This live blog contains all updates from April 4, 2025 onwards. Find earlier updates from March and early April (including Liberation Day) here, and all older updates (including our original blog on the 2024 election) here.

Calculate and analyze tariff impacts in real time with the Flexport Tariff Simulator.

Updated August 6, 2025:

President Trump published an executive order today that will impose an additional 25% blanket tariff on India, just days after imposing a 25% reciprocal tariff scheduled for August 1. The second 25% tariff—which the executive order attributes to India’s “direct or indirect imports of Russian oil” into the United States—will take effect on August 27, 2025.

Exemptions from the additional (oil-related) 25% tariff: Goods that are loaded onto a vessel and in transit on their final mode of transport before August 27, 2025, and “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption” before September 17, 2025.

Depending on shipment departure and arrival dates (detailed in the table below), some Indian-origin imports will face an effective duty rate of 50%.

IEEPA duties applicable to Indian-origin goods:

Updated August 5, 2025:

Yesterday, the EU announced that it plans to delay its countermeasures against U.S. tariffs for six months. These countermeasures, which included tariffs of up to 30% on a range of U.S. goods, were originally set to be implemented on August 7, 2025.

The announcement comes just over a week after the U.S. and the EU announced a preliminary trade agreement, under which most EU goods would face a 15% tariff.

Separately, President Trump indicated today that he may announce tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals as soon as next week. The U.S. Department of Commerce commenced its Section 232 investigation into semiconductors in April, and is expected to release results early this month.

As for pharmaceuticals, President Trump told CNBC that tariffs will be “initially small,” but “in one year—one and a half years, maximum—it’s going to go to 150%, and then it’s going to go to 250%.”

Finally, in an August 4 Truth Social post, President Trump stated he intends to “substantially [raise] the tariff paid by India to the U.S.,” given India’s ongoing purchases of “massive amounts of Russian oil.” Per last week’s executive order, India is currently set to face a 25% reciprocal tariff on August 7.

Updated August 1, 2025:

Last night, on July 31, President Trump published an executive order modifying tariffs on Canada:

• The tariff rate on Canadian imports to the U.S. has increased from 25% to 35%, effective August 1 at 12:01 a.m. ET.
• Exemptions for goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remain unchanged.
• The current tariff stacking order also remains unchanged.
• Goods determined to have been transshipped to evade duties will be subject to a tariff rate of 40% in lieu of the 35%, along with applicable fines or penalties.

President Trump also published an executive order last night detailing modified reciprocal tariff rates for nearly 70 trade partners, set to take effect on August 7 at 12:01 a.m. ET.

• Any nation not listed in the executive order will be subject to a 10% baseline reciprocal tariff (with the exception of China and Canada).
• Goods determined to have been transshipped to evade duties will be subject to a 40% tariff.
• To qualify for the reciprocal in-transit exception, goods must be loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on their final mode of transportation before August 7 at 12:01 a.m. ET, and arrive before October 5 at 12:01 a.m. ET.
• EU goods: Imports with an HTSUS Column 1 duty rate of 15% or higher will face a 0% tariff. Meanwhile, imports with a Column 1 duty rate of less than 15% will face a tariff determined as follows: 15% minus the Column 1 duty rate.

Per the order, upcoming reciprocal tariff rates are as follows:

Updated July 30, 2025:

Today, President Trump signed an executive order that will suspend the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments (i.e., valued at or under $800) beginning August 29, 2025, for all countries of origin.

• For low-value goods shipped via the international postal system: For the first six months following the August 29 implementation date, these goods will face a duty ranging from $80 to $200 per item, depending on the IEEPA tariff rate that applies to the product’s country of origin. After six months, all low-value shipments will be subject to the ad valorem IEEPA tariff applicable to the product’s country of origin, without any minimum or maximum duty per item.
• For low-value goods shipped through means other than the international postal system: These goods will be subject to all applicable duties.
• American travelers will still be able to bring up to $200 in personal items back to the U.S. duty-free, and Americans can continue to receive up to $100 in bona fide gifts duty-free.

The U.S. previously ended de minimis treatment for Chinese-origin goods on May 2, 2025. Additionally, earlier this month, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which will permanently repeal the statutory basis for the de minimis exemption on July 1, 2027. Today’s executive order will suspend de minimis treatment “more quickly than the OBBBA requires … to save American lives and businesses now.”

