REGULATORY RUNDOWN | March 31-April 14

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The Regulatory Rundown: March 31 - April 14

After imposing sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, Trump modifies rates. On Apr. 9, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariff regime for non-retaliating countries, lowering duties to 10%. Simultaneously, Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent.

Canadian and Mexican goods will still be subject to 25% fentanyl-related tariffs if they do not comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement’s rules of origin, but USMCA-compliant goods are indefinitely exempt from the reciprocal tariffs.

Trump initially announced the reciprocal tariffs imposed on virtually every country in the world on Apr. 2. That day, he also signed an order eliminating duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from China. As of Apr. 10, the U.S. will tax imports of shipments priced up to $800 at the rate of 120% of their value starting May 2.

NSBA is closely monitoring these developments.

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But wait, there’s more from the White House. Here’s an overview of recent executive actions you may have missed:

APRIL 9 | President Trump signed executive orders (EOs) to modernize defense acquisitions, review and identify all regulations imposing anti-competitive restraints, and rescind outdated regulations to spur U.S. energy production. Trump also signed a presidential memorandum requiring agencies to rescind regulations that are unlawful under recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overturned the Chevron agency deference doctrine.
APRIL 8 | President Trump signed an EO aimed at removing “unlawful and burdensome state-level impediments” to U.S. energy production.
APRIL 7 | The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued two policies aimed at leveraging emerging technologies to modernize the federal government.

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SBA highlights new loan verification measures. In an Apr. 10 press release, the Small Business Administration (SBA) highlighted several changes to its loan application process aimed at “combatting fraud.” These include adding citizen verification provisions and age and date of birth verification provisions.

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DOL announces nationwide listening tour. On Apr. 4, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is “embarking on a nationwide listening tour to hear more about the challenges and opportunities facing everyday Americans at work.” According to a DOL press release, the tour will “help shape and modernize federal labor policies and practices by taking the conversation directly to America’s workforce.”