Trade Update – April 1, 2025
Featured Headlines
Challenges/Opportunities for California’s Trading Relationships Across the Americas
Richard Kiy, President and CEO of the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla, California, March 28, 2025
For previous International Partner commentaries, please see International – Advocacy – California Chamber of Commerce
Trump aides weigh 20% tariffs as nervous world awaits trade war
The Washington Post, April 1, 2025
On March 26, 2025 President Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose a 25% tariff on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts.
• The 25% tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary.
• Importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content and systems will be implemented such that the 25% tariff will only apply to the value of their non-U.S. content.
USMCA-compliant automobile parts will remain tariff-free until the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-U.S. content.
US auto tariffs shake global industry as price hikes, job losses loom
American Journal of Transportation, March 27, 2025
Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States
The White House, March 26, 2025
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Adjusts Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States
The White House, March 26, 2025
Coalition Urges U.S. Trade Rep to Refrain from Imposing Proposed Anti-China Action
CalChamber, April 1, 2025
USTR proposal ironically represents grave threat to U.S. port system
American Journal of Transportation, March 27, 2025
Farmers, Dockhands and Shipowners Fight Against U.S. Fees on Chinese Ships
The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2025
The Transatlantic Economy 2025
AmCham EU, March 2025
CalChamber Companies in the News
- United Airlines breaks ground on new $177M ground service equipment facility
American Journal of Transportation, March 25, 2025 - PepsiCo buys prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion
The Independent, March 18, 2025
Trade Policy
White House
- Europe warns Trump: We have ‘a strong plan’ for retaliation against tariffs
CNN, April 1, 2025 - Outcomes of the United States and Ukraine Expert Groups on the Black Sea
The White House, March 25, 2025 - Outcomes of the United States and Russia Expert Groups on the Black Sea
The White House, March 25, 2025 - Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil
The White House, March 25, 2025 - Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil
The White House, March 24, 2025 - Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Immediate Action to Increase American Mineral Production
The White House, March 20, 2025 - Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production
The White House, March 20, 2025
U.S. State Department
- Sanctioning Those Undermining Hong Kong’s Autonomy
United States Department of State, March 31, 2025 - On Delivering an America First Foreign Assistance Program
United States Department of State, March 28, 2025
U.S. Department of Commerce
Update on the Business Secretary’s meeting with US Administration
GOV.UK, March 19, 2025Readout from Secretary Lutnick’s Meeting with Business and Trade Secretary Reynolds
U.S. Department of Commerce, March 19, 2025
- US adds dozens of Chinese entities to export blacklist, including Inspur units
Reuters, March 25, 2025 - Secretary Lutnick Announces New Commercial Agreement Between Korean Air, Boeing and GE Aerospace
U.S. Department of Commerce, March 24, 2025 - Commerce chief seeks industry help to prevent China from getting US chips
Reuters, March 18, 2025
U.S. Trade Representative
USTR Releases 2025 National Trade Estimate Report
United States Trade Representative, March 31, 2025
Readout of Ambassador Jamieson Greer’s Meeting with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng
United States Trade Representative, March 26,2025US Trade Chief to Speak with Chinese Counterpart as Tariff Rift Widens
GCaptain, March 22, 2024
- USTR details foreign trade barriers as Trump’s reciprocal tariffs loom ahead
Seeking Alpha, April 1, 2025 - US officials begin trade talks in Delhi as tariff deadline nears
BBC, March 26, 2025
U.S. Department of Agriculture
- USDA Accepting Applications for Agribusiness Trade Mission to Dominican Republic
U.S. Department of Agriculture, March 19, 2025
U.S. Department of Treasury
- Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Treasury Michael Faulkender Confirmed by the United States Senate
U.S. Department of the Treasury, March 27, 2025 - U.S. Department of the Treasury Announces Publication of Interim Final Rule Removing Reporting Requirements for U.S. Companies and U.S. Persons
U.S. Department of the Treasury, March 26, 2025
Export-Import Bank
- Export-Import Bank of the United States Approves More Than $350 Million in Transactions
EXIM, March 31, 2025
World Trade Organization
- US’s Overdue WTO Funding Caught in Broader Trump Budget Review
Bloomberg, March 28, 2025 - Ethiopia resumes accession negotiations with target of WTO membership by MC14
WTO, March 19, 2025
Trade Agreements/ Cooperation
- UAE has signed 26 deals since launching CEPA scheme amid $1.1tn trade target
Arabian Business, March 31, 2025 - South Korea, China, Japan agree to promote regional trade as Trump tariffs loom
Reuters, March 30, 2025 - India, US Aim to Finalize First Tranche Of ‘Mutually Beneficial’ Multi-Sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by Late 2025
SWARAJYA, March 30, 2025 - Bangladesh, China sign nine agreements
The Times of India, March 28, 2025 - UK in talks over US car tariffs, could look at Tesla subsidies, Reeves says
Reuters, March 27, 2025 - UK-India free trade pact inches closer after years of delays: Report
The Financial Express, March 20, 2025
California
California group proposes 1,400 acre shipbuilding site
American Journal of Transportation, March 27, 2025
More International Articles
Showdown Over CK Hutchison’s $22.8B Port Sale Threatens China’s Pro-Business Push
GCaptain, March 31, 2025
Panama Deregisters Over 100 Sanctioned Vessels in Major Compliance Crackdown
GCaptain, March 31, 2025
China Halts Panama Port Sale to BlackRock
GCaptain, March 28, 2025
China Freezes Business Ties with Li Ka-shing Over Panama Ports Deal
RegTechTimes, March 27, 2025
- China and India to face brunt of Trump tariff threat against Russian oil buyers
The Independent, March 31, 2025 - Thailand targets reduction in US trade surplus to $20 billion
American Journal of Transportation, March 28, 2025 - UK prepared to retaliate against US tariffs, No 10 sources say
BBC, March 28, 2025 - EU expects Trump to set flat, double-digit tariff on April 2
POLITICO, March 26, 2025 - Trade of Venezuelan oil to China stalls after new Trump order
Reuters March 25, 2025 - Chinese NewNew Shipping Line To Expand Arctic Container Service After Profitable 2024 Operation
GCaptain, March 24, 2025 - China Discloses Powerful Deep-Sea Cable Cutter, SCMP Reports
GCaptain, March 23, 2025