Trade wars: update on US tariffs
Video locked
The video is available exclusively to our members.
This webinar recording gives customs and trade-compliance professionals an update on the fast-moving US tariff situation under President Trump as it stood on 4 March 2025, together with the EU's official response.
Topics covered:
- The timeline of US tariff measures: the 10% China tariff of 4 February 2025, and the 4 March 2025 tariffs of 25% on Mexico, 25% on Canada (except energy) and an additional 10% on China
- Planned further US tariffs on aluminium and steel, agricultural products and foreign cars, and Section 232 investigations into copper and timber imports
- The removal of the US $800 de minimis threshold for Chinese and cross-border goods, and the uncertainty over retrospective effect
- China's retaliatory measures: export/purchase restrictions on named US companies, the "unreliable entities" list, a Google monopoly investigation, agricultural tariffs, and rare-mineral export restrictions
- Canada's retaliatory tariff on US imports and the market impact on European car manufacturers and suppliers
- China's WTO dispute complaint over loss of de minimis and drawback treatment, and how the WTO consultation/panel process works
- The White House's "fair and reciprocal" trade plan and the EU's official response and published Q&A, including EU-US trade and investment figures
- Whether VAT is a "tariff", and the EU-US car/pickup-truck tariff comparison
- The European Commission's simplification agenda, including the new CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) de minimis exemption for smaller importers
For a broader overview of the topic, please watch the full recording. The slides are available in the Resources section.
Please note that this summary was generated using AI, based on the recording and available slides.
Related content
Tariffs - pros and cons
Discussions around US tariffs have made many people think again about the reasons and motivations behind countries imposing tariffs. Throughout history, there have been many examples of strict protectionism and…
Understanding the EU-Mercosur Agreement: a practical guide for businesses
The EU-Mercosur Agreement opens new opportunities for businesses trading between the EU and South America. However, benefiting from preferential tariffs requires more than simply knowing that an agreement exists. Companies…
Tariff wars - the story so far
In this recording of the "EU customs law update" webinar held on 6 May 2025, Anthony Buckley, CEO of Anthony Buckley Consulting Ltd., traces the origins of the current US-led…
Trade wars: US tariffs
In this recording, Anthony Buckley (CEO, Anthony Buckley Consulting Ltd.) examines the legal frameworks behind the wave of US tariffs announced by President Trump in early 2025, a topic of…
China’s countermeasures in response to US tariffs
This recording examines China's countermeasures against US tariffs and what they mean for trade and customs compliance professionals managing US-China supply chains. Topics covered: The five rounds of Chinese retaliatory…
Impact of US tariffs on exporters and importers
In this expert-led UK roundtable, a former senior US Customs and Border Protection official and a UK customs, excise and VAT consultant discuss the impact of US tariffs on exporters…