Honest Updates. Real Impact. No Spin

At LOGISTEED America, we’re not here to dramatize or downplay. We’re here to give you the truth; what’s happening, what it means, and what your best options are. As the Trade War evolves, this page is your space for calm, clear, and current information.

This is where strategy meets transparency – because that’s what real partners do.

“DON’T PANIC.”

– The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy… & LOGISTEED America

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

April 17, 2025

Executive Order Targets Seafood Trade & Supply Chain Reform

The U.S. has issued a sweeping order to reduce overregulation in the domestic seafood industry and crack down on unfair foreign trade practices. Key actions include increased port inspections, new trade enforcement reviews, and development of an “America First Seafood Strategy.”

April 15, 2025

Section 232 Investigation Launched on Critical Minerals

The U.S. has initiated a Section 232 investigation into critical mineral imports, citing national security risks. Potential outcomes include new tariffs or import controls that could impact electronics, EVs, and defense-related supply chains.

April 11, 2025

Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended

On April 5, 2025, the White House confirmed that semiconductors and related products are officially exempt from the new tariff hikes under Executive Order 14257 and its follow-up orders.

April 9, 2025

U.S. Raises Tariffs on China to 125%, Grants 90 day pause for other partners

President Trump Announced a 125% tariff on all Chinese Imports, effective immediately. Countries that have not retaliated will benefits from a 90-day reciprocal tariff pause, and a temporary 10% tariff rate. This window is designed to encourage negotiations and sourcing shifts.

April 4, 2025

China Responds with 34% Tariff on all U.S. Goods

China has issued countermeasures including a broad tariff increase and new export controls.

Updated Weekly

Frequently Asked Tariff Questions

Save yourself a phone call and check out the most frequently asked questions our team have been getting here.

Are the new tariffs eligible to drawback?

Only Section 301 and the reciprocal IEEPA are eligible for drawback.

Section 232 (steel, aluminum, auto) Fentanyl IEEPA (Canada, Mexico, China & Hong Kong) are NOT eligible for drawback.

Are warehouse entries subject to duties under the new tariff increase? 

No. Goods entered into a bonded warehouse are not subject to duties until they are withdrawn for consumption and enter U.S. commerce.

How do reciprocal tariffs affect Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) eligibility, particularly for exports under privileged vs. non-privileged foreign status?

Good subject to reciprocal tariffs must be admitted into a Foreign Trade Zone under privileged foreign status. This ensures that, if goods are later entered into U.S. commerce, they will be subject to the duties and tariff rates that were in effect at the time of FTZ admission – based on their classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.

Will the new tariffs be compounded with existing ones, or are there any exceptions?

In most cases, yes – new tariffs will be compounded with existing duties. However, there are exceptions. Specifically, Reciprocal IEEPA tariffs and Section 232 tariffs are mutually exclusive and will not be applied together on the same goods.

For Steel and aluminum derivatives for which the 232 tariffs are applied against the steel/aluminum content, what value is to be reported for the content, exactly? 

The value to be declared for the steel/aluminum content should be based on the actual value of the steel or aluminum, as it was invoiced from the mill that produced it.  Such an invoice may be the type of supporting documentation Customs might request to substantiate it. 

Do transshipments affect cargo’s eligibility of the exemption for cargo “loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading and in transit on the final mode of transport” prior to the effective date of the tariff? 

As long as the transshipment was a part of the shipment’s itinerary to the US, then the exemption would apply according to the feeder vessel’s details at the port of origin.

Are in-bond shipments subject to the new reciprocal tariffs?

No. Goods moving under in-bond status – meaning they are under U.S. Customs control but not entered for consumption – are generally not subject to reciprocal tariffs, as long as they are not withdrawn for consumption in the U.S.

Additionally, the Executive Order includes a savings clause stating that goods loaded onto a vessel and in transit on their final mode of transport before April 5, 2025 (for the 10% baseline tariff) or before April 9, 2025 (for country-specific tariffs) are exempt from the new duties, even if they enter the U.S. afterward.

This exemption primarily applies to goods transiting through the U.S. without entering U.S. commerce.

What is the latest tariff update on imports from China, including Hong Kong and Macau?

Effective April 10, 2025, most imports from China – including goods from Hong Kong and Macau, unless specifically excluded – will be subject to a 125% Reciprocal IEEPA additional duty under HTSUS 9903.01.63. This is in addition to any existing tariffs already in place, such as Section 301 and Fentanyl-related IEEPA tariffs.

Please note that this situation is fluid and subject to further clarification or change.

Are reciprocal tariffs in effect for all countries, or is there are delay in implementation?

The increased Reciprocal tariff is in effect only for China, Hong Kong, and Macau. The country-specific increased rates for the other countries have been paused for 90 days, meaning almost all countries are currently subject to the base Reciprocal tariff of 10% (exceptions are China, Hong Kong, Macau, Canada, Mexico, Republic of Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, and Russian Federation).

Key points to note:
-Exemptions: Standard IEEPA exemptions still apply.
-Effective Dates: Vary depending on the specific tariff measure.
-In-Transit Clause: The latest Executive Order changed the in-transit exception criteria to more clearly reflect that goods must be in transit before the effective date to qualify for exemption.

We are awaiting formal confirmation and clarification from U.S. Customs and the administration. Until then, it is safest to assume the new language applies strictly and to review all China-origin shipments carefully.

For Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB) entries, will all the Trade Remedy tariffs be included in the calculation of the bond amount?

The posted bond must be sufficient to cover the inclusion of relevant Section 301 and Section 232 duties, but not Fentanyl IEEPA duties. Confirmation of the inclusion of Reciprocal IEEPA duties is still pending.

