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Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

Section 122 Expires Tomorrow — Section 301 Replacement Imminent

The 10% global blanket tariff under Section 122 expires at 12:01 AM July 24, 2026 — the statutory 150-day limit. The replacement mechanism is USTR's Section 301 forced-labor duties, finding all 60 nations deficient as of June 2. Proposed rates: 10% on 15 countries with existing forced-labor frameworks (Canada, Mexico, UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway, and others); 12.5% on 46 countries including China,

Source: CNBC: Trump Trade Tariffs — Section 301Trade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsSanctions & Trade
Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

Brazil: 25% Section 301 Tariff Effective Yesterday

USTR concluded its 12-month Section 301 investigation on July 15 and announced a 25% tariff on most Brazilian imports (HTSUS 9903.05.01) effective July 22, 2026. Covered categories span digital trade, electronic payment services, IP protection, ethanol market access, anti-corruption enforcement, and illegal deforestation. Carve-outs include Section 232 goods (steel, aluminum, copper, autos), civil

Source: JD Supra: USTR Finalizes 25% Section 301 Tariffs on BrazilTrade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsSanctions & Trade
Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

Canada: 50% Section 338 Tariffs Signed, Effective August 19

Three presidential proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — a near-century-old statute — target Canadian motor vehicles, wine/beer, dairy, hockey sticks, cement, furniture, and refrigeration machinery with 50% tariffs effective August 19. Critically, these tariffs are NOT blocked by USMCA qualification, unlike USMCA-compliant goods that were exempt from Section 122. Canadian 25%

Source: Insider Finance: Tariffs on Canadian Goods AnnouncedTrade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsSanctions & Trade
Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

Pharmaceutical 100% Tariff: First Wave July 31

Following a Section 232 investigation citing 54% of US patented pharmaceuticals manufactured abroad, a 100% baseline tariff on pharmaceuticals takes effect for Annex III companies on July 31, with remaining companies following September 29. Company/country-specific exclusions and rate reductions exist for approved onshoring commitments; EU/Switzerland/UK/Japan rates are aligned with trade agreemen

Source: OIA Global: Tariff UpdatesTrade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsSanctions & Trade
Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

USMCA Enters Annual Review Cycle; Policy Uncertainty Rises

The US declined to extend USMCA at the first joint review (effective July 1, 2026). The agreement remains fully operational but now enters a 10-year annual review cycle until 2036, with a 6-month withdrawal notice required for actual termination. This increases policy uncertainty for over $1.6 trillion in annual North American trade. A subsequent 6-month withdrawal notice could be triggered at any

Source: Reuters: What the USMCA Review Process Means for North American TradeTrade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsSanctions & Trade
Geopolitics x Legal1 MIN READ

EU Abolishes De Minimis Exemption; Steel Quotas Cut 47%

EU Council Regulation 2026/382 abolished the €150 customs exemption for low-value shipments effective July 1, 2026, replacing it with a €3 flat customs duty per item category — a direct targeting of the Temu/Shein/AliExpress direct-shipping model. The EU simultaneously cut steel import quotas 47% (from ~33M to 18.3M tonnes), doubled penalty duties to 50% through 2031, and introduced "melt and pour

Source: Equity Edge Research: The Tariff Fortress — Decoding Europe's Trade StrategyTrade LawLegal RiskGeopoliticsData Sovereignty