Canada: announces entry into force of countermeasures against auto imports from the United States
Effective April 9, 2025, the Government of Canada is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant U.S.-made vehicles, and on the non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUSMA-compliant U.S.-made vehicles. These tariffs only apply to goods originating from the U.S., which shall be considered as those goods eligible to be marked as a good of the U.S. in accordance with the Determination of Country of Origin for the Purpose of Marking Goods (CUSMA Countries) Regulations. These countermeasures will remain in place until the U.S. eliminates its tariffs against the Canadian auto sector. Canada’s countermeasures do not apply to U.S. goods that are in transit to Canada on the day on which they come into force. Additional details on the administration of these tariffs are available on the Canada Border Services Agency website.
The list of products outlined at the tariff item level in the table below should be read in conjunction with the Schedule to Canada’s Customs Tariff.
China : The tariff rate on imported goods originating from the United States is increased to 125%
Effective April 12th, 2025, The China State Council Tariff Commission has announced that the additional tariff rate stipulated in the "Announcement of the State Council Tariff Commission on Adjusting the Measures for Imposing Additional Tariffs on Imported Goods Originating in the United States" (Tax Commission Announcement No. 5 of 2025) will be adjusted from 84% to 125% from April 12, 2025. Other matters shall be implemented in accordance with the "Announcement of the State Council Tariff Commission on Imposing Additional Tariffs on Imported Goods Originating in the United States" (Tax Commission Announcement No. 4 of 2025). For more information, please refer the Ministry of Finance
Brazil updated the import duty rates for s Amino-alcohol-phenols, amino-acid-phenols, and other amino compounds
Brazil customs authority has updated the import duty rates for products classified under tariff headings 2922.19. Source: Government of Brazil
European Union (EU): Suspends retaliatory 25% tariff on US origin goods for 90 days
Effective April 10, 2025, The EU has suspended its retaliatory 25% tariffs on US goods for 90 days after Donald Trump’s U-turn on additional tariff on EU origin goods. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would put on hold for 90 days the countermeasures – 25% tariffs on €21bn (£18bn) of US goods. In an earlier statement that did not mention the EU countermeasures, von der Leyen had welcomed the US president’s 90-day pause on his highest tariffs, as she reiterated that the EU was ready to negotiate a trade deal with the US. It means until July the EU will face a 10% duty on exports to the US, rather than the 20% “reciprocal tariff” rate that was in force for a matter of hours. Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars remain in place. For more information, please refer the link and link
European Union (EU): Customs tariff updates
On April 10, 2025, the European Union announced a 90-day suspension of its retaliatory tariffs. This pause is intended to facilitate ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, following President Trump's decision to delay the implementation of his own tariffs on EU imports. The EU remains committed to reaching a balanced and fair trade agreement with the U.S. Source: EU commission
Japan customs tariff update
Japan released its updated customs tariff schedule on April 1, 2025. This schedule encompasses various product categories, including live animals, animal products, vegetable products, and more. For detailed information on specific tariff rates and classifications, you can refer to the official schedule provided by Japan Customs. Source: Japan Customs
Mauritius published the updated customs tariff
Mauritius Revenue Authority has updated the import tariff. Update includes the following changes:
- New tariff codes and classifications
- Amendments to existing tariff rates
- Updated correlation tables for HS 2022
For more information, please refer Mauritius Revenue Authority
South Africa customs authority updated the tariff
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has implemented several significant customs tariff amendments. Below is a summary of the key changes:
- Customs duties on wheat increased from 18.35c/kg to 54.95c/kg, and on wheaten flour from 27.52c/kg to 82.42c/kg, in accordance with the variable tariff formula (ITAC Minute M12/2024).
- Sugar duty update: Increased from 234.89c/kg to 286.25c/kg. Further increased to 377.35c/kg (ITAC Minute 14/2024).
- Smartphone Import Duty Introduced: A flat 9% customs duty imposed on smartphones priced above R2,500, as per Budget 2025 proposals.
- Carbon Fuel Levy Adjustments: Petrol levy increased from 11c/litre to 14c/litre, and diesel from 14c/litre to 17c/litre. Source: South Africa Revenue Authority
Switzerland Customs Tariff Update
The Tares customs tariff has been updated on 1 April 2025. This new version mainly contains:
- Explanatory Notes to the Customs Tariff - Tares:
Decisions taken by the Harmonised System Committee at its 74th meeting concerning amendments to the Harmonised System Explanatory Notes and amended Swiss explanatory notes in the following documents: Chapters 03, 04, 15, 16, 21, 27, 29, 38, 44, 49, 82, 84, 87 and 95 (in the Pdf documents, the amended lines are marked with a dash in the left margin). These changes are visible from 01.04.2025;
- Decisions on the tariff classification of goods - Tares:
New or amended decisions taken by the Harmonised System Committee at its 74th meeting and new Swiss decisions (details: update from 1.4.2025);
- Changed customs duties due to amendment of the Agricultural Import Ordinance, AEV (SR 916.01) (FOAG):
Annex 2, ‘Customs duties of the market organisations for seed cereals, feedstuffs, oilseeds, customs duties of goods whose processing results in feedstuffs and customs duties of coarse cereals for human consumption’
- Entry into force of the EFTA-Moldova Free Trade Agreement (media release) (SR 632.319) (Circular: Entry into force of the EFTA-Moldova Multilateral Free Trade Agreement);
- Update of the customs tariff concerning the import of biogenic fuels in accordance with the Mineral Oil Tax Ordinance (SR 641.611);
- New, amended or cancelled control elements (special statistical separations) (import) for tariff nos.: 2710.1912, 1919, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2711.1290 and 1390;
- New additional tax codes:
640 / 921 Mineral oil tax, with use designation;
640 / 922 Mineral oil tax, with obligation;
640 / 933 tax-favoured use, with designation of use;
742 / 030 CO2 tax, if the goods are declared for use as fuel;
- Updating of the authorisation and GTK obligation in connection with the FDHA Ordinance on the Import, Transit and Export of Animals and Animal Products in Trade with Third Countries (SR 916.443.106) for the following tariff nos.
- Amendments to various comments on the customs tariff;
- editorial changes
United States: announces sweeping retaliatory tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese imports
China faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions.
This includes a 125% reciprocal tariff, a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%. For more information, please refer white house Fact Sheet
United States: President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on most new tariffs, reducing the "reciprocal tariff" rate to 10% during this period
On April 9, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on most new tariffs, reducing the "reciprocal tariff" rate to 10% during this period.
However, he simultaneously increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, citing China's lack of respect for global markets and its retaliatory measures against U.S. goods. That decision came after Beijing raised its levies on American goods to 84 percent on Wednesday (09 April 2024) afternoon in an escalating tit-for-tat between the world’s largest economies.
This decision came after appeals from over 75 countries and was intended to provide time for negotiations on trade barriers, currency manipulation, and other related issues. The announcement led to a significant rebound in the stock market, with major U.S. indexes experiencing substantial gains. Background: on April 2, 2025, President Trump announced to impose an individualized reciprocal higher tariff on the countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits. Earlier the additional ad valorem duty was announced for the trading partners enumerated in Annex I.