Updated: 10 a.m. CT September 12, 2025
How to Stay Informed
• For the latest updates on tariffs, please refer to your preferred news source.
• For questions about impacts to your business, please reach out to your Border States Account Manager.
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• For insights on broader supply chain impacts, sign up for the Supply Chain Update newsletter.
Information in this fact sheet is subject to change.
Key Facts
Latest Updates:
September 9: The Supreme Court agreed to review the legality of President Trump’s tariffs after a federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act was unlawful and exceeded his presidential authority.
September 8: Tariff exemptions took effect on more than 45 product categories that “cannot be grown, mined or naturally produced in the United States” or have a large gap between domestic supply and demand for countries that have finalized a trade deal with the United States. Products include nickel, gold, aircraft parts and pharmaceutical compounds and more.
September 4: The United States and Japan reached a trade agreement. Japan will now receive a 15% baseline tariff on most of its imports along with sector-specific levies, starting Tuesday, September 16. Japan also agreed to invest $550 billion in select projects and purchase more American-made products.
Month-by-Month Summaries
August: President Trump proposed a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, excluding companies that manufacture or commit to manufacturing in the United States. The U.S.-China trade agreement was extended for another 90 days, pushing the deadline to Monday, November 10. The Commerce Department expanded the 50% steel and aluminum tariff to more than 400 derivative products, while other components remain subject to country-specific rates. Tariffs on most imports from India rose to 50% due to India’s purchases of Russian oil. The Trump administration suspended the de minimis exemption, which allowed for imports valued under $800 to enter the United States duty-free. Lastly, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling back from May that President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs did not constitute an emergency and goes beyond his presidential authority. The court will hold its ruling until Tuesday, October 14, to allow the parties to appeal to the Supreme Court, which Trump said he plans to do.
July: The Trump administration issued a series of executive orders, beginning with the 90-day reciprocal tariff extension to August 1. The administration sent letters to over two dozen countries outlining a range of 20%–50% higher reciprocal tariff rates if they did not secure a deal by the August 1 deadline. Many partners met the deadline, with the United States agreeing to lower rates by as much as half of the initially announced rate and trading partners committing to significant investments in U.S. industries. On the last day of July, President Trump signed an executive order adjusting the reciprocal tariff rates according to negotiations and ranging from 10%–41% effective Thursday, August 7 instead of the initial August 1 deadline.
Other tariff actions by Trump in July included:
• A 50% tariff on certain semi-finished and derivative copper imports and exempted copper materials and scrap, effective August 1.
• A 40% tariff on certain goods from Brazil beginning on Wednesday, August 6.
• A 90-day extension of the current 25% rate on Mexican imports to give Mexico time to negotiate a trade deal.
• A suspension of the “de minimis” exemption starting Friday, August 29.
• A 40% additional tariff on transshipped goods.
June: The Trump administration doubled steel and aluminum import tariffs to 50% from 25% which was implemented in March. The United Kingdom received a reduced 25% tariff while trade talks take place. The United States discontinued trade talks with Canada due to Canada’s digital services tax on U.S. tech companies.
May: A federal appeals court temporarily paused the U.S. Court of International Trade’s ruling to block most of the Trump administration’s tariffs. The United States and China reached an agreement to cut tariffs for 90 days. The European Union fast-tracked trade talks after President Trump threatened 50% tariffs on EU imports. The United Kingdom reached a deal with the United States to lower tariffs and exemptions on certain goods. And the United States expanded its 25% tariff on automobiles to include most automotive parts that don’t meet USMCA standards.
April: President Trump issued an executive order to prevent tariffs from “stacking” on top of the 25% tariff on automobile and auto part imports. The administration issued a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for most countries, except China, but the 10% baseline tariff on all imports remains in effect. The European Union paused its first set of counter-tariffs to pursue negotiations. Tariffs on goods from China totaled at least 145%.
March: President Trump imposed a series of 25% tariffs on automobile imports, countries purchasing Venezuelan oil, and all steel and aluminum imports. Canada, China and the European Union responded with counter-tariffs. Mexico and Canada secured another one-month exemption on USMCA goods.
