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25% Tariffs on imports from Canada & Mexico – China Tariffs Doubled to 20%
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Please find the below notices from U.S. Customs and Border Protection:
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Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Starting March 4, and
Additional 10% Tariffs on Imports from China
Excerpted from AP.org, March 3, 2025
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China.
In a Truth Social post Thursday, Trump said illicit drugs such as fentanyl are being smuggled into the United States at “unacceptable levels” and that import taxes would force other countries to crack down on the trafficking.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” the Republican president wrote. “China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date.”
The prospect of escalating tariffs has already thrown the global economy into turmoil, with consumers expressing fears about inflation worsening and the auto sector and other domestic manufacturers suffering if Trump raises import taxes. But Trump has also at times engaged in aggressive posturing only to give last-minute reprieves, previously agreeing to a 30-day suspension of the Canada and Mexico tariffs that were initially supposed to start in February.
At this point, we have no further information as to how these changes will be implemented but we will continue to advise as we receive updates.
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Wage increases and automation protections:
ILA agrees on six-year contract
Excerpted from workboat.com, February 27, 2025 By Chuck Chiang
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The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has ratified a new six-year master contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), securing labor stability at Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports through September 2030. With nearly 99% of members voting in favor, ILA noted the contract includes record wage increases and safeguards against automation.
The extension to the master contract will be effective Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2030, ILA said in a Feb. 25 press release. ILA president Harold Daggett, who served as the union’s chief negotiator, called the contract the strongest in the organization’s history.
“It was a tough contract to negotiate,” Daggett said. “But the ILA stayed strong and unified, successfully winning the greatest contract in ILA history and maybe the strongest collective bargaining agreement ever negotiated by any union.”
The contract includes a 62% wage increase, accelerated raises for new ILA workers, and full container royalty funds returned to the union. Additional benefits include increased contributions to retirement plans, strengthened healthcare provisions under the MILA National Health Plan program, and a resolution to the vacation and holiday dispute.
A key component of the agreement is its firm stance against automation, ensuring job security for dockworkers. The ILA had identified automation as a major threat to its members and successfully negotiated full protections against job-displacing technology.
Daggett credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for his involvement in the negotiations. A December 2024 meeting at Mar-A-Lago between Trump and ILA leadership helped solidify the union’s stance against automation, providing momentum for the final agreement.
The ILA also acknowledged USMX lead negotiator Paul DeMaria for his role in reaching a settlement and avoiding a second strike. “Paul was uniquely qualified to move negotiations in the right direction,” Daggett said.
With the contract now ratified, the ILA statement noted the association now aims to strengthen their partnership with USMX, which it said would promote growth at ILA ports and expand the union’s influence among dockworker organizations globally. The formal signing of the contract is scheduled for March 11, 2025.
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Amendment to February 5, 2025 Federal Register notice on China Tariffs and Official Annex of HTS Codes for Aluminum and Steel Published
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Please click the links below to read the full text of the Federal Register Documents:
- Amended Notice of Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of the People’s Republic of China Pursuant to the President’s February 1, 2025 Executive Order Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02576/amended-notice-of-implementation-of-additional-duties-on-products-of-the-peoples-republic-of-china
- Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/18/2025-02833/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states
- Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/18/2025-02832/adjusting-imports-of-aluminum-into-the-united-states
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Presidents Day –
Monday, February 17th, 2025 –
Conley Terminal Closed
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Please see the below message from the Port of Boston:
Good Morning Port of Boston Customers,
As a reminder, Conley Terminal will be closed on Monday, February 17th in observance of Presidents Day.
Please plan accordingly.
Thank you for your continued support!
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Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of the People’s Republic of China Pursuant to the President’s February 1, 2025 Executive Order Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China
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Published in the Federal Register, February 5, 2025
for full text of the law, see the below link:
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Latest On Tariffs, China, Canada, Mexico
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Below is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on February 5th, These two are the unpublished versions, but unlikely to change by tomorrow.
CBP Unpublished Federal Register notices to implement tariffs on: China and Canada
Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Implementation of Additional Duties on Products of Canada
Summary of Additional Duties
- Additional Duty goes into effect for goods entered into consumption after February 4, 12:01 EST. In-transit goods loaded as of February 1, 12:01 EST will not be subject to additional duties if entered into consumption by March 7, 12:01 EST.
- De Minimus Exemption removed for affected goods. Formal entry now required for all mail shipments regardless of value.
- No Duty Drawback allowed on the additional duties.
China
- There is no indication President Trump is scheduled to speak with President Xi. Absent an agreement, the additional tariffs will proceed.
