TradeLane

On March 12, 2025, the U.S. government enacted additional duties on steel and aluminum products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Designed initially to safeguard domestic industries by levying tariffs on steel and aluminum products, the new regulations have significantly broadened the range of covered items. Impacted importers must grasp these intricate requirements to ensure proper duty payments are made and avoid potential penalties.

In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing, every penny counts. For our client, a Canadian importer of metal brackets (classified under HS code 8302.30.90), a seemingly standard 6% import duty was putting a significant dent in their bottom line. However, a closer look revealed a hidden opportunity to leverage the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) end-use provision, leading to substantial duty savings and a significant boost in competitiveness.

On February 18, 2025, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a major government restructuring, consolidating ministries and agencies, eliminating specific National Assembly and Party committees, and dissolving multiple state-run organizations to streamline operations and support economic growth. 

The United States – Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA), known in Canada as Canada – US – Mexico agreement (CUSMA), establishes a framework for duty-free trade among the three nations, provided goods meet specific rules of origin.  Recent developments have underscored the importance of ensuring goods qualify under CUSMA to avoid newly imposed tariffs. 

The automotive industry relies heavily on the global flow of parts and components, making accurate classification within the Harmonized System (HS) critical. This complex system of names and numbers dictates tariffs and facilitates international trade, but its intricacies can be highly challenging for automotive products.

Differences that seem minor in a part description may lead to exponentially different classifications and, as a result, wildly varying duty rates. These differences can have significant financial implications for automotive businesses, impacting everything from production costs to final vehicle pricing.