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This Week In Trade

Trump says tariff letters being delivered; Bessent says there's still time to talk

The Trump administration will begin sending trading partners "letters" setting new tariff rates -- and giving them until Aug. 1 to negotiate deals and avoid the highest possible tariffs.

Trump’s next targets: South Africa, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Kazakhstan

By Brett Fortnam

President Trump on Monday issued notices to the leaders of South Africa, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar and Kazakhstan, laying out new tariffs rates for goods from each of those countries beginning Aug. 1.

CIT fast-tracks suit over de minimis phaseout, sets July 10 argument

By David LaRoss

The Court of International Trade is accelerating a challenge to President Trump’s termination of de minimis duty-free entry for low-value Chinese packages, with oral argument now set for July 10 after the Michigan-based auto parts importer behind the case warned that it faces an imminent shutdown without a swift decision.

Mexican tomato growers ask Commerce for TRQ instead of AD duties

By Margaret Spiegelman

Mexican tomato growers have made a confidential proposal to the Commerce Department asking the agency to address U.S. producer concerns by establishing a tariff-rate quota system instead of moving ahead on its plan to end a 2019 deal that suspended antidumping duties, according to a description of the proposal by a representative for a Mexican producer.

Stakeholders at odds over scope of steel derivatives to be hit by tariffs

By Brett Fortnam

Domestic producers are urging the Commerce Department to take an expansive view of the range of products that could face Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, while some business groups are warning that the process in place could subject goods that do not contain the primary metals to unnecessary compliance burdens.

DC Circuit court plans Sept. 30 oral argument on IEEPA tariffs

By David LaRoss

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit will hear argument on the legality of President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs at the end of September -- nearly two months after another court will hold its own hearing in the parallel appeal of a Court of International Trade decision that declared the duties unlawful.

South Africa, expecting new U.S. trade ‘template,’ asks for more negotiating time

By Dan Dupont

The U.S. is developing a “template” for trade with Sub-Saharan African countries, prompting several to ask the Trump administration to extend a pause on steep new tariffs, according to the South African government.

MORE NEWS

Wyden to Greer: Binding trade deals must be approved by Congress

Quad launches critical minerals initiative to expedite diversification efforts

Trump says U.S. products will get ‘total access’ in deal with Vietnam

ITC: USMCA auto rules impacted auto industry, not broader economy

California asks appeals court to keep IEEPA tariff suits out of CIT

Japan says talks with U.S. will continue, but Trump calls a deal unlikely

House Democrats seek details on potential tariff quota for Mexican steel

Senate approves measure to eliminate de minimis in funding bill

IN TRADE

ITC: Professional services companies using AI, other tech to improve competitiveness

“In recent years, professional services suppliers have moved to adopt new technologies to improve productivity, lower costs, and address increased constraints in skilled labor supply in their sectors.”

Thu, 2:19 PM

Quote-unquote: Trade implications in the Supreme Court’s ‘universal’ injunction ruling

Our weekly look at who’s saying what.

Thu, 2:06 PM

Outside voices: Mary Ng asks … what happens to trade when all the trust is gone?

The former Canadian trade minister urges “a step toward a better globalization. One that includes more voices, distributes benefits more fairly, and restores trust not only between nations, but between governments and their people.”

Thu, 10:27 AM

Alleging potential conflicts, House Democrats call for more transparency in trade talks

“What constitutes ‘good faith’ remains uncertain, and in light of the Trump family’s sprawling conflicts of interests, serious questions must be answered to ensure U.S. trade policy does not continue to be a tool for economic coercion meant to increase the personal wealth of President Trump and his allies.”

Wed, 2:50 PM

Our most-read: Tariff talk -- here, there, and everywhere

The top stories from the past week.

Wed, 11:53 AM

DOCUMENTS

Census report on U.S. goods and services trade for May 2025

Wyden, in letter to Greer, insists trade deals need congressional approval

The ITC's second report on 'the Economic Impact and Operation of the USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin'

GAO report on export controls: 'Commerce Should Improve Workforce Planning and Information Sharing'

WTO ambassador nominee Barloon's answers to questions for the record from the Senate Finance Committee

THE TRUMP TRANSITION

New Supreme Court precedent could narrow rulings on ‘emergency’ tariffs

Lawyers and former trade officials say last week’s landmark Supreme Court decision that limited judges’ ability to issue “universal” injunctions could mean even a final decision overturning President Trump’s International Economic Emergency Powers Act tariffs might not apply nationwide, but might instead force importers to sue individually or as part of a class action to secure carve-outs and refunds.

SPOTLIGHT: WTO

While the U.S. pulls back on climate issues, the WTO stays the course

While the Trump administration is pulling back from U.S. climate-focused commitments and efforts, much of the rest of the world continues to take the issue seriously – including the World Trade Organization, which began its Trade and Environment Week on Monday, and four large countries that issued a WTO paper assessing carbon emissions.

INSIDE U.S. TRADE

The latest edition of Inside U.S. Trade is now available.

Trump says U.S. products will get ‘total access’ in deal with Vietnam
The U.S. and Vietnam have reached a trade deal in which Hanoi will avoid tariffs of nearly 50 percent set to go into effect next week in return for opening its market to a range of U.S. goods, President Trump announced on Wednesday.
Assessing Mexico’s labor reform ahead of the 2026 USMCA review
Mexico’s historic labor reform push is in need of renewed support and stronger enforcement, trade and labor specialists tell Inside U.S. Trade, outlining how the U.S. and Mexico could advance the unfinished effort – which Mexico committed to completing under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement – ahead of the pact’s 2026 review.
California asks appeals court to keep IEEPA tariff suits out of CIT
California is laying out a new argument for keeping its lawsuit over President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs away from the Court of International Trade, aiming to counter the emerging position held by some judges and the Justice Department that any executive order directing a change in tariff rates falls under CIT’s jurisdiction alone.
Japan says talks with U.S. will continue, but Trump calls a deal unlikely
Tokyo will continue its attempts to strike a trade deal with the U.S. but will not trade away agricultural market access, a Japanese official said on Tuesday, though President Trump later suggested an accord won’t be reached.

World Trade Online