Colombia eliminates reciprocal tax on certain products from Ecuador
The Colombian Customs authorities have announced the removal of the reciprocal tax on a number of products imported from Ecuador. The measure applies to selected goods, including:
- Rice (HS 1006)
- Petroleum oils (HS 2710)
- Dried leguminous vegetables (HS 0713)
This change is expected to facilitate bilateral trade between Colombia and Ecuador by reducing import costs for the affected products and promoting smoother cross-border commerce.
European Union amended the default and preferential duty rates on certain products
The European Union (EU) and German Customs authorities have announced amendments to the default (Most-Favoured-Nation) and preferential duty rates applicable to several product categories. The revised duty rates affect the following goods:
- Iron and steel (tariff chapter 72)
- Articles of iron and steel (tariff chapter 73)
- Plastics and Articles thereof (tariff chapter 39)
EU to Introduce New Steel Industry Safeguards
A new European Union (EU) Regulation will replace the current steel safeguard regime from July 1, 2026, introducing stricter measures on imports, which introduces some changes that will increase duty exposure and significantly reinforce compliance and traceability obligations for importers. The system will include reduced tariff-free quotas and a 50% duty on out-of-quota imports for around 30 steel product categories. These measures will apply to all countries except European Economic Area (EEA) members. The Regulation also introduces a “melt & pour” requirement requiring importers to declare the country where steel was originally produced. From October 1, 2026, additional rules will require supporting documentation to evidence melt & pour origin at import.
United States: CBP - CSMS # 65236374 - UPDATED GUIDANCE: Import Duties on Imports of Steel and Steel Derivative Products
This message provides entry filing instructions for the increased Section 232 steel duties provided for in the Presidential Proclamation issued on June 3, 2025. Source
White House Announces New Section 232 Metals Modifications
In a proclamation published on June 1, 2026, the White House announce that was making modifications to certain products under Section 232 duties for aluminum, steel, and copper.
Agricultural equipment and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment will be added to Annex III and have its duty reduced to an all-in 15% Section 232 duty. Certain mobile industrial equipment and machinery will be eligible for tariff breaks if they qualify for USMCA treatment. In addition, this proclamation adds certain steel racks and aluminum lithographic plates to the list of goods that will now be subject to 25% Section 232 tariffs.
These changes effective from June 8, 2026.
USTR Proposes 25% Section 301 Tariff on Brazil
In a press release published on June 1, 2026, the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it had determined that certain practices of Brazil related to “digital trade and electronic payment services; unfair, preferential tariffs; anti-corruption enforcement; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and illegal deforestation are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce.”
In response to this determination, the USTR has proposed a 25% Section 301 on all goods from Brazil with exceptions to goods covered by Section 232 and an annex of 1,600 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes. A hearing will be held on the proposed tariffs on July 6, 2026, and will be open to public comments. Comments must be submitted by July 1,2026, to be considered.
USTR Announces Section 301 Investigation of Vietnam
In a press release published on May 29, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was initiating a Section 301 investigation of Vietnam to determine “whether Vietnam’s persistent failure to resolve long-standing concerns about intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.”
This investigation will review Vietnam’s “acts, policies, and practices related to IP protection and enforcement and assess their impact on U.S. commerce.” Once the investigation is finished, the USTR will consult with the President on any potential responsive action.
United States: 232 Tariffs Reduced for Certain Items from Taiwan
On May 28, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a reduction in Section 232 tariff rates for certain products of Taiwan. According to the notice, certain automotive parts shall not be subject to additional 232 duties on aluminum, steel, copper, their derivatives, or wood; certain wood products of Taiwan are subject to "the ordinary customs duty treatment", which puts the rate at 15%; and certain civil aircraft components of Taiwan shall not be subject to additional 232 duties on aluminum, steel, copper, or their derivatives. The reductions are the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and "Agreement Between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States on Reciprocal Trade Between the United States of America and Taiwan" (ART) signed between the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US.
The modifications outlined in the notice are effective "with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 1, 2026."
Trump Administration Reduces Section 232 Tariffs for Certain Equipment
The Trump administration has made another adjustment to its Section 232 tariff program, announcing temporary reductions on certain metal-containing products beginning June 8, 2026. The changes will remain in place through December 31, 2027, and are intended to encourage investment in U.S. manufacturing and industrial capacity. Please refer to Subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS ANNEX IV and the lists of products provided in ANNEX I-A, ANNEX I-B, ANNEX II, and ANNEX III of Proclamation 11021 as modified.
For importers, the biggest impact may be on agricultural equipment, residential HVAC systems, and certain industrial machinery (ANNEX I-C). Tariffs on products such as combines, harvesters, and residential heating and cooling equipment will drop from 25% to 15%. Mobile industrial equipment - including items like bulldozers and forklifts - has also been added to the existing reduced-duty category that applies to eligible countries covered by certain trade agreements.
