production of the very high-end microchips. So, now that it has been discovered that Greenland apparently has one of the largest deposits on the planet, Trump has stated that we will have Greenland, one way or another. While he hasn’t explicitly committed to military action, he’s made it clear that he won’t rule it out.
Preserving Refund Rights for IEEPA-Based Tariffs
Importers who have paid tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) should take immediate steps to preserve their eligibility for potential refunds. Multiple lawsuits are currently challenging the legality of these tariffs, and the Supreme Court is set to decide the issue in November. If the Court ultimately invalidates the tariffs, importers may be entitled to recover duties paid. However, securing refunds depends on preserving jurisdictional options—especially given the uncertainty about whether these tariffs constitute a protestable decision under customs law. There are three potential refund mechanisms at play.
Unconstitutionality of IEEPA Tariffs Upheld – Supreme Court to Review
On May 28, 2025, a three-judge panel at the Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled in two cases (VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump and the State of Oregon v. Trump) that the Presidential actions taken under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701–1707) to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China for illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling are unconstitutional. The CIT said that the tariff actions did not directly address the declared emergency and were not delegated by Congress to the Executive Branch and therefore exceed the President’s tariff setting authority under the Constitution.
The End of De Minimis Section 321 Clearances
Prior to August 29 of this year, 19 USC 321 – popularly known as a Section or de minimis clearance – allowed imported shipments valued at less than $800 to enter the US free of duty and entry requirements. The idea behind this was (1) the cost of processing an entry and duty payment would be more than the duty collected, and (2) setting the threshold at this level would promote eCommerce. It would also allow US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to use its resources more effectively.
Hot Topics in International Trade Tariff Mitigation Strategies-Looking for Ideas
Looking for some ideas on how to mitigate tariffs? Have a few dragons in your supply chain? Need some assistance in planning a strategy? The trade seas probably won’t be calm anytime soon. And uncertainty has of course become the business norm. If you are seeking counsel, and not counselling, Then you may wish to chat with us in a 30-minute consultation to see if we can be of assistance. Just go to the websites and hit the Submit Your Project button.
Hot Topics in International Trade Bob Brewer VP Sits Down with Victoria Holmes Part 2
Hot Topics in International Trade. Bob Brewer, VP Marketing/NBD Braumiller discusses the global trade landscape with Victoria Holmes of The Dispatch in Washington DC