President Trump also signed an executive order today that will increase tariffs on Brazilian imports by 40%, bringing the total effective duty rate on Brazil to 50%.

• The new tariff rate will take effect seven days from today—i.e., on August 6, 2025.
• Goods loaded onto a vessel and in transit on their final mode of transit before August 6 and “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption” before October 5, 2025, will be exempted from the new duty rate. These goods will remain subject to the current 10% tariff rate.

Additionally, President Trump also signed a proclamation today on new copper tariffs, which he had originally announced on July 9.

• Effective August 1, semi-finished copper products and copper-intensive derivative products will face a 50% Section 232 tariff.
• The copper tariff will apply to products’ copper content, while non-copper content will remain subject to reciprocal tariffs or other applicable duties. These tariffs will not stack.
• Section 232 auto tariffs and copper tariffs will not stack. Products subject to auto tariffs will be exempt from copper tariffs.

President Trump also announced on Truth Social today that the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on India, effective August 1. India will also face an unspecified penalty for buying military equipment and energy products from Russia.

Finally, the latest round of U.S.-China trade negotiations concluded on July 29—just two weeks before the nations’ August 12 deadline for finalizing a trade deal. U.S. and Chinese officials have agreed to push for an extension of the temporary 90-day agreement that took effect in May, though U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that the final decision would lie with President Trump.

Updated July 28, 2025:

Yesterday (July 27), the U.S. and the EU reached a preliminary trade agreement. Terms are as follows:

• The U.S. will impose a 15% tariff on EU imports, including pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and semiconductors.
• The EU will purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy products and invest an additional $600 billion in the U.S., all by 2028.
• The EU will work with the U.S. to eliminate various tariffs, and will establish quotas for certain products.
• The EU will work with the U.S. to address certain non-tariff barriers, including those related to digital trade and U.S. agricultural exports. In particular, the EU will not implement or maintain any network usage fees, and will streamline requirements for sanitary certificates for U.S. pork and dairy products.
• The EU will eliminate “red tape” and “burdensome” requirements that U.S. exporters face when conducting business in the EU.
• The EU will purchase significant amounts of U.S. military equipment.
• As of now, the EU will continue to face 50% sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper.

It remains unclear when this agreement will take effect. Additionally, the deal has not yet been finalized, and may be subject to change.

Separately, the U.S. is expected to announce the results of a Section 232 investigation into semiconductors in about two weeks—meaning chip imports could potentially face new levies.

Finally, U.S.-China trade talks will resume today—just over two weeks ahead of August 12, the deadline for the two nations to finalize a trade agreement. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated last week that “we’ll be working out what is likely an extension,” referring to the temporary 90-day agreement that took effect in May.

Updated July 23, 2025:

Yesterday, President Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. and Japan had reached a trade deal. Per the agreement, Japan will face a 15% reciprocal tariff; invest $550 billion into the United States, which will receive 90% of profits; and “open their country to trade, including cars and trucks, rice, and certain other agricultural products.”

Japan is the U.S.’s fifth-largest trade partner, with the U.S. importing $148.2 billion in Japanese goods in 2024 alone. More than a third of those imports consisted of automobiles and auto parts, according to the International Trade Administration.

Updated July 16, 2025:

On July 7, President Trump began publishing his first batch of tariff letters laying out trade agreement terms with select nations. These include proposed reciprocal tariff rates—all expected to take effect on August 1, 2025, pending official confirmation via executive order or Federal Register notice.

Duties proposed so far include:

Per the letters, if any of the aforementioned nations raises tariffs on the U.S., then the U.S. will increase its reciprocal tariff on that nation by an identical amount. Additionally, any goods that are transshipped to evade a higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff.

The original end date for the Trump administration’s 90-day country-specific reciprocal tariff pause was July 9, 2025. Per President Trump’s executive order published July 7, that end date has been postponed to August 1, 2025.

Separately, President Trump announced on July 9 that a 50% tariff on copper imports will take effect on August 1, now that the Commerce Department’s national security investigation into copper has concluded.

President Trump stated that he also plans to impose pharmaceutical tariffs as high as 200%—but will first “give people about a year, a year and a half, to [bring manufacturing operations to the U.S.].”

Finally, on July 6, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he intends to levy an additional 10% tariff on “any country participating in the anti-American policies of BRICS,” with “no exceptions to this policy.”

Prior to President Trump’s announcement, BRICS—an intergovernmental group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE—released a statement expressing “serious concerns” about unilateral tariffs that “are inconsistent with WTO rules.” BRICS’ statement did not explicitly mention the Trump administration or the United States.