Canada
- On February 3, 2025, President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau have agreed to pause the anticipated tariff increases for one month for Canada to implement a $1.3 Billion border plan and a $200 million intelligence directive targeting organized crime and fentanyl.
Mexico
- On February 3, 2025, President Trump and President Sheinbaum of Mexico have agreed to pause the anticipated tariff increases for one month on the tentative agreement that Mexico will send 10,000 soldiers to the border to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the United States.
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Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico after they pledge to boost border enforcement
apnews.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday agreed to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada as America’s two largest trading partners took steps to appease his concerns about border security and drug trafficking.
The pauses provide a cool-down period after a tumultuous few days that put North America on the cusp of a trade war that risked crushing economic growth, causing prices to soar and ending two of the United States’ most critical partnerships.
“I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” Trump posted on social media. “FAIRNESS FOR ALL!”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted Monday afternoon on X that the pause would occur “while we work together,” saying that his government would name a fentanyl czar, list Mexican cartels as terrorist groups and launch a “Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.”
The pause followed a similar move with Mexico that allows for a period of negotiations over drug smuggling and illegal immigration. The 10% tariff that Trump ordered on China is still set to go into effect as scheduled on Tuesday, though Trump planned to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next few days.
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International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) Announce Tentative Agreement on New Six-Year Master Contract
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NORTH BERGEN/LYNDHURST, NJ (January 8, 2025) – The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.
“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15, 2025,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coasts ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.
“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”
Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA rank-and-file-members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.
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December 1, 2024, Lacey ACT Phase VII Declaration
from: aphis.usda.gov
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Phase VII of the Lacey Act provisions for certain imported plants and wood products began implementing on December 1, 2024. In this phase, Lacey Act declarations are required for all remaining plant products Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are not 100-percent composite materials.
Lacey Act declarations are now required on a wide array of imported products, including furniture, additional essential oils, sporting goods, housewares, tools, boats and vehicles, cork etc. Please see the below complete list of products.
View the full list of products included in Phase VII on our Implementation Schedule web page.
Lacey Act proper use of Special Use Designations Special Use Designations | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service example: Composite, Recycled, and Reclaimed Plant Materials
Tips for Importers
Here’s what you can do for Phase VII:
- Know your supply chain for each piece of plant material in the product. An imported product may include many different plant species. For example, furniture may include inlays of many species. Communicate with your suppliers to obtain plant information—the scientific name for each piece of plant product and where that plant was harvested.
- Learn how to file a declaration. Familiarize yourself with the requirements and what information you need to file.
- Get answers to your questions. For more specifics, check out our frequently asked questions.
Lacey Act Declaration Requirements Last Modified: October 23, 2024
You can review the information on this website: Lacey Act Declaration Requirements this lists the requirements for Common Products.
Do You Need a Declaration?
Yes
You do need to file a Lacey Act declaration if all of the following apply to your product or shipment:
- Contains plant material
- Classified under an APHIS-listed Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code
- Imported as a formal entry
- Falls under one of these entry type codes
No
You do not need to file a Lacey Act declaration if at least one of the following applies to your product or shipment:
- Free of plant material
- Hand-carried in personal baggage or arrives via international mail
- Contains finished products not classified in an APHIS-listed HTS code, even if some materials used to create the product might otherwise require a declaration
- Imported as an informal entry
- Will not remain in the United States (in-bond movements and carnets)
- Meets the de minimis* requirement
- Is in one of these exempt products categories (unless it’s a protected product; then, it requires a declaration)
- Common Cultivars and Common Food Crops
- Scientific specimens for lab or field research only
- Plants that will remain planted or will be planted or replanted
*De Minimis Exception -Products containing a minimal, or “de minimis,” amount of plant material are excepted from the declaration requirement if: The plant material in the product represents no more than 5 percent of the total weight of the individual product unit, provided that the total weight of the plant material in an entry of products in the same 10-digit provision of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States does not exceed 2.9 kilograms. The exception does not apply if the product contains plant material listed: In an appendix to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249); As an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or Pursuant to any State law that provides for the conservation of species that are indigenous to the State and are threatened with extinction. More Information: April 2020 Final Rule—Lacey Act Implementation Plan: De Minimis Exception For products that meet the de minimis requirement, you can apply disclaimer code “G” to fulfill the Lacey message set requirements when filing import documents in CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment. Note: APHIS’ Lacey Act de minimis exception is not related to CBP’s de minimis exemption, which is based solely on a shipment’s value.
For help complying with the Lacey Act declaration requirement:
Lacey Act Team
Email: lacey.act.declaration@usda.gov
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Products included in Phase VII
