"May you live in interesting times” – this backhanded well-wish may never have been as applicable as it is today. Since January, the news cycle has been a steady stream of market-disrupting announcements, false starts, military escalations and political and economic gamesmanship that has humbled economists and wonks who normally have strong insight on things to come. Interesting (unstable) times can be challenging for any business, and regardless of political leaning, no one can deny that since Trump’s return...

Key insights Higher tariffs mean companies must adapt their transfer pricing policies and supply chain management strategies to account for increased costs associated with importing goods. If a company's actual results from transactions during the tax year are not arm's length, they are required to make retroactive adjustments to the transfer prices paid during the year. Strategic declaration of transaction prices and participation in initiatives like Customs and Border Protection’s reconciliation program can help reduce duty liability. By accurately...

By: Ryan Last, Daniel N. Anziska, Lindsay Austin, Sean P. McNally, Tom Tilton, and Charlene C. Goldfield, Troutman Pepper Locke On April 11, the White House released a Presidential Memorandum, “Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended,” which exempts a list of semiconductors and electronics from reciprocal tariffs issued under Executive Order 14257, “Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits,” as...

By Catherine Alvino, Marketing Manager, Tradewind Finance International trade has a way of keeping you on your toes – and trade involving auto parts is no exception. With recent tariff announcements from the U.S., automakers and auto parts suppliers are facing a new set of questions on how to best go about business. 40-80% of auto parts used in U.S.-made cars are imported, according to auto analyst Mel Yu. These parts come largely from Canada and Mexico in what is an intertwined supply...

The US-China trade war continues to escalate, with the latest salvo from China coming Friday. In a statement, China retaliated against the reciprocal tariffs from the US by raising its levies on US goods to 125% from 84%, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council. This follows a busy week of tariff news published by the Trump administration who confirmed on Thursday that the US tariff rate on Chinese imports now effectively totals 145%. The news of the...

President Trump signed a new executive order, “Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment” (the Order) on April 9, marking yet another significant shift in U.S. trade policy. The Order, effective as of 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 10, 2025, amends Executive Order 14257 and the April 8 Executive Order, “Amendment to Reciprocal Tariffs and Updated Duties As Applied to Low-Value Imports from the People’s Republic of China” (the April 8 Order). The latest order intensifies tariff pressure on...

As the typical tariffs on many goods from China have soared to at least 45 percent, some suppliers in China are offering U.S. purchasers a way of avoiding or reducing the tariffs. However, U.S. importers should carefully scrutinize such offers. Attempting to lower or avoid tariffs without the proper analysis and exercise of reasonable care could lead to enforcement actions by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and significant monetary penalties. The reported proposal: Some suppliers in China are suggesting to their U.S. customers that the supplier issue...