The U.S. agreed to liquidate importer Topcon Positioning Systems' rotated laser levers and pipe laser levels and parts and accessories to the laser levels under duty-free subheadings, according to a stipulated judgment filed at the Court of International Trade on March 31 (Topcon Positioning Systems v. United States, CIT # 14-00189).
President Donald Trump signed a series of executive actions Apr. 2 to set Section 232 tariffs on pharmaceutical products and charge a flat 25% rate for steel, aluminum and copper derivative products. The pharmaceutical tariffs will be set at 100% for patented drugs from companies without "most favored nation" drug pricing deals, though that rate may be reduced to 20% for companies that reshore their production to the U.S.
A proclamation issued by President Donald Trump April 2 creates a new "de minimis" exemption from Section 232 metals tariffs for some metal derivatives that contain less than 15% of Section 232 metal content by weight. The proclamation was issued alongside an executive order setting Section 232 tariffs on brand-name pharmaceuticals at 100%, though with exceptions for companies that onshore production.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 23-29:
Brokers have started examining how to maintain client confidentiality while using AI tools, and are asking whether to give their clients notice, or ask permission, to use these tools when doing customs business, said Lenny Feldman, customs counsel to the National Customs Brokers & Fowarders Association of America.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 16-22:
The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on large diameter graphite electrodes from China and India (A-570-220/C-570-221, A-533-948/C-533-949). The CVD investigations on China and India and the AD investigation on India cover entries for the calendar year 2025. The AD investigation on China covers entries July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.
The Commerce Department recently initiated antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations on truck bed covers from China (A-570-223/C-570-224). The AD investigation period is July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. The CVD investigation period is calendar year 2025.
CBP's base metals Center of Excellence and Expertise updated the informal guidance it has been sending to importers for calculating steel, aluminum and copper content for Section 232 tariff purposes, which includes new guidance on iron derivatives.
CBP has provided more instructions for the energy, chemical and fertilizer products that may be "potentially" covered by the Jones Act waiver, which went into effect on March 17 and remains in effect through 11:59 ET on May 17.