Canada backs down on tariffs to keep Trump talks alive
Canada is scrapping some retaliatory tariffs, a major concession aimed at cooling trade tensions with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced. Canada had targeted imports of U.S. goods that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with a 25 percent tariff as a response to a trade dispute initiated by President Donald Trump’s March tariffs on Canadian products, energy and critical minerals. Canadian tariffs on U.S. imports of steel, aluminum and autos remain unchanged. The move marks a sharp turn from Carney’s “elbows up” mantra, which cast him as a bulwark against Trump’s “unjustified” trade war. Canada defended his concession, arguing it strengthens Canada’s hand in negotiations with the White House. Trump called Carney’s move a “nice” gesture.
Costa Rica customs tariff update
Costa Rica customs authority has updated the import tariff. Update includes the addition/ deletion of certain products classified under the tariff chapters 29 and 30.
European Union customs tariff update
European Commission has updated the import tariff, which includes the changes in the general duty rates, preferential duty rates for various HTS codes classified across the different tariff chapters.
European Union reciprocal tariff rate update
The European Union announced a six-month delay on its planned retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods as both sides work to implement a new trade agreement framework. Although the U.S. will proceed with its 15% tariffs on European goods this week, the move signals a step toward easing trade tensions.
Honduras customs tariff update
Honduras customs authority has updated the import tariff. Update includes the changes in the unit of measurements and preferential duty rates for various products classified under the different tariff chapters.
India: US issues draft notice to enforce 50% tariffs on India from Aug. 27; Pharma, electronics exempted
The United States notified the implementation of additional 25% duties on Indian goods, thereby raising the overall tariff to 50%, to be effective from August 27. According a the notice issued by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the tariff will cover a wide spectrum of Indian exports, including textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, machinery, furniture and marine products. However, a few items like steel, copper and aluminium and sectors like pharmaceuticals, electronics and automobiles passenger vehicles like SUV and sedan have been exempted. The additional tariffs are being imposed to give effect to the President's Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled "Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation." The CBP clarified that from 12:01 am eastern daylight time on 27th August, the higher tariffs will apply to all products of India that are either entered for consumption in the US or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption.
India seeks to prescribe BCD and AIDC on Raw Cotton for a specified period
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act,1962 (52 of 1962) read with section 124 of the Finance Act, 2021 (13 of 2021), the Central Government, on being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts the goods of the description specified in column (3) of the Table below, falling under the heading of the First Schedule/HTS Code 5201 (Cotton) to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Customs Tariff Act’), specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the said Table, when imported into India, from the whole of the duty of customs leviable thereon under the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and from the whole of the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess leviable thereon under the said section of the Finance Act, 2021 (13 of 2021). Source: CBIC.Gov.In
United Kingdom: Update to Brazil Non preferential tariff quota measures
This update is due to the Department for Business and Trade correcting their dataset entry as applied to Brazil in respect of measure type 122 - Non preferential tariff quota. Certificate 9U04: Certificate issued by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services in Brazil, certifying that the goods originate from Brazil, will be added to the certain commodity codes of chapter 02 and 16. Source: gov.uk
United Kingdom: Update to Commodity Code Structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU
The following commodity code is ending as of 13 August 2025:
- 2933399990
The following commodity codes are being created as of 14 August 2025:
- 2933399991; 2933399992; 2933399999
The following commodity code is being absorbed as of 14 August 2025:
- 2933399990 is being absorbed into 2933399999. Source: Gov.uk
United Kingdom: Update to Commodity Code Structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU
The following commodity codes are being created as of 12 August 2025:
- 0709939010; 0709939090; 0804500040
United States Continues the Suspension of the Heightened Tariffs on China
President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order continuing the suspension of heightened tariffs on China. This action is necessary to facilitate ongoing and productive discussion with China about remedying trade imbalances, unfair trade practices, expanding market access for American exports, and aligning with the United States on national security and economic matters.
- The United States and China have engaged in multiple rounds of productive negotiations to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns.
- The United States will therefore maintain the suspension of heightened tariffs on Chinese imports, as outlined in Executive Order 14298, until November 10, 2025.
- The current 10% reciprocal tariff remains in effect during this suspension period.
- The 10% reciprocal tariff sets a fair baseline to encourage domestic production, strengthen our supply chains, and ensure that American trade policy supports American workers first, instead of undercutting them.
- Other U.S. tariff measures with respect to China will remain in place.
