Resources

Effective July 24, the Trump Administration imposed new Section 301 tariffs of 10 percent or 12.5 percent on imports from 86 countries following a U.S. Trade Representative determination that those countries have failed to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on imports made with forced labor. At the same time, the temporary 10 percent Section 122 tariff on imports from all countries expired. While the new tariffs apply broadly, USTR has exempted numerous products and categories of goods from the measure. The tariffs are also being challenged before the Court of International Trade. Virginia companies should monitor this case to determine if they may be entitled to refunds sometime in the future.

The affected countries account for more than 99 percent of Virginia's goods imports. For more information on country-specific tariff rates and product coverage, click here.

Effective July 22, an additional 25 percent Section 301 tariff took effect on most imports from Brazil, following a U.S. Trade Representative investigation into various Brazilian trade practices. The new tariff is separate from, and in addition to, the 12.5 percent Section 301 forced labor tariff imposed on imports from Brazil and the normal tariff rates.

Virginia imported more than $340 million in goods from Brazil through July 2026. For more information, click here.

Effective August 22, the U.S. imposed an additional 50 percent tariff under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 against $20 billion worth of imports from Canada. The action was later modified effective September 15 to add and remove certain products and effective September 29 a modified list of products became subject to a ban. Unlike previous additional tariffs, the Section 338 tariff will apply to all covered goods regardless of whether they are originating under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and will also stack on top of any other applicable duties.

For more information, click here.

President Trump has issued a proclamation imposing Section 232 tariffs on imports of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and related components, with rates ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent depending on the product and country of origin. The tariffs went into effect on September 3, though certain drone components will not be subject to the new duties until February 9, 2027.

For more information, click here.

President Trump has issued a proclamation that, effective December 4, will establish minimum import prices for imports of polysilicon, polysilicon ingots and wafers, solar cells, and solar modules, while also imposing an additional 15 percent tariff on specified downstream polysilicon derivative products. The measure includes new compliance requirements for importers and tariff relief for companies with approved plans to expand U.S. polysilicon production. The Bureau of Industry and Security later issued a temporary final rule designed to prevent companies from stockpiling polysilicon or its derivatives before import restrictions on those items take effect December 4.

For more information on the proclamation, click here. For more information on the temporary final rule, click here.

President Trump issued a proclamation on July 9 declining to impose Section 232 tariffs on imports of commercial aircraft, jet engines, and related parts, despite a Commerce Department finding that such imports threaten to impair U.S. national security. Instead, the administration will pursue negotiations with trading partners over the next 180 days, though tariffs or other import restrictions could still be imposed if those efforts prove unsuccessful.

President Trump has issued a proclamation imposing a four-year tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on imports of quartz surface products effective August 15, following a Section 201 determination that increased imports are causing serious injury to the domestic industry. The measure establishes in-quota tariffs beginning at 25 percent and above-quota tariffs beginning at 50 percent, with rates gradually declining over the four-year period, while exempting imports from certain free trade agreement partners and other eligible countries.

For more information, click here.

President Trump has issued an executive order, effective August 26, prohibiting the importation of certain bulk-power system equipment and related components from covered foreign countries subject to U.S. arms embargoes or certain sanctions, as well as from persons or entities owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction of those countries. The order also authorizes restrictions on the continued use, operation, maintenance, servicing, or updating of previously imported equipment from covered sources.

For more information, click here.

President Trump has issued a proclamation temporarily lowering import duties on certain lean beef imports by expanding the U.S. beef tariff-rate quota by 300,000 metric tons. The additional quota will be made available in three monthly tranches of 100,000 metric tons each from September through November.

For more information, click here.

On September 2, President Trump signed into law a government funding bill that includes a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Haiti's HOPE/HELP trade-preference programs. Both programs had lapsed last fall before being temporarily restored through the end of 2026, and this new extension authorizes them through December 31, 2028.

Virginia companies imported approximately $89 million under AGOA in 2025.

On September 27, the United States and China released reciprocal product lists under the U.S.-China Board of Trade framework identifying goods that each side will consider for future reduced tariff treatment. The announcement does not implement any immediate tariff reductions, and neither the timing nor the extent of any future tariff relief has been specified.

To view the list of U.S. products for import into China, click here. To view the list of Chinese products for import into the U.S., click here.

On July 21, the U.S. announced the signing of a reciprocal trade agreement with Jordan that preserves duty-free access for nearly all U.S. goods under the existing U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. The agreement also secures commitments that should ease export logistics and reduce barriers for U.S. companies, including paperless and pre-arrival customs processing, acceptance of electronic bills of lading, faster release of low-risk express shipments, elimination of Jordan's special tax on U.S.-produced motor vehicles, stronger intellectual property enforcement, and a commitment not to impose customs duties or discriminatory taxes on U.S. digital services and electronic transmissions.

