Multiple countries said they're still assessing the impact of the new U.S. tariffs that took effect Aug. 1 (see 2507310081), although some that agreed to deals, including the EU and South Korea, said they now have more stability for their industries.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in two television interviews Aug. 1, defended a surprise 39% rate for Swiss exports and said his focus isn't on reaching new settlements before reciprocal tariffs begin collection Aug. 7. Rather, he said, "We're really focused right now on implementing the deals that have been reached."
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to Section 232 national security adjustments for imports, it said in a Federal Register notice. The data collection relates to presidential proclamations 10895 and 10896, which require the Department of Commerce secretary to establish a process for including additional derivative aluminum and steel articles within the Section 232 tariffs for steel and aluminum. BIS said the agency is collecting data as part of broader efforts by the commerce secretary to conduct investigations on the effects on U.S. national security of importing an article. Comments are due by Sept. 30.
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., expressed frustration this week with the potential impact on the U.S. spirits industry from the Trump administration's tariffs, saying they will continue fighting to repeal duties introduced through both the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Section 232.
CBP will be watching for entries that don't fully calculate the duty value of merchandise that falls under Section 232 duties for copper and intensive copper derivatives products, according to a cargo systems message offering guidance on the tariff that was announced earlier this week (see 2507300061). The Section 232 tariff calls for a 50% ad valorem duty on all imports of semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products from all countries.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked by a CNBC host if the administration meant for automaker Ford to have $800 million in tariff costs in three months, driving it to a loss. Bessent said that the Ford F150 and F250 use aluminum rather than steel, and therefore, "I think maybe the aluminum tariffs hit them harder."
Goods from Mexico that aren't subject to Section 232 tariffs will continue to be excluded from tariffs if they can meet USMCA rules of origin, as will auto parts, President Donald Trump announced about 12 hours ahead of the deadline. For goods outside the Section 232 action, and not eligible for the free-trade agreement benefit, Trump had said the rate would go from 25% to 30%.
The scope of the Section 232 copper tariffs is narrower than was expected, as the 50% rate only applies to semi-finished copper products, such as copper pipes, wires, rods, sheets, and tubes, and products that use a lot of copper, such as pipe fittings, cables, connector and electrical components -- not to copper ores, concentrates, mattes, cathodes, anodes, or copper scrap.
The U.S. is imposing an additional 40% duty on certain imports from Brazil, according to a new executive order released by the White House, bringing the total tariff rate to 50%. Trump, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, said the duties are in response to policies, practices, and actions of the Brazilian government that threaten the national security, foreign policy and economy of the U.S.
President Donald Trump, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, is imposing an additional 40% duty on some imports from Brazil, bringing the total tariff rate to 50%.