Every change that moves a number, dated and sourced.

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.

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.

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.