This live blog contains all updates from March 1, 2025 onwards. For all updates prior to that date, as well as our original blog on the 2024 election, visit our Early Updates on the Trump Administration’s Tariff and Trade Policies page.

Updated March 27, 2025:

Yesterday, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 25% tariff on all imports of automobiles and auto parts. The tariff, which will take effect on April 3 at 12:01 a.m. ET, will apply to both finished automobiles shipped into the U.S. and imported parts assembled into automobiles at American auto plants.

Importers of automobiles that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content, so that the 25% tariff will only apply to their non-U.S. content. Additionally, USMCA-compliant auto parts will not be subject to the new tariff until the Secretary of Commerce and CBP finalize a process for applying tariffs to importers’ non-U.S. content.

About half of all U.S. auto imports come from Mexico and Canada; other top suppliers include Japan, South Korea, and Germany. Some American brands—including major manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis—will also be significantly impacted, with supply chains that cross North American borders several times and major operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Updated March 25, 2025:

President Trump issued an executive order yesterday imposing a 25% tariff on all countries that buy oil or gas from Venezuela, effective April 2. This tariff will be added on top of existing tariffs.

According to the executive order, officials from the Trump administration—the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security, along with the U.S. Trade Representative—may determine specific tariffs to levy. The executive order also stipulates that the tariffs will expire one year after Venezuelan oil is last imported, or possibly earlier, depending on decisions from Trump administration officials.

China and the U.S. are among the biggest buyers of Venezuelan oil. Of the 921,000 barrels of crude oil Venezuela produced per day in 2024, 351,000 barrels per day were shipped to China, while 228,000 barrels per day were shipped to the United States. Other regular importers of Venezuelan oil include India, Spain, Brazil, and Turkey.

Updated March 12, 2025:

Effective today, a 25% tariff applies to all steel and aluminum imports—including derivative products classified outside of Chapters 73 and 76. Note that these tariffs also apply to goods that comply with USMCA and other FTAs, such as KRFTA. Goods originating from Canada and Mexico are also subject to these tariffs.

Exclusions: If the country of melt and pour is the United States, exclusions 9903.81.92 (steel) and 9903.85.09 (aluminum) apply. Currently, these are the only available exclusions.

Additional documentation requirements: For products containing steel derivatives not classified under Chapter 73 or aluminum derivatives not classified under Chapter 76, brokers will request: 1) the country of melt and pour, and 2) the value and weight (kg) of the steel/aluminum in the finished product.

• Importers unable to provide a precise value for the steel/aluminum component will be subject to a 25% tariff that will apply to the entire product value, potentially increasing duty payments.
• For importers able to provide a precise value, an additional invoice line for the steel/aluminum value will need to be added during digitization.

Broker processing times: Due to these new requirements, expect longer processing times for entries subject to Section 232 tariffs. To help expedite the process, please compile the aforementioned documentation and information.

Flexport is working closely with impacted customers to minimize disruptions. Please reach out to your account manager with any specific questions, or email our trade advisory experts at advisory@flexport.com.

Updated March 11, 2025:

Just hours after announcing a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, President Trump has reversed his decision. Tomorrow, the Trump administration will move forward with imposing its previously announced 25% tariff on steel and aluminum.

“Pursuant to his previous executive orders, a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum with no exceptions or exemptions will go into effect for Canada and all of our other trading partners at midnight, March 12th,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai stated today.

President Trump initially announced the 50% tariff on Canadian metals in response to a 25% surcharge Ontario had placed on electricity exports to the United States. Earlier this afternoon, however, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that he had decided to suspend the surcharge.

President Trump also warned that if Canada does not “immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff” and “other egregious, long-time Tariffs,” he will substantially increase tariffs on automobiles on April 2.

Updated March 6, 2025:

After speaking with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today, President Trump has paused tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods that fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This reprieve will expire on April 2.

According to White House estimates, about 62% of Canadian imports—primarily energy products tariffed at 10%—and about 50% of Mexican imports will still be subject to the IEEPA tariffs implemented on Tuesday.

Earlier, Trudeau had stated that his government was in “discussions” about potentially delaying a second round of retaliatory tariffs on the United States. But “we will not suspend Canadian tariffs because the American made a change yesterday,” Trudeau added. “Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs removed.”

Updated March 5, 2025:

Today, the Trump administration announced a one-month tariff exemption for automobile imports that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal negotiated by President Trump during his first term. It is unclear whether the exemption applies to vehicles alone, or both vehicles and auto parts.

President Trump’s exemption announcement followed a phone call with the Big Three automobile manufacturers—General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler). These automakers’ supply chains cross North American borders several times, with major operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

President Trump advised exempted automakers to use the one-month reprieve to “start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America, where they will pay no tariff. That’s the ultimate goal,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Leavitt also signaled that the administration will move forward with reciprocal tariffs on April 2.

Updated March 4, 2025:

At 12:01 a.m. ET today, new tariffs went into effect. Details are as follows:

• 25% IEEPA tariff on goods from Mexico, excluding humanitarian shipments and informational materials
• 25% IEEPA tariff on goods from Canada or one of the 13 province/territory codes reported on entries, excluding humanitarian shipments and informational materials
  • 10% IEEPA tariff on Canadian energy and mineral products (instead of the 25% tariff)
• 20% IEEPA tariff on goods from China/Hong Kong
  • No changes to exemptions under 9903.01.21, 9903.01.22, and 9903.01.23. These exemptions include humanitarian shipments; informational materials; and goods loaded onto a vessel at the port of loading or in transit on their final mode of transport before February 1, and entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption between February 4 and March 7.

These tariffs are not eligible for duty drawback. Additionally, the de minimis exemption will remain in effect for Canada, Mexico, and China/Hong Kong until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect tariff revenue.”

Retaliatory measures: Canada announced a 25% tariff on C$30 billion in U.S. goods, effective immediately; tariffs on another C$125 billion in U.S. goods will be implemented in 21 days. Mexico intends to announce its own retaliatory measures on Sunday. And China’s finance ministry announced a 15% tariff on U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, along with a 10% tariff on U.S. sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

Flexport’s trade advisory experts are closely monitoring new developments, and will continue to keep clients updated with the latest news and guidance. Please reach out to your account manager or advisory@flexport.com if you have any specific questions.

Updated March 3, 2025:

Today, President Trump signed an executive order that will raise the 10% universal tariff on China and Hong Kong to 20%. Additionally, 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Canadian oil are expected to be implemented tomorrow, now that the 30-day exclusion period has ended. However, we have not seen an official CSMS from Customs indicating whether they will be able to turn these on overnight.

Yesterday, President Trump also amended his February 1 Canadian and Mexican tariff executive orders. Per these amendments, Canadian and Mexican goods will continue to be eligible for de minimis treatment until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect tariff revenue.” This amendment is already in effect for China/Hong Kong goods.