Connect with the right partners. Strengthen your program. Export compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially when you know where to turn for help. This session features Star USA’s president Michael D. Easton alongside Nate Ward from the SBDC Export…
USTR: Administration Outlines Next Phase of Tariff Enforcement and Trade Investigations
USTR: Administration Outlines Next Phase of Tariff Enforcement and Trade Investigations
February 27, 2026/
The administration has detailed a broad strategy to advance its trade objectives while reinforcing existing enforcement tools. Officials confirmed that a temporary 10 percent surcharge will be applied to certain imports under Section 122 authority as a means of stabilizing trade policy during ongoing negotiations. In parallel, new Section 301 investigations will examine a wide range of practices among major trading partners, including concerns related to industrial capacity, labor standards, digital taxation, technology market access, environmental stewardship, and agricultural trade.
Current investigations involving China and Brazil will continue, with the possibility of additional remedies if unfair trade practices are confirmed. Tariffs imposed under Section 232 authority will also remain in place while pending reviews move toward conclusion.
In addition, the recent Supreme Court ruling addressed only the Reciprocal and Fentanyl Tariffs, leaving other statutory trade measures unaffected. Existing Section 301 tariffs on China range from 7.5 percent to 100 percent depending on the product category, while sector specific Section 232 duties span from 10 percent to 50 percent. Together, these actions continue to cover roughly 30 percent of total United States imports, underscoring the administration’s commitment to enforcing trade laws and negotiating stronger outcomes for domestic industries.
Related Posts
USTR: Administration Announces Import Surcharge to Address Balance of Payments Deficit
Federal law, including section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, authorizes the President to impose temporary import surcharges and other restrictions when the nation faces serious international payments challenges. Acting under this authority, the Administration has determined that an ad valorem import surcharge is necessary to respond to substantial balance of payments deficits. Officials…
OFAC: U.S. Expands Sanctions Relief With New Licenses for Venezuela Oil and Gas Investment
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week issued General License 49 authorizing parties to negotiate and enter into contingent contracts for new investment in Venezuela’s oil and gas sector, provided that performance of those agreements remains subject to separate authorization from OFAC. The license covers a wide range of preliminary agreements, including executory contracts,…
OFAC: Launches Online Portal for Voluntary Self Disclosure Submissions
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has introduced a new online Voluntary Self Disclosure Portal designed to streamline the submission of potential violations under sanctions programs it administers. The secure platform replaces prior submission methods with a centralized digital system that allows individuals and organizations to file disclosures more efficiently and track communications throughout the…
CPSC: Agency Releases Preliminary HTSUS List Ahead of Mandatory eFiling Compliance Program
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published on its website a preliminary list of approximately 600 HTSUS classifications that are likely to cover products requiring electronic submission of certificate of compliance data beginning July 8. The agency emphasized that the list is not exhaustive and that additional HTSUS numbers may also be subject to…