Please note that if a continuous Customs bond limit is not sufficient to cover the required amount, a single transaction bond for the difference will need to be issued.

Are U.S. exports which have been advanced in value overseas and re-imported subject to reciprocal tariffs?

Yes. U.S. goods that are exported, undergo processing or value-added work abroad, and are then re-imported are generally subject to reciprocal tariffs. However, the tariff is applied to only the foreign value added – not to the original U.S.-origin value.

Details:
Value-Added Basis:
The reciprocal tariff applies to the portion of the goods value that was added during processing, repair, or assembly in the foreign country.

Example:
A U.S. made item worth $5000 is exported and repaired overseas for $1000. Upon re-importation, the reciprocal tariff would apply only to the $1000 repair cost.

Exceptions:
Some items may be exempt, such as those falling under Section 232 exclusions or USMCA-Compliant Goods.

Tariff Calculation:
The duty rate is based on the reciprocal tariff schedule, which mirrors the rates that foreign governments impose on similar U.S. exports.

How are reciprocal tariffs applicable to import entries which use the first sale rule?

If the transaction qualifies for the first sale rule, and an invoice earlier in the supply chain is being used, this will lower the dutiable value of the merchandise and, consequently, the applicable duties, fees, and taxes.

There is a 3-part test to determine if the rule applies to a shipment:
1. The goods are clearly destined for export to the United States,
2. The manufacturer and the middleman deal each other at arm’s length, and
3. There is the absence of any non-market influences that affect the legitimacy of the sales price.

To see if merchandise qualifies for the use of the first sale rule, it is recommended to seek the guidance of a trade attorney.

What if you are unsure of the value breakdown of aluminum or steel content, melt & pour (steel) or smelt & cast (aluminum) for a Section 232 derivative product? Can a PSC be filed to correct after entry?

If you are unsure of the value breakdown of aluminum or steel content in a derivative product, Section 232 duties will apply to the full value of the product. If you are unsure of melt & pour (steel) or smelt & cast (aluminum) for derivative products – OTH can be entered for country of melt & pour for steel and any country other than the United States if the filer does not know the country of smelt or cast for aluminum. Importers may submit a post-summary correction to update the country of smelt or cast or melt & pour when they obtain information on the actual country(ies) of smelt or cast or melt & pour.

How do I calculate duty percentages for particular goods?

Importers must now consider multiple layers of potential tariffs beyond the standard duty rate including section 301 tariffs, IEEPA tariffs, Section 232 tariffs on steel/aluminum and derivatives, Auto tariffs and more. It is more important than ever to review tariff exposure on a case by case basis. Reach out to your LOGISTEED contact for additional assistance.

Timeline of Official Updates from The White House

This section contains direct links to official White House fact sheets and executive orders related to the Trade War and U.S. Trade Policy. Updates are listed from most recent to oldest, starting from Inauguration Day 2025.

New content will be posted as available .

April 17, 2025

Executive Order | RESTORING AMERICAN SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS

April 15, 2025

Executive Order | ENSURING NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE THROUGH SECTION 232 ACTIONS ON PROCESSED CRITICAL MINERALS AND DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS

April 11, 2025

Presidential Memoranda | Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended

April 9, 2025

Executive Order | MODIFYING RECIPROCAL TARIFF RATES TO REFLECT TRADING PARTNER RETALIATION AND ALIGNMENT

April 8, 2025

Executive Order | Presidential Actions
AMENDMENT TO RECIPROCAL TARIFFS AND UPDATED DUTIES AS APPLIED TO LOW-VALUE IMPORTS FROM THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

April 3, 2025

Fact Sheets

Report to the President on the America First Trade Policy
Executive Summary

March 26, 2025

Proclamations

ADJUSTING IMPORTS OF AUTOMOBILES AND AUTOMOBILE
PARTS INTO THE UNITED STATES

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Adjusts Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States

March 25, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil

March 24, 2025

Executive Order

Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil

March 6, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Adjusts Tariffs on Canada and Mexico to Minimize Disruption to the Automotive Industry

March 3, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Proceeds with Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico

March 1, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber, and Their Derivative Products

February 25, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security from Imports of Copper

February 13, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade

February 11, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores Section 232 Tariffs

February 1, 2025

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China

Download the LUS Trade War Guide PDF

Navigating the 2025 U.S. Trade War: What Importers and Exporters Need to Know

Get the latest guidance on tariffs, port impacts, risk mitigation strategies, and documentation best practices.

Last Updated : April 10, 2025

Next Update Scheduled: In Process – 4/17

LUS Industry News Weekly

Your round-up of global logistics and trade trends, posted every Wednesday.

Find the latest Industry Newsletter Below

LUS Customer Advisories

Stay informed with our customer trade disruption alerts and shipment-specific insights.

Find the latest Customer Advisory below.

Resource Page FAQs

Q. How often is this page updated?

A. We post updates every week, with urgent news shared as needed. Bookmark this page and check back regularly. Subscribe to our Industry Newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox.

Q. Where can I get help with specific tariff classifications or entry filings?

A. Please reach out to your LOGISTEED account representative or contact your local LOGISTEED America branch to talk with a customs brokerage expert.

Q. Can LOGISTEED help reroute my cargo to avoid delays or duties?

A. We are actively helping clients identify possible alternate routing options and discussing ongoing strategies to help them build their businesses, your success, is our success. Let’s talk strategy.

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and is provided as a convenience to our customers. While LOGISTEED America strives to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the content, we make no guarantees, representations, or warranties, express or implied, as to the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of the information.

LOGISTEED America shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions, or for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on this information. Users are strongly encouraged to consult with legal counsel, trade attorneys, or professional compliance consultants before making any decisions that may affect their business operations.