Topics
CBP's messages on each trade authority, in one place
Each topic has a short explainer, its stretch of the trade timeline, the key trade actions with their citations, and every CSMS message about it.
Section 232 tariffs
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 lets the President adjust imports of products that the Commerce Department finds threaten to impair national security. It has been used for duties on steel and aluminum since 2018, and on a growing list of other products since.
169messageslatest Nov 12, 2026IEEPA tariffs
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 lets the President regulate transactions with foreign countries after declaring a national emergency. Beginning in February 2025 it was used as the basis for new tariffs on imports from many countries. After the Supreme Court ruled on those duties in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump in February 2026, they were ended, and CBP announced refunds through its CAPE process.
81messageslatest Aug 24, 2026De minimis
Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930 allows low-value shipments, $800 or less per person per day, to enter free of duty and with less paperwork. Duty-free treatment ended for products of China and Hong Kong in May 2025 and was paused for all countries on August 29, 2025. The pause was extended in February 2026.
77messageslatest Jul 20, 2026Section 301 tariffs
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 lets the U.S. Trade Representative act against foreign practices found to be unreasonable or discriminatory and to burden U.S. commerce. It is best known for the tariffs on goods from China imposed since 2018. It has since been used for fees on vessels and, in July 2026, for forced labor duties on imports from 60 economies.
68messageslatest Oct 22, 2026UFLPA and forced labor
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), in force since June 21, 2022, presumes that goods made wholly or partly in Xinjiang, or by entities on the UFLPA Entity List, were made with forced labor and may not be imported under Section 307 of the Tariff Act. Importers can seek an exception only with clear and convincing evidence.
46messageslatest Sep 29, 2026Antidumping and countervailing duties
Antidumping duties offset imports sold in the U.S. below fair value; countervailing duties offset foreign government subsidies. The Commerce Department sets the rates and the International Trade Commission decides whether a U.S. industry is injured. CBP collects the cash deposits at entry and liquidates entries on Commerce’s instructions.
85messageslatest Jul 9, 2026