Updated July 7, 2025:

Today, the White House published an executive order postponing the end date for the country-specific reciprocal tariff pause to August 1, 2025. Until then, reciprocal tariffs will remain at their current rates.

Updated July 4, 2025:

The Big Beautiful Bill: A New Chapter in Global Trade

The "Big Beautiful Bill,” represents a significant shift in international trade policy. This legislation aims to rebalance global trade relationships through a combination of targeted tariffs, enhanced supply chain security provisions, and investment in domestic manufacturing capabilities. The bill seeks to address economic concerns through a two-pronged approach: reforming business taxation to incentivize domestic job creation while implementing stronger immigration enforcement measures. For global markets, this signals a move away from unrestricted free trade toward a more managed approach that prioritizes national economic interests and supply chain resilience. While supporters argue it will revitalize domestic industries and create jobs, critics warn that the bill could stifle economic growth by increasing costs for businesses through stricter compliance requirements while potentially exacerbating labor shortages in key industries that rely on immigrant workers. As implementation begins, businesses worldwide are reassessing their international strategies to navigate this evolving trade landscape.

With the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill, many ‘Big’ changes have been made but let’s discuss one in particular…

SEC. 70531 - End of De Minimis

This portion of the bill clarifies that this is for commercial de minimis only. SEC. 70531 of the bill creates a new penalty that is effective in 30 days from enactment. If an importer tries to claim de minimis where they are not otherwise allowed to then a new penalty will be introduced: $5,000 for the first violation and up to $10,000 for each subsequent violation.

Lastly, the Big Beautiful Bill will end De Minimis for all countries on July 1st, 2027 (however, China is still banned from De Minimis today).

Updated July 2, 2025:

President Trump announced on Truth Social a trade agreement between the U.S and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Following discussions with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the agreement establishes new tariff structures aimed at strengthening economic relations.

The U.S. will apply a 20% tariff on all goods of Vietnamese origin, and a 40% tariff on transshipping activities. As part of the agreement, the U.S. is granted full access to the Vietnamese market, allowing American products to enter Vietnam without any tariffs.

This agreement could significantly impact the export of SUVs and large engine vehicles from the U.S. into Vietnam, expanding the product range available in the Vietnamese market.

A formal announcement, including clarification around the transshipping activities, is still pending.

Updated June 27, 2025:

President Trump stated yesterday that the U.S. had “just signed [a deal] with China,” though it appears that the agreement is unrelated to tariffs. Since then, White House officials have indicated that the deal involves streamlining American access to Chinese rare earth minerals—an essential component of semiconductor manufacturing.

Increasing U.S. access to Chinese rare earth shipments comprised part of the proposed U.S.-China trade agreement President Trump announced earlier this month. However, that agreement—which also includes a 55% tariff rate on China—has yet to be approved by President Trump and President Xi.

Separately, President Trump announced on Truth Social today that the U.S. is “terminating all discussions on trade with Canada, effective immediately,” in light of Canada’s digital services tax on American technology companies. The Trump administration will “let Canada know the tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States within the next seven-day period,” he added.

The current effective tariff rate on Canada is 25%, excluding energy products (10%) and goods that fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) (0%).

Updated June 17, 2025:

Yesterday (June 16), the White House published an executive order that will implement some aspects of the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement announced on May 8. The executive order, which will take effect seven days after publication in the Federal Register, will:

• Maintain a 10% baseline IEEPA reciprocal tariff on U.K. imports
• Reduce Section 232 tariffs on U.K. auto parts from 25% to 10%
• Reduce the effective Section 232 duty rate on U.K. automobiles from 27.5% to 10%, applicable to an annual quota of 100,000 vehicles
• Eliminate IEEPA reciprocal tariffs and Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs on U.K. products that fall under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft

Additionally, the order states that the U.S. may implement a quota of U.K. steel and aluminum imports that will be subject to most-favored-nation rates, contingent upon the U.K. meeting “American requirements on the security of steel and aluminum supply chains, and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities.” Currently, the U.K. is subject to a 25% duty on steel and aluminum, having avoided the 50% tariff rate imposed on all other U.S. trade partners earlier this month.

Per the order, the U.K. is also likely to receive “significantly preferential treatment” when it comes to potential upcoming Section 232 tariffs on pharmaceuticals, as long as the U.K. “complies with certain supply chain security standards.”