- The United States will continue trade talks with China to promote fair trade practices and support American workers. Source: White House
United States Customs tariff updates
US customs authority has updated the import tariff. Update includes the addition of HTS codes under chapter 99. Newly added code: 9903.01.84, 9903.01.85, 9903.01.86, 9903.01.87, 9903.01.88 and 9903.01.89. Source: USITC
United States continues the Suspension of the Heightened Tariffs on China until November 10, 2025
The United States and China have engaged in multiple rounds of productive negotiations to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns. The United States will therefore maintain the suspension of heightened tariffs on Chinese imports, as outlined in Executive Order 14298, until November 10, 2025. The current 10% reciprocal tariff remains in effect during this suspension period. The 10% reciprocal tariff sets a fair baseline to encourage domestic production, strengthen our supply chains, and ensure that American trade policy supports American workers first, instead of undercutting them. Other U.S. tariff measures with respect to China will remain in place. For details, please refer The WhiteHouse
United States reciprocal tariff rate reduction
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued GUIDANCE: Reciprocal Tariff Updates Effective August 7, 2025. These updates were outlined in Executive Order (EO) 14326, which has an annex of the updated rates for specific countries and territories that range from 10% to 41%. For the European Union, their reciprocal tariff rates are based off the standard column 1 duty rate in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. If an imported product has a column 1 duty rate that is higher than 15%, the reciprocal tariff will be 0%. If the product has a column 1 duty rate less than 15%, then the reciprocal tariff rate and column 1 rate shall be a sum of 15%.
The guidance reviews the tariff reporting sequence and a list of exemptions that apply to these goods that include, but are not limited to chapter 98 claims, products imported under USMCA, certain donations, certain informational materials, steel articles, aluminium articles, and products that were loaded onto a vessel on the final mode of transport to the United States prior to August 7, 2025, and arrive before October 5, 2025. Source: US CBP
United States: Adoption and Procedures of the Section 232 Steel and Aluminum Tariff
BIS is adding 407 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) codes to the list of products that will be considered as steel or aluminum derivative products. For such products, steel and aluminum tariffs based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232) will apply to the steel and aluminum content. The non-steel and non-aluminum content will remain subject to the reciprocal and other applicable tariffs. For 60 HTSUS codes, BIS has decided not to include them as steel and aluminum derivative products at this time, because they are subject to other ongoing investigations pursuant to Section 232 or other trade statutes. The complete list of HTSUS codes added to the Section 232 tariffs by today's action is listed in the annexes to this notice.
Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. on August 18, 2025, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is modified.
a. By amending subdivision (m) to note 16, by inserting the following into the list HTSUS provisions in numerical order: 7216.91.0010; 7302.90.9000; 7307.19.30; 7307.19.90;
b. By amending subdivision (n) to note 16, by deleting “and (2)” and inserting “; (2)” in lieu thereof, and by inserting the following to the end of the first paragraph after “9403.99.9020”:
and (3) all imported derivative iron or steel products that are classified in the following provisions of the HTSUS, including products admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status” as defined by 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 18, 2025, unless the derivative iron or steel product was processed in another country from steel articles that were melted and poured in the United States: 0402.99.68; 0402.99.70; 0402.99.90; 2106.90.9998; 2710.19.3050; 2711.12.0020; 2804.29.0010; 2804.40.0000; 2901.22.0000; 2903.42.1000; 2903.43.10; 2903.44.10; 2903.45.10; 2903.49.00; 2903.51.10; 2903.59.90; 2903.71.0100; 3004.90.9244; 3208.10.00; 3208.20.00; 3208.90.00; 3209.10.00; 3209.90.00; 3213.90.00; 3214.10.00; 3303.00.10; 3303.00.20; 3303.00.30; 3304.30.00; 3304.99.50; 3305.10.00; 3305.30.00; 3305.90.00; 3306.90.00; 3307.10.10; 3307.10.20; 3307.20.00; 3307.49.00; 3307.90.00; 3401.30.10; 3401.30.50; 3402.31.90; 3402.49.90; 3402.50.11; 3402.50.51; 3402.90.10; 3402.90.30; 3402.90.50; 3403.19.10; 3403.19.50; 3403.99.00; 3405.10.00; 3405.20.00; 3405.40.00; 3405.90.00; 3506.10.50; 3506.91.10; 3506.91.50; 3506.99.00; 3808.59.10; 3808.59.40; 3808.61.10; 3808.61.50; 3808.62.10; 3808.62.50; 3808.69.10; 3808.69.50; 3808.91.15; 3808.91.25; 3808.91.30; 3808.91.50; 3808.94.10; 3808.94.50; 3809.91.00; 3810.10.00; 3811.19.00; 3811.21.00; 3814.00.10; 3814.00.20; 3814.00.50; 3820.00.00; 3824.99.9397; 3827.61.0000 etc.
c. By amending subdivision (t) to note 16, by inserting the following into the list HTSUS provisions in numerical order: 7216.91.0010; 7302.90.9000; 7307.19.30; 7307.19.90; d. By amending subdivision (u) to note 16, by deleting “and (2)” and inserting “; (2)” in lieu thereof, and by inserting the following to the end of the first paragraph after “9403.99.9020”. Source: Federal Register