Every change that moves a number, dated and sourced.

USTR opens public comment on US-China Board of Trade mechanism scope & operation

In early June 2026, USTR published a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on the scope and operation of the US-China Board of Trade — the new bilateral institution announced at the May 14-15 Beijing summit. The mechanism is intended to operationalize ongoing dialogue on balanced and reciprocal trade, including identification of non-sensitive goods that can deliver benefits for US farmers, ranchers, fishermen, small businesses, manufacturers, and workers. Public comment deadline: July 10, 2026. China's MOFCOM spokesperson He Yongqian publicly endorsed the Board of Trade as the preferred negotiation venue, contrasting it with the forced-labor §301 tariff action which MOFCOM opposes. The Board of Trade is the structural complement to the Board of Investment also established at the Beijing summit.

USTR proposes forced-labor §301 action — 60 economies, up to 12.5% ad valorem

USTR's June 1-2 Federal Register notice moves the forced-labor §301 investigation (60 economies, hearings closed early May) into a concrete proposed-action stage. Up to 12.5% ad valorem on goods from named economies. Sixty economies split into two tiers — 54 'failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced-labor import prohibition' (China, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil et al.) and 6 'have a prohibition but failed to enforce effectively' (Canada, Ecuador, EU, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan). Written comments due July 6; public hearings start July 7. Targeted effective date aligns with the §301 16-economy action target July 24.

USTR initiates Brazil-specific §301 investigation (separate from forced-labor track)

On June 1, 2026, USTR published a Federal Register notice initiating a Brazil-specific §301 investigation. Brazil is not on the 60-economy forced-labor list; the Brazil case is a discrete track. Covers core Brazilian exports to the US — coffee (HS 09), iron ore (HS 26), meat (HS 02), pulp (HS 47), sugar (HS 17), ethanol (HS 22), wood (HS 44). No proposed rate yet — investigation phase. Comment and hearing schedule to follow standard Section 301 timeline.

US-Mexico USMCA bilateral round 1 concludes — three-round schedule locks in

The first formal US-Mexico USMCA review round closed May 28-29 in Mexico City. Deputy USTR Jeffrey Gerrish led the US delegation (Greer did not personally attend); Marcelo Ebrard led for Mexico. Three core agenda blocks: automotive rules of origin, §232 steel/aluminum derivative boundary conditions, economic security — plus a scope expansion covering medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic-products regulatory compatibility. Round 2 scheduled June 16-17 in Washington, adding agriculture and 'level playing field' topics. Round 3 set for the week of July 20 in Mexico City — placed four days before the §301 16-economy action target of July 24. Canada absent from this bilateral track.

CIT strikes down §122 — CAFC administrative stay keeps collection in place pending appeal

On May 7, 2026, the US Court of International Trade ruled 2-1 that Proclamation 11012 — the Trump administration's February 20 implementation of a 10% global surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — is unlawful. Reason: the statutory prerequisite of a 'large and serious balance-of-payments deficit' was not satisfied. Three plaintiffs (Burlap & Barrel Inc., Basic Fun Inc., State of Washington) received a permanent injunction. On May 12, the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an administrative stay of the CIT injunction pending appeal — meaning §122 continues to be collected from all other importers. On May 20, the CIT denied the government's separate motion for a further stay. The CAFC merits opinion is most likely late 2026 (standard 3-9 month appellate cadence after oral argument). Practically: §122 is judicially live limbo through §301's July 24 takeover.

Greer + Ebrard joint statement: sector-by-sector USMCA bilateral, first formal round in Mexico City week of May 25

On April 20, 2026, USTR Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard issued a joint statement directing teams to advance technical work on economic security, complementary trade actions, strengthened rules of origin for key industrial goods, and collaboration on critical minerals. President Sheinbaum publicly framed Mexico's objective: a specialized steel/aluminum/autos agreement before the trilateral review concludes. Ebrard described the negotiating posture as 'sector by sector,' targeting reduced extra-regional dependence — particularly the 85%+ Asian import share in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and electronics. The first formal bilateral negotiating round is scheduled for the week of May 25, 2026 in Mexico City. USTR has signaled separately that existing US §232 / §301 / §122 tariffs on Mexico-origin goods stay in place during the negotiation window.

CBP launches CAPE Phase 1: consolidated IEEPA refund process for duties paid Apr 2025 – Feb 2026

CBP issued CSMS #68315804 on April 10 confirming that Phase 1 of the Consolidated Adjustment for Prior Entries (CAPE) refund process launched April 20, 2026. The mechanism mass-processes accepted entry summaries by recalculating duties as if IEEPA tariffs were never owed; interest is computed under 19 CFR 24.36. The refund channel exists because the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs in Learning Resources v. Trump (Feb 20, 2026, 6-3 ruling). CBP follow-up CSMS dated April 13 detailed the entry-summary recalculation logic. Importers do not have to file entry-by-entry; CAPE consolidates the refund.