Separately, on June 13, CBP released updated guidance on reporting the country of smelt and cast for derivative aluminum products subject to Section 232 duties. Beginning June 28, aluminum imports with an unknown or indeterminable country of smelt and cast will be subject to a 200% Section 232 tariff—the same duty assessed on Russian-origin aluminum imports.

Finally, on June 12, the U.S. Department of Commerce added washing machines, refrigerators, and other steel consumer appliances to its list of derivative products subject to Section 232 tariffs. Effective June 23, the 50% duty rate will apply to the value of steel content in each product.

Updated June 12, 2025:

Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated it is “highly likely” that the 90-day country-specific reciprocal tariff pause, which is currently set to end on July 9, 2025, will be extended for “18 important trading partners” involved in “good faith” trade negotiations. President Trump’s proposed 50% tariff on the EU, currently postponed until July 9, 2025, is also likely to be pushed back further.

Updated June 11, 2025:

Following two days of negotiations between U.S. and Chinese trade representatives in London, President Trump announced on Truth Social today that the “deal with China is done, subject to final approval [from himself and] President Xi.” Details of the agreement include:

• A 55% total tariff rate on Chinese goods imported into the U.S. (comprised of a 10% baseline IEEPA reciprocal tariff, a 20% IEEPA “fentanyl” tariff, and a 25% tariff that includes levies imposed during the president’s first term)
• A 10% total tariff rate on U.S. goods imported into China
• A streamlined process for importing Chinese rare earth shipments into the U.S.
• Resumed access to U.S. colleges and universities for Chinese nationals

Exactly how and when the deal will be implemented—pending President Trump’s and President Xi’s final approval—is currently unclear.

Separately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a longer-term stay last night that will continue freezing the Court of International Trade (CIT)’s May 28 ruling that invalidated President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs. Last night’s longer-term stay follows the temporary stay issued by the appeals court on May 29, and will keep President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs in place while litigation continues. Both parties will prepare for oral arguments, which will be heard by the appeals court on July 31, 2025.

Updated June 3, 2025:

On June 3, the White House released a proclamation titled “Adjusting Imports of Aluminum and Steel Into the United States,” announcing a significant increase in tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Effective for covered goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on and after 12:01am EDT on June 4, 2025, tariffs on these materials and their derivatives will rise from 25% to 50%.

The decision follows updated findings from the Department of Commerce, which indicate that ongoing low-cost dumping by foreign producers continues to threaten the viability of the U.S. steel and aluminum industries, sectors critical to national defense.

Key highlights of the proclamation include:

• Tariff Increase: The duty rate on steel and aluminum imports, and their derivatives, will double to 50%.
• U.K. Exception: Imports from the United Kingdom will remain at the 25% rate, aligned with the recent U.S.-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD). However, rates may rise after July 9th, if the U.K. fails to meet EPD conditions.
• Reciprocal tariffs will now apply to non-steel and non-aluminum content.
• Compliance Enforcement: CBP will issue authoritative guidance mandating strict compliance and outlining maximum penalties for noncompliance.
• Stacking order of 232 steel/aluminum for products of Canada or Mexico has been revised. 232 will now apply instead of the IEEPA tariff.

The administration states that it views this action as essential for achieving sustained capacity utilization in domestic industries, thus reducing reliance on foreign suppliers during national emergencies or defense build-up needs.

In tandem with the proclamation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued updated guidance through CSMS #65236574 to clarify how these increased tariffs interact with other existing trade measures under Executive Order 14289.

As enforcement ramps up, importers should consult trade counsel or compliance professionals to ensure filings align with the updated priority structure and avoid costly errors.

Updated June 2, 2025:

On Friday, May 30, President Trump stated that he plans to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4. A formal announcement, including clarification around the implementation process for in-transit shipments, is still pending.

It is currently unclear how this announcement will impact tariffs on steel and aluminum from the U.K. The recent U.S.-U.K. trade deal, negotiated last month, brought tariffs on U.K. steel and aluminum down to 0%.

Calculate and analyze tariff impacts in real time with the new Flexport Tariff Simulator. Get started here.

Updated May 30, 2025:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has updated its guidance regarding in-transit exceptions for the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) reciprocal tariffs. Originally, shipments had to be loaded and in-transit to the U.S. prior to April 5, 9, or 10, 2025 (depending on the applicable tariff), and entered into the U.S. prior to May 28, 2025, to qualify for the in-transit exemption.