February: Changes to U.S. trade policies focused on major trading partners, including China, Mexico and Canada. A round of tariff announcements included a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, which received a 30-day pause; a 10% tariff on energy products from Canada; and a 10% tariff on imports from China, which prompted retaliatory tariffs. President Trump also ordered an investigation into copper imports and a country-by-country assessment to evaluate and adjust trade relations.
Tariff Roundup
| Active tariffs | Upcoming tariffs | Counter tariffs |
| Reciprocal tariff rates ranging from 10%–41% are in effect on dozens of countries. | TBD: 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, excluding companies that manufacture or commit to manufacturing in the United States. | Canada: Initial 25% on certain U.S. imports and a separate 25% on automobiles that don’t comply with USMCA. |
| 10% baseline tariff on all U.S. imports, with the exception of energy, gold, copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber and other products. | Tariffs on lumber imports: Rate and effective date are yet to be determined by the Department of Commerce’s investigation. | China: Total of 10% tariff on U.S. goods after negotiations. |
| 50% on certain semi-finished and derivative copper imports — pipes, wires, rods, sheets, tubes, pipe fittings, cables, connectors, and electrical components. | European Union: (delayed) planned counter tariffs for six months to allow for more negotiations. | |
| 25% on automobiles and certain automotive parts (overrides other active tariffs rather than stacking on top of them), plus an additional 25% tariff that includes most automotive parts. | ||
| Total of 30% on all imports from China due to 90-day agreement. | ||
| 35% on goods from Canada, excluding USMCA-compliant goods, and 10% on energy products from Canada. | ||
| 25% on goods from Mexico for at least 90 days after August 1. It remains unclear if USMCA-compliant goods are exempt. | ||
| 50% on all steel and aluminum imports, except those from the United Kingdom, which received a 25% tariff while trade talks take place. | ||
| 25% on countries that import Venezuelan oil. | ||
| 20% on Vietnamese goods and 40% on goods passing through Vietnam from other countries. | ||
| Total of 50% on most imports from Brazil. | ||
| Total of 50% on imports from India due to its purchases of Russian oil. | ||
| Total of 15% tariff on most imports from Japan and sector-specific levies, like automobiles and auto parts. |
Timeline
August
August 29: This evening, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court’s ruling from May that President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs did not constitute an emergency and goes beyond his presidential authority. However, the appellate court did not conclude whether a president could authorize tariffs under the IEEPA. The court will hold its ruling until Tuesday, October 14, to allow the parties to appeal to the Supreme Court, to which Trump implied to do. Earlier in the day, the Trump administration suspended the de minimis exemption for imports valued under $800. This exemption allows international retailers to ship low-cost goods to the United States duty-free.
August 27: An additional 25% tariff on most imports from India to the United States went into effect, bringing the total to 50%, due to its purchases of Russian oil.
August 18: The U.S. Department of Commerce announced an expanded list of imports subject to the 50% steel and aluminum tariffs, effective August 18. According to the notice, hundreds of derivative steel and aluminum products are now subject to the 50% tariff, while non-steel and non-aluminum components remain subject to the applicable tariff rates based on their country of origin.
August 11: President Trump extended the 90-day U.S.-China trade agreement for another 90 days, pushing the deadline to November 10. The original deal, made on May 12 and set to resume on August 12, called for both nations to significantly reduce reciprocal tariff rates for 90 days and allow for more negotiations.
August 6: President Trump signed an executive order issuing an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, effective Wednesday, August 27. This is due to India’s purchases of Russian oil and brings the total tariff rate to 50%. President Trump also proposed a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, excluding companies that manufacture or commit to manufacturing in the United States.
July
July 31:
• President Trump signed an executive order that adjusts the reciprocal tariff rates from his original executive order on April 2. According to the latest order, tariffs ranging from 10%–41% will go into effect Thursday, August 7 on dozens of countries instead of the August 1 deadline. Goods that are determined to be transshipped to the United States to avoid tariffs will be subject to an additional 40% tariff rate.
• President Trump announced that following a phone call with Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, he will not raise the reciprocal tariff rate to 30%. Instead, the current 25% will remain in place for the next 90 days to give Mexico time to negotiate a trade deal. In turn, Mexico agreed to terminate its non-tariff trade barrier measures immediately.
