Government Affairs

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group —  On July 31, President Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on some 70 countries effective on August 7.  The following list (Annex 1) is linked to the Executive Order: The European Union and Vietnam On July 28, President Trump announced a trade deal with the European Union, which agreed to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy…

Several policy initiatives in the first months of the Trump Administration have caused economic uncertainty affecting businesses.  Some have reached closure like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R 1), which is a positive for IHA members, but tariffs continue to be a thorny issue. The velocity of tariffs imposed by President Trump on nearly all countries has obviously caused…

On May 28, 2025, the Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled unanimously to end President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs. The three-judge panel found IEEPA did not grant unbound authority to tax imports from nearly every country around the world. No president had tried to use 1977’s IEEPA for tariffs perhaps because it doesn’t mention…

On Feb. 21, 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested comments on proposed actions under Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to end China’s practices for global domination of the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors. This culminated a year-long investigation that started when five labor unions petitioned USTR to probe China’s grip on shipping and…

On March 27, the IHA Government Affairs team conducted the webinar, “Tariff Update from Washington, DC,” to provide basic information on President Trump’s tariffs. Executives from freight logistics services provider TQL Global, LLC, also provided their experience with the tariffs. The IHA webinar covered the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada; 20% tariffs on China; 25% tariffs…

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Trump has issued tariffs for different countries and different products. Further confusing matters are the various starting dates and rates for the tariffs and the statutes by which President Trump can impose such tariffs. Following is a brief inventory of President Trump’s tariff announcements with the rates and starting dates and…

President Trump has issued hundreds of executive actions since his inauguration. Many were Executive Orders (EOs) rescinding Biden EOs or to initiate policies not needing congressional approval. On Feb. 1, Trump announced 25% tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada (with Canadian energy resources at 10%), and 10% tariffs on products from China. All were scheduled to start…

When the 119th Congress began on Jan. 3, 2025, the big question was whether House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would have the votes to keep his post with the Republican majority at 219-215 per Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) departure.  Johnson could only lose one Republican vote to hold the necessary 218 for reelection but he prevailed with President-elect Trump corralling wayward…

The swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2025, will  alleviate the “tax uncertainty” that’s gripped businesses with the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at next year’s end.  Trump’s inauguration and Republican control of Congress means the TCJA will be extended and some provisions made permanent perhaps by the end…