As of today, CBP has revised that position: it is now generally not realistic for shipments to qualify for the in-transit exceptions unless entry is made prior to June 16, 2025.
This extension offers additional flexibility for importers navigating the evolving tariff landscape, but underscores the importance of confirming entry dates and shipment status with your customs broker or freight forwarder.

Updated May 29, 2025:

Yesterday, the Court of International Trade (CIT) invalidated four of President Trump’s executive orders on tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

• 25% IEEPA tariff on Canada
• 25% IEEPA tariff on Mexico
• 20% IEEPA tariff on China
• Country-specific IEEPA reciprocal tariffs (ranging from 10-67%, and formerly 125% on China)

President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs “exceed any authority granted to the president … to regulate importation by means of tariffs,” the CIT stated in its ruling. President Trump’s usage of IEEPA was “impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law] does not allow it.”

What happens next?

The CIT has ordered Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to stop collecting duties from these tariffs within 10 days. However, the Trump administration appealed the decision, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to stay the order. This afternoon, the U.S. Court of Appeals granted the temporary stay, allowing the plaintiffs to respond by June 5 and the government to respond by June 9. The stay reinstates President Trump’s ability to levy tariffs under IEEPA, meaning the invalidation of the IEEPA duties will not be implemented, the current tariffs remain in effect, and IEEPA tariffs will continue to be collected.

The losing side will likely appeal to the Supreme Court, which will take one of the following courses of action: take the case themselves, leave the appellate court ruling intact, or instruct the appellate court to rehear the case with instructions.

This process will likely take months to unfold, if not longer.

Does this apply to other, non-IEEPA tariffs? What about de minimis?

Section 301 (China Trade War) and Section 232 (aluminum/steel) duties remain in place, and are not impacted by yesterday’s CIT ruling.

It’s not clear if this ruling will impact de minimis, and the CIT may clarify this later. The way the court order is written, it may very well reinstate de minimis for Chinese-origin goods. But the counterpoint is that the court order might be limited just to IEEPA tariffs because:

• The court decision made almost no mention of de minimis.
• The plaintiffs did not challenge the de minimis modifications in their lawsuits.
• None of the court’s discussion of issues addressed modifications to de minimis.

Will importers receive a refund?

The court order says customers should receive refunds for IEEPA tariffs. However, it’s not clear when and how that would happen. We expect that refunds, should they happen, will not be implemented quickly. It’s also not clear if the refunds will be automatic, or if importers of record will need to sue, protest, or follow a claim process. We also don’t know if this applies to entries that liquidated and are past the 180-day protest window. We will continue to monitor the situation and directly update customers who are impacted.

Could the Trump administration leverage other tariff tools?

If the final ruling declares the Trump administration’s IEEPA tariffs illegal, there are a number of other tools the administration may use:

• §122: Balance of payment issues up to 15% for 150 days. The president may levy duties of up to 15% for up to 150 days for “balance of payment deficits” under the Trade Act of 1974, after which U.S. Congress would have to act to extend the tariffs.
• §338: Discrimination on U.S. products up to 50%. The president could impose tariffs of up to 50% on countries that “discriminate against U.S. commerce,” per the Trade Act of 1930. These levies can be imposed without a formal investigation.
• President Trump’s proposed “Big Beautiful Bill.” The One Big Beautiful Bill, the president’s proposed budget reconciliation and tax cut bill, narrowly passed the House of Representatives last week and is awaiting a vote by the Senate. If the bill is enacted, a 10% minimum tariff may be codified by U.S. Congress as a budgetary pay-for.

We could be months away from a final decision on these tariffs, but given the national importance of this case, resolution may come sooner. Flexport’s customs and trade advisory teams are closely monitoring the situation, and will keep customers up to date with the latest developments and guidance.

Updated May 27, 2025:

President Trump has delayed levying a 50% tariff on the EU until July 9, 2025.

“I agreed to the extension—July 9, 2025—it was my privilege to do so,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “The [European] Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly.”

Updated May 23, 2025:

This morning, President Trump suggested imposing a 50% tariff on the European Union beginning June 1, 2025.

“Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere.”

In a separate Truth Social post this morning, President Trump also mentioned levying a 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are “manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or any place else.”

