China needs friends in Trump’s trade war. But Xi may have to go it alone

Resistance to China as a reliable partner as Xi courts India and Europe 

Taiwan won't take reciprocal tariffs against US, will remove trade barriers

US, Vietnamese businesses ask Trump to delay 46% tariffs on Vietnam

If Act 1 of  "Tariffs"  played out on April 2, the next act is now starting 

Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits – The White House

CHAPTER 99 SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION REQUIRED
With the implementation of the above Executive Order, effective April 5, 2025, filers must report at least one Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) Chapter 99 secondary classification related to the reciprocal tariffs.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Closes De Minimis Exemptions to Combat China’s Role in America’s Synthetic Opioid Crisis – The White House

CSMS # 64624801 - GUIDANCE: Import Duties on Certain Automobiles

The purpose of this message is to provide guidance on the 25 percent duty on imports of passenger vehicles and light trucks from all countries effective 12:01 Eastern Daylight Time on April 3, 2025.  Please contact EMTC if  you need a copy of the CSMS message.  It is too detailed to post here  info@emtc.org 

Trump signs order ending duty-free treatment for cheap shipments from China | Reuters

De minimis for China and Hong Kong ends May 1.  Goods not sent by post are subject to duties.  Goods via post are 30% or $25 per item; $50 per item starting June 1 

Washington, DC--

Today, President Trum announced reciprocal tariffs on other countries.  The tariffs were based on the rates charged by other countries and include a 10% ad val. "base rate."  The United States will assess a 50% "discounted reciprocal tariff" rate. 

For example, China tariff rate of 67% ad val. and the United States will assess a 34% duty rate.  The country with the highest duty rates is Sri Lanka with 88% and the discounted duty rate that the United States will apply is 44% ad val.  

NOTE: This News item has been updated to include all the Reciprocal Tariff Charts below:  Reciprocal Tariff Charts (04-02-25).pdf

Online --

On April 1, 2025, Thomson Reuters featured EMTC CEO, Marianne Rowden, in an article "More than tariffs: What's next for global trade?"

"The imposing of new tariffs may be getting all the attention, but it may be the first salvo in an ongoing quest to remake global trade in its entirety, touching on well-established historical global frameworks concerning finance, regulations, and security"

Read the article here.  Authored by Leonard Lee, Communications/Thomson Reuters

https://www.cbp.gov/about/contact/broker-listing

Businesses that may be required to hire a Customs Broker due to the potential termination of de minimis should confer with this list before engaging a broker.  The list is updated quarterly.

Washington, DC--

Today, EMTC submitted comments in response to CBP's NPRM on Entry of Low-Value Shipments which seeks to eliminate and change the requirements for importing goods duty-free under de minimis (19 U.S.C. sec. 1321). 

EMTC's comments focus on the fact that the proposed rule treats low-value shipments differently than of imports because it does not use a risk management approach to distinguishing between legitimate trade and counterfeit or fentanyl shipments.  Additionally, CBP's approach is out of alignment with international agreements, such as the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement and the WCO's Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce and Technical Standards.

CBP's NPRM is proceeding in parallel to the President's Executive Orders eliminating de minimis for shipments from Canada (E.O.  14193 amended 14197), Mexico (E.O. 14194 amended 14198), and China (E.O. 14195)