Cross Border Trade Updates
April 28, 2025
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- U.S. Tariff Negotiations,
- On 23 April, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the Trump administration is currently reviewing 18 trade proposals. As trade deals are still being negotiated, it is unclear how packaging and processing machinery imports into the United States by PMMI members will be affected. Below is the latest news on trade negotiations:
- China: On 25 April, China denied that they are actively negotiating with the United States after President Trump made comments that he held a call with President Xi.
- Japan: On 25 April, President Trump said that the United States is very close to a trade deal with Japan.
- South Korea: On 25 April, South Korea and the United States had a “very successful” meeting on Thursday. A senior official from South Korea’s government ruled out reaching a trade deal before their presidential elections on 3 June.
- India: On 25 April, it was announced that a U.S.-India trade agreement is under discussion, which covers 19 categories and would allow greater market access to farm-goods, e-commerce, and critical minerals.
- Switzerland: On 25 April, Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter said that Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States plans to conduct “privileged” negotiations .
- EU: On 24 April, the EU said it will not negotiate changes to its value-added taxes or agricultural subsidies as part of trade discussions with the United States.
- Vietnam: On 24 April, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met virtually with Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Nguyen Hong Dien to discuss the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade relationship.
- UK: On 23 April, Rachel Reeves, the British Chancellor, said that Britain will not rush into a trade deal with the United States or change its food or car safety standards.
- Malaysia: Malaysia’s Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz will meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington as the Southeast Asian country seeks relief from the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs.
- India Imposes Safeguard Duty on Steel Products
- On 22 April, India imposed a 12% provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on five steel product categories, including hot rolled coils, sheets, and plates, to protect domestic players from surge imports.
- Legal Actions Against Trump’s Tariffs
- On 23 April, a coalition of states filed a joint lawsuit over President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs under IEEPA, stating that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to impose and collect taxes, not the president. The coalition of states includes Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
- On 23 April, two small businesses filed a lawsuit over President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs under IEEPA, stating that tariffs will be catastrophic not only for their small businesses but for the broader U.S. economy.
- Actions at the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- On 23 April, the United States accepted China’s request for consultations at the WTO over President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs under IEEPA. The United States responded via two communications, one for China’s initial dispute and one for the added challenge of the increase in tariffs.