• The United States and South Korea reached a trade deal lowering the reciprocal tariff rate from 25% to 15%. The agreement also states that automobiles will be subject to the 15% rate, but steel and aluminum imports are not included and remain at 50%. South Korea agreed to make significant investments, including in the U.S. shipbuilding industry, and purchase $100 billion worth of U.S. energy products.
• The Trump administration will suspend the “de minimis” exemption starting Friday, August 29. The exemption allows for shipments of low-value commercial packages valued at $800 or less to enter the United States tariff-free.
July 30:
• President Trump signed an executive order officially implementing a 40% tariff on most imports from Brazil, on top of an existing 10% baseline tariff for a total of 50% starting Wednesday, August 6. Some sector-specific Brazilian goods are exempt because they are subject to existing or previously announced tariffs. Trump previously sent Brazil a letter issuing a 50% reciprocal tariff by August 1, citing unfair trade practices and the allegations against former President Jair Bolsonaro. The recent executive order cites the judicial trial against former President Bolsonaro and Brazil’s polices against U.S. tech companies as key reasons for the new tariff rate.
• President Trump issued a proclamation officially announcing the upcoming 50% tariff on certain semi-finished and derivative copper imports — including pipes, wires, rods, sheet, tubes, pipe fittings, cables, connectors, and electrical components. This tariff will not stack on top of existing duties such as automotive or reciprocal tariffs. Copper materials like copper ores, concentrates, mattes, cathodes, anodes, and scrap are not subject to the copper tariff or reciprocal tariffs.
• Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from India effective August 1 and suggested an additional “penalty” in response to India’s unfair trade policies and its purchases of Russian energy and military products. India was not among the more than two dozen countries that received tariff increase letters in July. On “liberation day” in April, India risked a 26% reciprocal tariff from the United States.
July 28: The United States and the European Union agreed to a 15% tariff deal effective Friday, August 1. The 15% deal, down from the announced 30%, includes automobiles. The 50% tariff on aluminum and steel imports remains in place, but, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that could be subject to change on a later date.
July 23: President Trump announced on social media that the United States and Japan have agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff rate from 25% to 15%, effective Friday, August 1. Included in the deal, automobiles from Japan will also be subject to a lower 15% tariff rate instead of the standard 25%. Yesterday, Trump announced that the United States and the Philippines have reached a tariff deal to lower the rate on goods from the Philippines from 20% to 19%. The Philippines has not yet confirmed this deal.
July 17: President Trump plans to send letters to over 150 nations setting “blanket tariffs” of 10% or 15%. Last week, Trump considered imposing blanket rates of 15% or 20% on most countries.
July 16: Indonesia and the United States reached a deal to lower tariffs on Indonesian goods to 19%. Indonesia said it will continue to negotiate on sector-specific tariffs. Earlier this month, the United States sent a letter to Indonesia stating that tariffs would rise to 32% starting Friday, August 1, unless the two nations reached an agreement.
July 14: President Trump announced over the weekend that a 30% tariff will be imposed on imports from the European Union and Mexico starting Friday, August 1. The new tariffs would replace existing 10% baseline tariffs on most European Union goods and the 25% tariff on non-U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) compliant Mexican goods. It’s not certain whether Mexico’s USMCA-compliant goods will continue to be exempt.
July 11: The United States will impose a 35% tariff on some imports from Canada effective Friday, August 1. The United States and Canada have been involved in trade talks ahead of the July 21 deadline. The United States previously imposed a 25% tariff on non-U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) goods. Goods that comply with USMCA will continue to be exempt.
July 9: The Trump administration sent letters to additional countries, bringing the total to 22 countries that are facing 20–50% additional tariffs starting Friday, August 1. President Trump plans to impose a 10% tariff on BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
July 8: President Trump said he will impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, with additional sector-specific tariffs expected soon. In late February, President Trump directed the Department of Commerce to investigate potential tariffs on copper imports.
July 7: President Trump is expected to issue an executive order extending the 90-day reciprocal tariffs pause to Friday, August 1. The pause was initially set to expire on Wednesday, July 9. The extension follows letters sent by the administration to over a dozen trading partners, outlining a range of higher tariff rates that would be imposed if trade deals are not reached by the new deadline.
July 2: President Trump announced a new tariff deal with Vietnam. The tariff on Vietnamese imports will be 20% instead of the 46% that he had announced and later paused in April. Goods passing through Vietnam to the U.S. from other countries will have a higher 40% tariff.
