The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently announced three major trade and economic initiatives that the administration describes as part of a broader strategy to address large and persistent U.S. trade deficits, concerns about reciprocity in bilateral trade relationships, and other unfair trade practices, while deepening economic and national security cooperation and reinforcing Western Hemisphere supply chains. On January 29, a U.S.-El Salvador Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade was announced, which includes commitments to improve market access, regulatory...

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On January 29, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14380 to impose an additional ad valorem duty on goods from countries that directly or indirectly sell or otherwise provide oil—that is, crude oil or petroleum products—to Cuba.  Although the executive order, which took effect on January 30, 2026, appears broad in scope, it clarifies that the Secretary of Commerce will determine which countries directly or indirectly sell or otherwise provide oil to Cuba and convey that information to the Secretary of State,...

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In this week’s Roar: The EU-India trade deal, a new FMC investigation, air cargo volumes, supply chain diversification, and a prediction for robots. A new trade agreement between the EU and India has been hailed as the “mother of all deals” and has the world wondering how President Trump might respond. The pact is seen as a hedge against the ever-unpredictable U.S. trade policies, reduces tariffs on most goods, and deepens ties between the EU and India. Since the U.S. recently hiked...

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In 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made clear that tariff evasion and customs fraud now sit firmly within the core of False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement. The FCA is not only the government’s primary tool to combat fraud but also the most lucrative — in fiscal year 2025, for example, FCA settlements and judgments exceeded $6.8 billion — the highest annual total in the statute’s history. Recently, the DOJ has clearly positioned “improper avoidance of tariffs and customs duties” as...

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In this week’s Roar: A comprehensive look at tariffs, the impact of policy volatility, tariff ruling timing, air cargo’s turbulent performance in 2025, and the challenges of disruptions for supply chains. President Trump has been in office for a year,… and what a year it’s been for trade and global supply chains. Keeping track of tariffs and sorting through the noise has become a daily chore for many companies. The areas getting the most attention lately have been Europe and Canada, with the...

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Here is a look back on the week’s international trade law news from our blog, SmarTrade. United States and Taiwan Sign Agreement on Trade & Investment By Scott E. Diamond**, David M. Schwartz, Samir D. Varma & Francesca M.S. Guerrero on January 16, 2026 On January 15, 2026, the United States and Taiwan agreed to a trade deal to establish “a strategic economic partnership … to decisively strengthen U.S. domestic semiconductor supply chains and secure America’s technological and industrial leadership.” While the text and full terms of the trade deal were...

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In this week’s Roar: China’s trade surplus, what if the Supreme Court rules against tariffs, a slow rebound at the Suez Canal, technology’s place in supply chain strategies, and how communication affects supply chains. By the end of 2025, China’s trade surplus sat at a record $1.2 trillion, an increase of 20%, mainly due to exports to Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America, offsetting declines to the U.S. This growth was fueled by demand for autos, chips, and electrical goods. While...

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On January 14, President Trump issued two proclamations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Section 232) addressing national security risks associated with imports of processed critical minerals and semiconductors. The actions follow U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) investigations initiated in 2025 on critical minerals and semiconductors, reflecting an expanded use of Section 232 authorities to reshape supply chains for technologies viewed as essential to U.S. defense, infrastructure, and economic security. While the proclamations take different approaches — one establishing a pathway for...

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