On June 16, 2026, the European Parliament (EP) approved two legislative texts implementing the EU’s tariff commitments under the EU-US trade agreement. Formal approval by the Council of the EU remains pending. The adopted measures provide for the elimination of tariffs on all US industrial goods and grant preferential market access for a wide array of US seafood and agricultural goods. The extension of tariff-free lobster imports, now including processed lobster, was also endorsed by…
On June 12, 2026, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-35, the Ban on Importing Goods Made with Forced Labour Act. Bill C-35 establishes a new statutory framework to prohibit forced labour imports, replacing the Customs Tariff’s current prohibition on importing goods produced wholly or in part by forced or child labour. Bill C-35 is available here. Bill C-35 empowers the Minister of Foreign Affairs to list goods (by country, region, manufacturer) that it suspects are…
On June 10, 2026, the European Union and four Eastern and Southern Africa States: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, concluded negotiations to deepen the existing EU-Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement into a modern and comprehensive free trade agreement. The agreement is the first of its kind between the EU and partners in Sub-Saharan Africa. The framework remains open to accession by other Eastern and Southern Africa States, with negotiations with Zimbabwe currently ongoing.…
On April 20, 2026, the Government of Canada directed the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (Tribunal) to conduct a safeguard inquiry into imports of certain finished wood products, including wood cabinets, hardwood flooring, and wood storage furniture. The statutory Order in Council setting out the details of the inquiry is available here. This safeguard inquiry was announced on the heels of a March 2026 safeguard inquiry into canned and frozen vegetables (we write about it here),…
In our previous post, we explored South Africa’s initial diplomatic posture following Trump’s so-called “letter” tariffs. Since then (and following the implementation of the 30% tariffs on 1 August 2025), the South African government has released a comprehensive Joint Statement outlining a five-point response plan, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has, more recently, made a strong appeal for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which is set to expire on 30 September…
The US Supreme Court granted certiorari in VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump on September 9, agreeing to review a recent decision of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that held that the invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on dozens of trading partners is illegal. For further information on what’s at stake in VOS Selections, see our earlier commentary here and here. The Court has also consolidated…
On August 29, the Government of Canada issued the Order Amending and Repealing Certain Orders Made Under the Customs Tariff (United States Surtax) (Order), which repeals the application of Canada’s 25% retaliatory surtax (Surtax) to numerous U.S. origin goods, effective September 1. Key takeaways for importers: Background The Order amends Canada’s three existing surtax orders, which have authorized a 25% retaliatory tariff on numerous U.S. origin goods since March and April 2025: United States Surtax Order…
On August 15, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a draft Federal Register notice adding hundreds of tariff subheadings to the list of steel and aluminum derivative products subject to Section 232 tariffs imposed in June. The newly announced duties apply to the steel and aluminum content of derivative products that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on August…
On July 28, 2025, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit published in the afternoon edition of the Federal Official Gazette, a resolution of amendment to the Foreign Trade General Rules for 2025. As a result of this publication, as of August 15, 2025 the global rate that must be paid when importing goods into Mexico using the services of a courier company will be increased from 19% to 33.5% (see original rules and rates…
As mentioned in our US customs team’s blog post, on July 10, US President Trump announced 35% tariffs on imports from Canada. The new tariffs are scheduled to commence on August 1. Current US tariffs on Canada include 25% tariffs on Canadian origin goods excluding US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) qualifying goods, 10% tariffs on energy products and potash, 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum goods and derivative products, and 25% tariffs on automobiles and parts. The…