Updated May 12, 2025:

The U.S. and China agreed to reduce tariffs for 90 days. Details of the official executive order include:

• The U.S. will reduce its IEEPA reciprocal tariff rate on China from 125% to 10% for 90 days. After the 90-day period, the reciprocal tariff will increase to 34%.
  • The IEEPA fentanyl tariff on China remains unchanged at 20%.
  • These tariffs will still stack, creating an effective tariff rate of 30%.
• China will reduce its retaliatory tariff rate on the U.S. from 125% to 10%.
• For items $800 or less sent via postal services, the U.S. will reduce the tariff rate from 120% to 54%, while maintaining the option to pay a $100 flat fee per item instead.
  • The flat fee increase to $200 on June 1 has been canceled.

The 90-day agreement will take effect on May 14, 2025.

• There is no retroactivity for the reduced duty rates.
• The new duty rate is for "goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 14, 2025.”

According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the U.S. and China will likely start negotiating a long-term trade agreement in the next few weeks, adding that “it would be implausible” for reciprocal tariffs on China to fall below 10%.

Updated May 9, 2025:

This morning, President Trump indicated that he was open to reducing tariffs on China from 145% to 80%—but that the ultimate decision would lie with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The president’s comments come just as Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer prepare to negotiate with Chinese officials in person this weekend.

“80% tariff on China seems right,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social today. “Up to Scott B.”

Just minutes prior, President Trump also stated that China should import more goods from the United States.

“China should open up its market to the U.S.,” he posted. “Closed markets don’t work anymore.”

Updated May 8, 2025:

Earlier this morning, President Trump announced that the U.S. and U.K. have reached a trade agreement—the first deal the U.S. has struck since introducing sweeping tariffs earlier this year. Key terms of the agreement include:

• The 10% baseline reciprocal tariff will remain in place on all U.K. imports.
• U.K. auto manufacturers will be granted a lower-tariff quota. Each year, the first 100,000 U.K. vehicles imported into the U.S. will be subject to only the 10% baseline tariff, rather than the existing 27.5% tariff on U.K. autos.
• Tariffs on U.K. steel and aluminum will be reduced from 25% to 0%.

The timeline for implementing the deal is currently unclear, as U.S. and U.K. officials still need to finalize the specifics of the agreement.

Separately, U.S.-China trade negotiations are set to begin on May 9. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Switzerland—the first in-person negotiations between the U.S. and China since trade tensions escalated in March. While Bessent stated that he does not expect the meeting to yield a trade deal, he noted that “we’ve got to de-escalate before we can move forward.”

Updated May 2, 2025:

Today, just after midnight, the de minimis exemption expired for imports from China and Hong Kong. Before today, the exemption allowed Chinese-origin shipments under $800 to enter the United States duty-free.

President Trump initially moved to end de minimis for Chinese imports in early February. A few days later, he announced that the exemption would remain in effect until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue.”

Today onwards, Chinese-origin shipments under $800 will now face the following fees:

• Parcel: 145% baseline tariff, plus product-specific tariffs
• Postal: 120% baseline tariff or a $100 flat fee per postal item
  • The flat fee will rise to $200 on June 1, 2025

President Trump also signaled on Liberation Day that he intends to eliminate the de minimis exemption for all countries once “adequate systems are in place.”

Separately, China’s Commerce Ministry said today that China is “evaluating” U.S. requests to begin trade negotiations—but will only proceed once the U.S. removes tariffs on Chinese goods.

“If the United States does not correct its wrong unilateral tariff measures, it means that the United States has no sincerity at all and will further damage the mutual trust between the two sides,” China’s Commerce Ministry stated.

Updated April 30, 2025:

On April 29, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the compounding of multiple tariffs on the same imported goods. This move seeks to streamline tariff applications and reduce the cumulative financial burden on importers.

The executive order specifically addresses the following tariffs:

• Automobiles and Automobile Parts: Tariffs imposed under Proclamation 10908 of March 26, 2025.​
• Northern Border Duties: Tariffs related to illicit drug flows across the northern border, as detailed in Executive Orders 14193, 14197, 14226, and 14231.​
• Southern Border Duties: Tariffs addressing the situation at the southern border, outlined in Executive Orders 14194, 14198, 14227, and 14232.​
• Aluminum Imports: Tariffs from Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018, and its amendments, including Proclamation 9980 and Proclamation 10895.​
• Steel Imports: Tariffs from Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018, and its amendments, including Proclamation 9980 and Proclamation 10896.​

Under the new directive, if an imported article is subject to multiple tariffs from the list above, only one tariff will apply, preventing the stacking of duties. The executive order outlined the hierarchy of tariff programs, essentially saying:

1. If a good is covered by the new auto tariffs (Proclamation 10908, March 2025), that tariff takes precedence. The product cannot be charged additional duties under the other four programs listed (border-related or metal tariffs).
2. If a product is not subject to auto tariffs but is covered by either the Northern or Southern border tariffs, those apply instead of the steel or aluminum duties.
3. If a product is only covered by both the steel and aluminum tariffs, both can still apply—stacking is still allowed between those two, unless guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says otherwise.