CBAM Q1 2026 certificate price confirmed at €75.36/tCO₂

European Commission publishes the first quarterly CBAM price on April 7: €75.36/tCO₂. Combined with the 2.5% 2026 adjustment factor, real cost per tonne of imported steel is approximately €3.77. Q2/Q3/Q4 prices scheduled for July 6, October 5, January 4 2027.

§232 imposes 100% on patented pharma (15% Switzerland)

White House signs §232 proclamation on April 2. 100% ad valorem on patented drugs + APIs. Switzerland preferential tier at 15%. Generics and biosimilars fully exempt. Effective July 31 for 17 Annex III companies; September 29 for others.

§232 restructured: derivatives now pay full customs value (was metal-content)

April 2 proclamation raises Annex I-A primary metals to 50% ad valorem, Annex I-B derivatives to 25% on full customs value (no more metal-content split). UK origin qualifies for 25%/15% tiers with 95% melt-and-pour rule. Products with ≤15% metal content fully exempt. Quarterly inclusion process terminated.

PRC State Council Order No. 834 — China's first dedicated supply-chain security framework

On March 31, 2026, China's State Council promulgated Order No. 834 — the Provisions on the Security of Industrial and Supply Chains (产业链和供应链安全条例) — the PRC's first dedicated framework regulation for industrial and supply-chain security. The order, jointly enforced by MOFCOM and MIIT, provides the legal basis for sanctioning foreign companies, applies a 50% Rule for products incorporating controlled components, and embeds extraterritorial jurisdiction under the October 2025 export-control framework (extraterritorial enforcement deferred until November 2026). Effective May 1, 2026. The order serves as China's structural response to US trade-tool escalation through 2026 — paralleling §301 / §232 / IEEPA on the PRC retaliatory side.

USTR Greer + Mexico's Ebrard formally launch bilateral USMCA pre-review track

On March 18, 2026, USTR Jamieson Greer met Mexico's Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard in Washington to formally open bilateral USMCA review discussions, ahead of the July 1, 2026 first joint review. The published agenda: increasing US and Mexican production, limiting non-market inputs into North American supply chains, and identifying gaps in key supply chains. Canada was not included in this bilateral track — the meeting reads as a US-MX positioning channel rather than a trilateral preparatory.

USTR launches §301 investigations of 16 economies on structural excess capacity

USTR initiates Section 301 investigations on March 11, 2026 covering 16 economies (China, EU, SG, CH, NO, ID, MY, KH, TH, KR, VN, TW, BD, MX, JP, IN) and 21 industrial sectors including steel, aluminum, autos, batteries, chemicals, electronics, semiconductors, ships, solar, robotics. Comment deadline April 15; hearings May 5, 2026.

PRC expands rare-earth export licensing — samarium/gadolinium/lutetium compounds added January 1

Effective January 1, 2026, China's updated Import-Export Licensing Catalogue added samarium, gadolinium, and lutetium compounds — plus silver — to the rare-earth and strategic-materials export licensing list. Mechanism is licensing, not embargo — buyers can still source these materials, but only through suppliers holding valid MOFCOM export licenses. Administered jointly by MOFCOM and MIIT. The expansion follows the October 2025 framework that introduced extraterritorial jurisdiction and the '50% Rule' for products containing controlled components (extraterritorial enforcement delayed until November 2026). Previously controlled rare earths include yttrium, scandium, neodymium, indium, dysprosium, gallium, and germanium.

Mexico expands tariffs to 1,463 lines from Jan 1 2026 (up to 50%)

Mexican Senate approves the General Import and Export Tax Law amendment on December 10 2025; effective January 1 2026. Tariff coverage expands from the 155 textile lines of December 2024 to 1,463 lines across steel, aluminum, autos, footwear, appliances, plastics, toys, glass. Top rates: autos 50%, footwear 35%, steel/aluminum 25%.

Mexico Dec 2024 textile tariff sunset — tariffs revert, IMMEX ban continues

The temporary textile tariffs (15-35% on 155 HS lines in Chapters 61, 62) introduced by the December 19 2024 decree expired on April 23 2026 as scheduled. Most affected lines now fall under the December 2025 legislative package that entered force January 1 2026 — so apparel rates remain elevated, just on a different legal basis. The IMMEX prohibition on HS Chapters 61, 62, 63 (plus subheadings 9404.40, 9404.90) is a permanent amendment to the IMMEX Decree and is NOT subject to sunset.

Mexico Dec 19 2024 decree: 155 textile lines 15-35%, IMMEX prohibited for Ch 61/62/63

Sheinbaum's first decree, published in the DOF evening edition: 155 HS lines of textiles and apparel hit with 15-35% duties (effective Dec 20 2024 through April 23 2026). Simultaneous IMMEX amendment: HS Chapters 61, 62, 63 plus subheadings 9404.40 and 9404.90 prohibited from IMMEX — 302 tariff items moved from Annex II-C to Annex I.

CBAM Authorized Declarant registration deadline (March 31 2026)

From March 31 2026 every importer of CBAM-covered goods into the EU must hold Authorized CBAM Declarant status. Each shipment requires verified facility-level embedded-emissions data. Non-compliant shipments face entry rejection.