Virginia exported just over $8.6 million in goods to Jordan through July 2026.

For more information, click here.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule that, effective July 10, will significantly upgrade the status of the United Arab Emirates under the Export Administration Regulations, expanding opportunities for U.S. exporters to provide certain military, dual-use, space, and advanced computing technologies, including AI chips and servers, with reduced licensing requirements and fewer restrictions on exports supporting the UAE's drone programs.

For more information, click here. 

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule that, effective August 13, eases export controls on certain unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and related parts, components, accessories, attachments, technology, and software under the Export Administration Regulations.

For more information, click here.

The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a temporary final rule to restrict the exportation of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap. Under this rule, from August 27, 2026 to August 27, 2027, these materials may not be exported from the United States and must remain physically located within the United States unless otherwise explicitly authorized by BIS.

For more information, click here. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is accepting comments through December 1 on potential regulatory changes aimed at giving the agency greater visibility into imported-goods supply chains and improving its ability to detect illegal transshipment and other customs violations. The initiative is one of several actions expected under a June 2026 executive order directing a broader tightening of U.S. customs enforcement.

Under the proposed changes, Virginia importers could face broader recordkeeping and data-validation obligations, greater scrutiny of country-of-origin claims, and increased responsibility for obtaining and reconciling information from foreign suppliers. CTPAT participants could also face new traceability, cybersecurity, and data-integrity requirements, although CBP is considering additional benefits for companies that provide the agency with greater supply-chain visibility.

For more information, click here.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a notice announcing that, beginning September 18, it will begin verifying information submitted on CBP Form 5106 and will void importer of record (IOR) numbers associated with incomplete or inaccurate filings. Virginia importers and customs brokers should ensure that identifying and contact information provided on the form is accurate, complete, and belongs directly to the IOR, as a voided IOR number cannot be used to enter goods into the United States.

For more information, click here.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a final rule, effective October 26, requiring advance electronic transmission of export manifest data through ACE for rail cargo departing the United States for Canada or Mexico. The requirement applies regardless of whether electronic export information is otherwise required, which is generally not the case for shipments valued at $2,500 or less per Schedule B number or for most shipments to Canada. The compliance date is October 26, 2027.

For more information, click here.

Effective August 3, the Department of Homeland Security added 43 China-based companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List (UFLPA), barring their goods from entering the United States. The additions, which represent the largest single expansion of the list to date, cover companies in the aluminum, cotton, apparel, copper, gold, seafood, frozen food, and transportation infrastructure sectors and bring the total number of listed entities to 187.

Virginia companies need to review their supply chains to ensure they remain in compliance.

For more information, click here.

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a notice that, effective July 28, prohibits imports of new foreign-made connected power inverters and advanced robotic devices, which have been added to the FCC’s Covered List. The Covered List comprises equipment and services that have been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons. Equipment on this list is banned from receiving new FCC equipment authorizations, which are required prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. 

For more information, click here.

In an August 13 ruling, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) upheld President Trump’s executive orders from last year, ending the de minimis exemption for imports. The exemption previously allowed imports valued at $800 or less to enter the United States free of duty and taxes and subject to expedited clearance processing.

For more information, click here.

In a September 15 filing to the Court of International Trade (CIT), CBP told the Court that it will deploy Phase 3 of its CAPE tariff refund system on October 6. Phase 3 will cover entries that are liquidated for more than 80 days and filed by plaintiffs (1) for which the CIT has ordered reliquidation and (2) that submitted a valid importer of record number to CBP by July 30, 2026. CBP will provide additional instructions regarding CAPE Phase 3 to the plaintiffs who provided an IOR number after July 30, 2026.

For more information, click here.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a notice requesting public comments to help identify significant foreign barriers to, or distortions of, U.S. exports of goods and services and U.S. foreign direct investment for inclusion in the 2027 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE Report). USTR will also consider responses to this notice as part of the annual review of the operation and effectiveness of all U.S. trade agreements regarding telecommunications products and services that are in force with respect to the United States.

Virginia exporters should consider submitting comments to ensure that foreign market access challenges affecting their exports are reflected in the NTE Report. USTR has increasingly relied on the NTE Report to identify and address foreign trade barriers in its negotiations with trading partners. Comments are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 29, 2026. 

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is requesting written comments by October 7 that identify online and physical markets to be considered for inclusion in the 2026 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (Notorious Markets List). The Notorious Markets List identifies examples of online and physical markets that reportedly engage in or facilitate substantial copyright piracy or trademark counterfeiting.

For more information, click here.