US: Trump administration grants reciprocal tariff exceptions for smartphones, computers, and electronics from China tariffs
The Trump Administration released a memorandum titled “Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended” on 11 April 2025. The clarification broadens the reciprocal tariff exception for "semiconductors" to
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EU pauses counter trade measures against US
The European Commission announced on 9 April 2025 that its proposal to implement trade countermeasures against the US had received approval from EU Member States. The Commission's proposal was made in response to the US decision in March to
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Canada: Countermeasures against auto imports from the US enters into force
Canada’s finance minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed on 8 April 2025 that Canada’s new countermeasures, announced on 2 April 2025, in response to the unjustified tariffs imposed by the US on the Canadian auto industry came into force
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US: Trump pauses tariffs for 90 days for all countries, hits China harder with 125%
US President Donald Trump announced a three-month suspension of all “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect on 9 April 2025, excluding those applied to China. The sweeping tariffs will remain for China, the world’s second largest economy and
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US: Trump introduces ‘reciprocal tariffs’, rattles global trade relations
Appearing in the White House Rose Garden, where large US flags were draped along the colonnades, President Trump signed an executive order implementing a 10% baseline tariff on imports from all countries on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. The move is
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US: Trump imposes tariffs on Venezuelan oil buyers, foreign auto imports
President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on any country purchasing oil from Venezuela on 31 March 2025. The latest tariffs follow the Trump administration's implementation of tariffs under the America First Trade Policy,
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Canada: Ontario suspends 25% power surcharge following Trump’s tariff threat
Canadian province Ontario has suspended its 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US after talks between US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The talks followed after President Donald Trump announced to raise
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US: Trump orders lumber import probe and boost domestic production, raising concerns on potential tariffs
US President Donald Trump has issued two executive orders concerning the timber industry on 1 March 2025. The first executive order aims to boost domestic production, and the second investigates the impact of imported timber on US security and
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US: Trump halts tariffs on USMCA products
US President Donald Trump signed executive orders halting the recently imposed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) yesterday, on 6 March 2025. The USMCA allows goods to move
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US: Trump exempts automakers from Mexican, Canadian tariffs for a month
According to the White House, on 5 March 2025, US President Donald Trump has decided to exempt automakers from his 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month if they follow existing free trade rules. Following discussions with the three
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US: Trump’s tariffs enters into force, Canada and China announces retaliation
US President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 20% tariffs on Chinese imports entered into force today, 4 March 2025, raising fears of trade conflicts with the top three US trading partners. In response,
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Evolution of Preferential Trade Under Regional Trade Agreements
A WTO working paper of 7 February 2025, written by Rohini Acharya and Thakur Parajuli has the title The Evolution of Preferential Trade Under Regional Trade Agreements: Has Anything Changed? The paper looks at the question of whether the share of
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Nigeria approves 50% telecom tariff increase
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved a 50% increase in telecommunication service tariffs on 20 January 2025. The tariff hike, capped at a maximum of 50% of current tariffs, is a response to the telecommunication operators,
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IMF: Revenue and Spending Measures for Developing Countries to Reduce Debt Levels
An IMF Public Finance Management (PFM) Blog, written by Talal Rafi (a Director at EY Sri Lanka) and published on 27 January 2025, looked at the measures developing countries can take to reduce public debt levels. The author notes that more than 3
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US postpones new tariffs on Canada, Mexico for 30 days
US President Donald Trump has agreed on Monday, 3 February 2025, to halt tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days – which was set to take effect Tuesday, 4 February 2025 – after both countries pledged to step up efforts to stop illicit drugs and
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US President Donald Trump’s tariffs spark retaliation from Canada, Mexico, China, and Taiwan escalating trade wars
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday, 1 February 2025, that the country will impose 25% tariffs on US goods, including orange juice, household appliances, and plastics, in response to US duties on Canadian imports. This
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US to impose 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico imports starting February says President Trump
US President Donald Trump has said he will follow through with his threat to impose a 25% border tax or tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting tomorrow, 1 February 2025. However, Trump has said he is yet to decide whether oil imported
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Continuing Significance of MFN Trading Terms
A WTO working paper of 15 January 2025, written by Tomasz Gonciarz and Thomas Verbeet, has the title Significance of most-favoured-nation terms in global trade: A comprehensive analysis. Under the WTO's MFN trading principle, member countries of
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