Insights on International Trade & Investment

On May 7, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled 2-1 that the 10% tariffs President Trump imposed on virtually all US imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 are unlawful.

Rapid changes to US tariff policy have transformed what were once transactional import decisions into issues with enterprise-wide implications. The reliance on tariffs has had bipartisan support across Administrations, and the risks are not going away.

Welcome to the April 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

International Trade & Investment Partner and Customs / Tariff Practice Leader Antonio Rivera will speak on a panel offering insights on how battery leaders are operating and investing under a changing US policy regime as part of The Battery Show South conference on April 22, 2026.

Lucas Rock wrote for SupplyChainBrain on how the US government is using Section 301 investigations to encourage its trading partners to strengthen, adopt, and enforce their own forced labor prohibitions.

Importers now have a path to reclaim tariffs they never should have paid.

While Section 232 tariffs have so far been largely a metals-and-autos story, pharma has now officially joined the narrative.

International Trade & Investment Co-Leader and Partner Nancy Noonan will provide insights on emerging issues and recent developments in customs and trade at The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law’s 24th Annual Dominick L. DiCarlo US Court of International Trade Lecture on April 9, 2026.

Partner James Kim was quoted on the various strategies companies are enacting to address receiving tariff refunds.

On April 2, President Trump signed a new Proclamation titled “Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Into the United States,” which fundamentally restructures how Section 232 tariffs are assessed on steel, aluminum, copper, and their derivative products.

Partner James Kim was quoted on the Court of International Trade’s filing that amended their previous order to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ignore tariffs installed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when processing refunds for unprocessed or unfinalized entries.

The Trump Administration’s tariff strategy has undergone a significant legal pivot in recent weeks. After the February 20 US Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, the Administration immediately announced that they would impose tariffs under alternative authorities, seemingly in an attempt to mirror the IEEPA tariff regime.

Join ArentFox Schiff Counsel Sylvia Costelloe for a panel discussion hosted by the Women In International Trade Orange County (WITOC).

As in 2025, the first few months of 2026 have seen fashion and retail companies operating in an environment where legal developments increasingly shape day-to-day business decisions, and the same is expected to continue throughout the rest of the year.

As we approach the close of the first quarter of 2026, our Labor, Employment & OSHA team highlights some of the leading legal developments and issues that employers face, including the reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); artificial intelligence (AI) regulation at the state level; continuing expansion of state paid family and medical leave laws; challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace; and changes to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) guidance and enforcement.

Join ArentFox Schiff Customs & Import Compliance Leader Angela Santos for a webinar hosted by the New York State Bar Association.

Welcome to the March 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

Join ArentFox Schiff Partner Nancy Noonan and Canada Practice Leader Riyaz Dattu for an upcoming webinar hosted by the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Inc.

International Trade & Investment Counsel Sylvia Costelloe will lead a workshop titled “Connected-Vehicle AI & Data Compliance Lab” on March 9, 2026.

Partner James Kim was quoted on the US Court of International Trade’s (CIT) order directing US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin processing refunds on US import tariffs recently found unlawfully instituted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Importers seeking International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff refunds just caught a significant break — and they may not even need to lift a finger to claim them.

Join ArentFox Schiff Partner James Kim for a webinar hosted by The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA).

International Trade & Investment Senior Associate Mario Torrico spoke on a panel addressing the legal transition from IEEPA to Section 122 tariffs and its impact on foreign trade on March 3, 2026.

As the beverage and food industry enters 2026, companies face a rapidly changing legal environment shaped by an expanding litigation landscape, evolving regulatory frameworks, and renewed transactional activity.

International Trade & Investment Partner Chris Skinner will speak on the “Routed Exports” panel at the Annual ICPA Conference on March 2, 2026.