Trade and tariffs are at the top of President Trump’s agenda. As tariff talk continues into 2025, here are some key terms and phrases that will come up for debate.
C
Certificate of Origin (COO): A Certificate of Origin is an official document certifying the country in which a product was manufactured. It is used to determine tariffs, trade preferences, and regulatory compliance, often required for international shipments under trade agreements.
D
Dumping: Dumping is an unfair trade practice when a country exports goods at a price less than their fair market value, in order to obtain an unfair price advantage over domestically produced goods in the U.S. market.
E
Exclusions: When an across-the-board tariff is imposed on a category of goods, the U.S. Trade Representative may exclude certain products on a case-by-case basis. HIDA has advocated for medical products to be excluded from tariff increases.
F
Free Trade Agreement (FTA): A Free Trade Agreement is a pact between two or more countries to reduce or eliminate trade barriers such as tariffs, import quotas, and export restrictions. FTAs aim to facilitate trade and economic cooperation while maintaining certain protections for industries and labor.
I
IEEPA: The International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) authorizes the President to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency in response to any unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States. President Trump has contemplated tariffs against Mexico and Canada in response to a national emergency regarding border security.
P
PNTR: Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) is a legal status whereby the United States agrees to grant a foreign country the same trade benefits as that the U.S. offers to any other country in the world that it trades with. Congress is considering legislation to revoke PNTR status between the United States and China.
R
Reciprocal Tariffs: Reciprocal tariffs are levied by one country in response to similar tariffs levied by another country, with the intent to create a balance in trade.
S
Section 232: Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows the U.S. government to impose tariffs or other trade restrictions on imports that threaten national security. These tariffs have been applied to steel and aluminum, among other products, impacting global trade and supply chains.
Section 301: Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, tariffs may be applied to imports coming from nations that the United States has found to be violating fair trade practices. The United States has imposed Section 301 tariffs on a variety of products from China.
Section 338: Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 authorizes the President to impose new and additional duties on imports from foreign countries that are discriminating against U.S. commerce. The new or additional rate of duty imposed cannot exceed 50 percent ad valorem. This statute has not been used by a Presidential administration since the early 1900s.
Substantial Transformation: A test used by trade regulators to determine the country of origin of a good for the purpose of levying a tariff. Substantial transformation means that the good underwent a fundamental change in form, appearance, nature, or character. This fundamental change normally occurs as a result of processing or manufacturing in the country claiming origin.
U
U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): Negotiated and ratified during President Trump's first term, USMCA maintained the zero tariffs established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). According to a White House official, USMCA covers approximately 50% of Mexican imports and 38% of Canadian imports. It includes strong rules of origin for industrial products in order to increase regional content and help preserve North American manufacturing.
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): The USTR is a government agency responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. trade policy. It negotiates trade agreements, represents the U.S. in WTO disputes, and enforces trade laws to promote fair and open international trade.
W
World Trade Organization (WTO): The World Trade Organization is an international organization that regulates global trade by establishing rules, resolving disputes, and ensuring fair competition. Founded in 1995, it facilitates trade negotiations, enforces agreements, and provides a forum for member nations to address trade-related issues.