Schulz Trade Tribune: 16 to 22 August 2025
- Schulz Trade Law
- 11 minutes ago
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Schulz Trade Tribune: 16 to 22 August 2025
August 22, 2025
407 Product Categories Added to Section 232
On August 19, 2025, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) released a press statement announcing the addition of 407 product categories to the list of derivative steel and aluminum products covered by Section 232 tariffs. As such, the steel and aluminum content of these derivative products will be subject to a tariff rate of 50%, which follows the Trump Administration’s June 4 decision to increase Section 232 tariff rates from 25% to 50%.
Jeffery Kessler, Security of Commerce for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), stated that Commerce’s actions are intended to “expand the reach of the steel and aluminum tariffs and shut down avenues for circumvention.”
Importers will need to evaluate their potential shipments for additional Section 232 tariffs, as the scope of Commerce’s additional products includes, but is not limited to:
Wind turbines, along with turbine parts and accessories,
Mobile cranes, bulldozers, and railcars,
Furniture, and
Compressors and pumps.
Navigating the U.S.-EU Trade Agreement’s Framework
On August 21, 2025, the Trump Administration released a joint statement with the European Union (EU), stating that both parties have established a working framework for a trade agreement. The joint statement specified 21 key terms within the framework of the agreement, including the EU’s intent to:
Eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods,
Provide preferential market access for certain U.S. seafood and agricultural goods,
Procure $750 billion of U.S. gas, oil, and nuclear energy products through 2028, and
Purchase $40 billion of U.S. AI chips.
As reciprocity, the U.S. has committed to apply only the higher of either the U.S. Most Favored Nation (MFN) rate or a tariff rate of 15 percent (comprised of the MFN tariff and a reciprocal tariff) to EU-origin goods. And, effective September 1, 2025, the U.S. has committed to apply only the MFN tariff rate to certain EU products, such as generic pharmaceuticals, all aircraft and aircraft parts, and specific natural resources, such as cork.
The U.S. and EU have also made joint commitments to reduce non-tariff barriers and eliminate duties on electronic transmission, further solidifying a departure from multilateral trade and highlighting a comprehensive, dynamic shift towards bilateral trade for both parties.
False Claims Violation - AD/CVD
On August 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a press statement addressing the $12.4 million settlement that took place with Allied Stone Inc., a counter-top and cabinetry products supplier based in Dallas, Texas. According to the DOJ, the settlement aims to resolve the allegations that Allied Stone violated the False Claims Act by “improperly evading, or conspiring to evade, antidumping and countervailing duties owed to the United States on quartz surface products imported from the People’s Republic of China.”
Importantly, the allegation targeted Chinese quartz surface products that were imported from September 29, 2018, to February 7, 2023. This timeline, spanning over 4 years, suggests that the allegations were not based on a one-off violation; instead, it points to a pattern of behavior likely involving repeated attempts to import quartz surface products while evading antidumping and countervailing duties.
Schulz Trade Law’s Role in Supporting Clients
While these changes may feel overwhelming for companies operating within their respective global sectors, Schulz Trade Law PLLC actively tracks these developments and offers advice on how to mitigate risk, assess tariff exposure, and adapt your compliance strategies. Our team is here to provide timely, tailored support and, importantly, help you make the trade.
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