On February 20, 2026, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that tariffs under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) are illegal (see Thompson Hine Update of February 20, 2026), Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, issued a statement that the decision “affects [only] one element of the Administration’s” trade
President Trump Implements Temporary Import Duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Continues the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Exception for International Shipments
On February 20, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation announcing that he was imposing a temporary import surcharge (i.e., tariff) pursuant to section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. Section 2132) to address “fundamental international payments problems” that “could impair United States national interests, including economic and national security interests.” Stating…
IEEPA-Based Tariffs Ending February 24, 2026
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) Message # 67834313 to clarify that the U.S. government will stop collecting tariffs subject to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) beginning Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The CSMS message follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Friday…
U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates IEEPA as a Lawful Authority to Impose Tariffs
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in a 6-3 ruling determined that President Donald Trump’s use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs was unlawful. In its decision, the SCOTUS stated: “When Congress grants the power to impose tariffs, it does so clearly and with careful constraints. …
United States and Taiwan Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Trade
On February 12, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the United States of America and Taiwan (the “Agreement”), under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative…
President Trump Issues Executive Order to Address Continuing Threats by Iran
On February 6, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order continuing the national emergency with respect to Iran and establishing a process to impose tariffs on countries that acquire any goods or services from Iran to protect the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. The Executive Order “impose[s] an additional …
United States and Argentina Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Trade
On February 5, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and The Argentine Republic have signed the U.S.-Argentina Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment (Agreement). According to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the USTR, the Agreement serves “as a model of how countries in the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra…
President Trump Lowers IEEPA-Based Tariffs on India and Announces Framework for Bilateral Interim Trade Agreement
On February 6, 2026, President Donald Trump issued both an Executive Order (“EO”) and a joint statement announcing a “framework for an Interim Agreement” with India that reduces U.S. tariffs on imports of Indian products, lowering the overall rate from 50% to 25% with a further reduction to 18% to be “promptly” implemented. Effective February…
BIS Amends the EAR to Remove Arms Embargo Designation on Cambodia
On February 3, 2026, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule removing Cambodia from the list of U.S. arms-embargoed countries—Country Group D:5—within the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This actions follows the White House’s October 2025 decision to lift the U.S. arms embargo on Cambodia, and aligns with the…
OFAC Issues General License Authorizing Certain Oil Activities in Venezuela
On January 29, 2026, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela-related General License 46, “Authorizing Certain Activities Involving Venezuelan-Origin Oil.” The general license authorizes all transactions prohibited by the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R part 591, including those involving the Government of Venezuela, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA)…