June
June 27: President Trump announced that, effective immediately, the United States will discontinue trade talks with Canada after months of negotiations, citing what he called “egregious tariffs.”
June 4: A 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports took effect after midnight, doubling the 25% that took effect in March. Steel and aluminum from the United Kingdom will have a 25% tariff while both countries work out trade deal.
May
May 30: President Trump announced during a rally that he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50% from 25%, effective Wednesday, June 4, stating the increase would secure the future of domestic steel. The same day, Trump also claims China violated the 90-day tariff agreement. China denies the allegations and claims the United States violated the agreement. It is unknown at this time what actions will be taken by either country.
May 29: 4 p.m. CT update: A federal appeals court granted the administration’s request to temporarily pause the lower-court’s ruling to void most of those tariffs. 8 a.m. CT update: The U.S. Court of International Trade blocked most of the Trump administration’s tariffs, ruling that the administration overstepped their legal authority by imposing such tariffs — sources report the 10% baseline tariff, reciprocal tariffs, 20% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on certain goods from Canada and Mexico are void. The administration has 10 days to issue new orders canceling these tariffs. The Trump administration said it will appeal the ruling.
May 27: The European Union and the United States will “fast-track” talks after President Trump threatened 50% tariffs on EU imports starting June 1 due to slow negotiations since April. Over the weekend, Trump postponed the deadline to July 9 following an initial conversation with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
May 12: The U.S. and China agreed to significantly cut tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. will reduce total tariffs on goods from China to 30% from 145% and China will reduce tariffs on goods from the U.S. to 10% from 125%.
May 8: The United States and the United Kingdom announced a deal to lower tariffs on certain goods. The United States’ 10% baseline tariff remains in effect. Steel and aluminum from the United Kingdom will be exempt from the United States’ 25% tariffs, and the first 100,000 automobiles imported from the United Kingdom will receive a reduced tariff of 10%, down from 25%.
May 3: A 25% tariff on automobile imports expanded to include most automotive parts. Auto parts that meet USMCA requirements are exempt. This follows a 25% tariff imposed in April on automobiles and certain auto parts.
April
April 29: President Trump issued an executive order preventing previously imposed tariffs from “stacking” on top of the 25% tariff on automobile and auto part imports. Tariffs on additional automotive parts are still set to take effect Saturday, May 3, but partial reimbursements are available for parts with final assembly in the U.S.
April 14: China increased tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to President Trump’s tariffs, which add up to a total of 145%.
April 10: The European Union delayed its first set of counter-tariffs on U.S. goods to pursue negotiations instead. The decision comes after President Trump authorized a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China. A White House official said President Trump’s tariffs on imports from China now total at least 145%, accounting for the previously imposed 20% tariff.
April 9: President Trump announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for most countries hours after the tariffs went into effect. The 10% baseline tariff on all imports remains in effect. Trump also increased tariffs on goods from China to 125% after China responded with an increased 84% tariff on U.S. goods set to take effect on Thursday, April 10. The European Union voted to approve its first set of counter-tariffs on a range of U.S. goods beginning Tuesday, April 15.
April 8: The 10% baseline tariff on many imports took effect on April 5. The U.S. reciprocal tariffs on many imports are set to take effect Wednesday, April 9. China announced 34% tariffs on U.S. goods, effective Thursday, April 10, in response to the U.S. reciprocal tariff of the same rate. President Trump said he would further retaliate and threatened to add another 50% tariff on imports from China if they implement counter-tariffs.
April 3: A 25% tariff on automobiles and certain automobile parts went into effect. According to a White House Fact Sheet, reciprocal tariffs will take effect on Wednesday, April 9, and the 10% baseline tariff will take effect Saturday, April 5. Goods under active tariffs will not face reciprocal tariffs, such as aluminum, steel, automobiles and non-U.S.-Mexico-Canada compliant goods.
April 2: President Trump signed an executive order establishing reciprocal tariffs at approximately half of the rate other countries apply to the U.S. The calculation includes “currency manipulation and trade barriers.” Additionally, he said a 10% minimum baseline tariff will be implemented on all imports into the U.S.