The proclamation also introduces an incentive for manufacturers that rely heavily on U.S.-produced metals. Products containing at least 85% U.S.-melted and poured steel, or U.S.-smelted and cast aluminum, by weight may qualify for a reduced 10% tariff rate.
For imports from Canada and Mexico under the USMCA framework, duties will generally apply only to the non-U.S. content of the product. However, the administration has established a minimum effective duty rate of 15%. Similar treatment applies to imports from several key trading partners - including the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and others, where the final duty will be determined based on the applicable Column 1 duty rate, subject to a 15% minimum combined rate.
The practical takeaway is that tariff exposure for many imported equipment products may be changing. Importers should pay close attention to country of origin, eligibility under trade agreements, and the amount of U.S.-sourced steel or aluminum contained in their products, as each of these factors may influence the final duty rate. Annex I-A: 50% Section 232 Tariff on Full Value – will cover 7607 HS codes. Source
United States: CBP Announces Next Phase of CAPE IEEPA Refunds
In a Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) bulletin published on June 23, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided updated guidance on new functionality for the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This functionality, available as of June 29, 2026, allows CAPE to process refunds of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties. With this functionality, CAPE will accept entry types 01, 02, and 06 that have been flagged for reconciliation and for which the entry type 09 reconciliation entry has not been filed. Consistent with CAPE Phase 1, accepted reconciliation-flagged entries will be limited to unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation.
Once entries flagged for reconciliation are accepted on a CAPE declaration, the trade may file the reconciliation entry. The CAPE process removes the IEEPA duties from the flagged entries before the reconciliation entry is filed, separating the IEEPA duty refund from the calculations on the reconciliation entry. Once the reconciliation entry is filed, CBP will assume that all CAPE declarations associated with the reconciled entries were filed and accepted. Once a reconciliation entry is filed, the underlying entries will not be eligible to be filed on a CAPE declaration in this phase, pursuant to the June 29, 2026, deployment. The CAPE process does not prevent an entry from being reconciled.
If the reconciliation filing deadline is close to expiring, such as less than 30 days, the trade will need to prioritize filing the reconciliation entry. Entries flagged for reconciliation with a reconciliation entry already on file will be included in a future phase of CAPE development.
CIT Hearing Provides Insight for CAPE’s Next Steps
On Tuesday, June 9, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) held a hearing to discuss whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should immediately begin refunding IEEPA tariffs to all importers. While the court did not lift its current stay, the hearing provided valuable insight into CBP’s future refund plans.
WHERE THINGS STAND
CBP confirmed that it intends to continue rolling out its CAPE refund program—good news for entries already filed in CAPE—and remains committed to complying with any final court orders.
Phase 1: Launched April 20
Phase 1 is moving along well with nearly 8.5M entries processed and approximately $94.4B approved for refund. Refunds are continuing to be processed.
Phase 2: Going Live June 29
This phase focuses on reconciliation entries and benefits importers who:
– Have entries filed for reconciliation
– Have not yet filed their reconciliation entry, and
– Have entries that are either unliquidated or liquidated within 80 days of the CAPE claim filing (entries from Feb-May 2025 will likely not qualify)
Phase 3: Expected Late July 2026
Based on Tuesday’s testimony, this phase is expected to cover:
– Entries that are fully liquidated (more than 80 days past liquidation), and
– Importers who have filed their own refund lawsuit and are plaintiffs before the Court of International Trade
This is a significant distinction. If implemented as described, importers with pending CIT lawsuits may have a path to recovering all eligible IEEPA tariffs regardless of liquidation status through CAPE.
WHAT ABOUT IMPORTERS WHO HAVE NOT FILED SUIT?
The Department of Justice continues to argue that the CIT cannot order refunds for companies that are not plaintiffs. That issue will likely be decided by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and could take a year or more. Although there is an effort to certify a class action that could potentially extend relief more broadly, the CIT did not address that issue.
WHAT SHOULD AN IMPORTER DO?
Given the continued legal uncertainty, we encourage importers to take proactive steps to preserve their refund rights:
- File protests whenever available to preserve administrative rights on eligible entries that have not already been filed in CAPE. (Please be aware that, with consideration to the pending appeal process, duty refunds will likely be very slow.)
- Evaluate the duty refund potential for your outstanding entries and, if significant, strongly consider filing an individual lawsuit with the Court of International Trade (CIT) to protect refund claims for fully liquidated entries not previously filed in CAPE.
While CBP’s continued rollout of CAPE is encouraging, the combination of liquidation deadlines, eligibility limitations, and ongoing litigation creates meaningful risk for importers with entries on the sidelines.
US additional tariffs: Switzerland continuing negotiations
On 5 June, the Federal Council discussed the next steps regarding the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 investigations. The Federal Council strongly rejects the allegations raised in the investigation into imports of goods produced with forced labour and will set out its arguments in writing once again. At the same time, trade negotiations are continuing.