However, it's important to note that this non-stacking rule does not extend to other tariffs outside the specified list, such as those imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, IEEPA fentanyl tariffs, or antidumping and countervailing duties.

The executive order is retroactively effective from March 4, 2025. Importers who have paid overlapping tariffs since that date may be eligible for refunds. CBP is tasked with updating guidance and systems by May 16, 2025, to reflect these changes.​

In addition, CBP has clarified two open questions in the last 24 hours.

First, regarding the reciprocal in-transit exemption, CBP confirmed via updates to the IEEPA FAQ that the exemption ONLY applies to ships—not air, truck, or rail as defined in 19 U.S. 140 and 19 CFR 4.0. This means that goods moving via another mode after April 5 will require the reciprocal tariffs to be applied. CBP is asking all importers to review and correct entries filed with 9903.01.28 that were not moved via ocean transit.

Second, Flexport received confirmation from CBP’s Trade Remedy Branch that products scoped under Section 232 for steel or aluminum derivatives but do not contain any steel or aluminum are subject to reciprocal tariffs. This has been an open question interpreted differently across the industry. This confirmation comes days after CBP clarified that products containing any percentage of steel or aluminum articles or derivatives subject to Section 232 tariffs are completely excluded from reciprocal tariffs.

We are committed to helping our clients navigate these changes seamlessly. Our customs and trade teams are analyzing the executive order's implications to ensure accurate tariff applications and identify potential refund opportunities for past shipments. We'll keep you informed about updates from CBP and provide guidance on any necessary actions to comply with the new tariff structure. ​

If you believe your imports may be affected by this executive order or have questions about potential refunds, please reach out to your Flexport team, or get in touch with one of our experts at postentry@flexport.com.

Updated April 29, 2025:

Early this morning, the White House issued a sharp response to reports that Amazon planned to display the costs of the Trump administration’s tariffs to customers.

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “This is another reason why Americans should buy American.”

Soon after, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that they were only considering adding a tariff surcharge label to select products on Haul, the low-cost shopping section within the Amazon app.

“This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site, and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties,” the spokesperson said.

Separately, the White House announced that it would modify auto tariffs so that steel and aluminum tariffs do not “stack” on top of them. The administration also intends to modify its upcoming 25% tariff on auto parts, set to take effect by May 3, to enable reimbursements “up to an amount equal to 3.75% of the value of a U.S.-made car for one year,” the Wall Street Journal reported. “The reimbursement would fall to 2.5% of the car’s value in a second year, and then be phased out altogether.”

Leavitt told reporters this morning that President Trump intends to sign an executive order later today concerning the auto tariffs, but did not reveal the specifics of the order.

Updated April 28, 2025:

Today, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clarified that for derivative steel or aluminum products, importers do not need to pay IEEPA reciprocal tariffs on the value of non-steel or -aluminum content excluded from the Section 232 tariff measures. In other words, products containing any percentage of steel or aluminum articles or derivatives subject to Section 232 tariffs are completely excluded from reciprocal tariffs. To qualify, the steel or aluminum content must fall under an HTS subject to an existing Section 232 tariff.

On March 12, 2025, the U.S. implemented 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum products and derivative products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. For derivative steel and aluminum products, except products classified in a metal Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (“HTSUS”) chapter, e.g., Chapter 73 and Chapter 76, the value of the non-steel or -aluminum content may be deducted for purposes of calculating Section 232 tariffs owed. As clarified today, products covered by Section 232 tariff measures are excluded from IEEPA reciprocal tariffs, which took effect on April 5, 2025. Prior to CBP’s notice, it was unclear if non-steel and non-aluminum content would be subject to IEEPA reciprocal tariffs.

Because of CBP’s clarification today, importers may request refunds for any duty overpayments via CBP post entry correction procedures. Flexport customers may contact postentry@flexport.com for assistance with refund requests.