March
March 26: President Trump announced a 25% tariff on automobile and certain automotive part imports effective Thursday, April 3. Plans to expand tariffs on additional automotive part imports are set to be announced no later than Saturday, May 3.
March 24: President Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries that purchase oil or gas from Venezuela. China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, followed by India, Spain, Italy and Cuba. These tariffs are expected to take effect on Wednesday, April 2.
March 12: A 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. took effect. The European Union plans to impose 26 billion euros (approximately $28 billion) worth in counter-tariffs next month. Canada is expected to announce nearly 30 billion Canadian dollars (nearly $21 billion) in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
March 6: President Trump announced a one-month exemption for Mexico and Canada from the 25% tariffs on goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).
March 4: 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, took effect at midnight. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum shared plans to announce retaliatory tariffs on Sunday, March 9, and China announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 15% starting Monday, March 10. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced 25% retaliatory tariffs.
March 3: President Donald Trump confirmed that on Tuesday, March 4, the U.S. will impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico after a one-month delay, along with an additional 10% tariff on imports from China.
February
February 25: President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into potential tariffs on copper imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Potential tariff rates will be determined by the investigation. The president also announced that starting in March, tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are going forward, and reciprocal tariffs are also moving forward as soon as April.
February 13: President Trump signed a memo to his cabinet titled the Fair and Reciprocal Plan, directing the Office of Management and Budget director to conduct a country-by-country assessment within 180 days to evaluate and adjust trade relations.
February 10: In the evening, President Trump announced he will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The tariffs are expected to take effect in March.
February 8: President Trump told reporters he plans to announce 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. on February 10, with additional reciprocal tariffs expected later in the week.
February 4: China responded with retaliatory tariffs that take effect Monday, February 10.
February 3: Canada and Mexico negotiated a 30-day pause on the tariffs that would have taken effect February 4.
February 1: President Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, a 10% tariff on imports from China and a 10% tariff on energy sources from Canada, effective February 4, citing national security concerns related to illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Expected Impacts
While the exact impacts across our core markets and vendor community are not fully known yet, impacts may be expected in the following areas:
• Increased costs for components and finished goods coming from countries subject to tariffs.
• Increased risk of disruption and logistical complexity as companies seek alternative suppliers in countries not subject to tariffs.
• Increased inflation due to overall economic effects and countries imposing retaliatory tariffs in response.
For products sold by Border States, our estimated domestic versus import spend and tariff risks by key product categories are listed below. Country of origin and import information can be difficult to obtain, so please note these are our best commercial estimates based on what we know today. This list covers the largest impacts and is not comprehensive. Please use the information as a reference point.
| High-level category | Approximate percentage – domestic | Approximate percentage – imported | Uses steel | Uses aluminum | Uses copper | Tariff risk |
| Wire and cable | 95% | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico |
| Transformers | 95% | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico |
| Apparatus and controls | 95% | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico |
| Metering | 50% | 50% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico |
| Poles | 95% | 5% | ✓ | X | X | Canada |
| Line materials (overhead and underground) | 75% | 25% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico China |
| Tools and personal protective equipment | 20% | 80% | ✓ | X | X | China |
| Gas materials | 75% | 25% | ✓ | X | X | China |
| Gas pipe | 95% | 5% | ✓ | X | X | China |
| Switchgear | 80% | 20% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Mexico China |
| Lighting | 50% | 50% | ✓ | ✓ | X | Mexico Canada China |
| Lighting controls | 60% | 40% | ✓ | ✓ | X | Mexico Canada China |
| EMT conduit | 80% | 20% | ✓ | ✓ | X | Mexico China India |
| EMT fittings | 40% | 60% | ✓ | ✓ | X | China India |
| PVC conduit | 75% | 25% | X | X | X | India |
| Fiberglass conduit | 75% | 25% | X | X | X | India |
Border States’ Response
Border States has been working to prepare for the potential impacts of tariffs both internally and with our vendor community. Actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Proactively engaging with vendors to understand their domestic manufacturing/sourcing position and plans to mitigate risks and impacts.
• Using and identifying additional alternate material sources to reduce risk and increase our leverage position.
• Evaluating and executing forward-buy opportunities to delay impacts.
• Shifting spend away from non-strategic suppliers where possible.
• Preparing to leverage volume in price negotiations.
When tariffs are reduced, paused or eliminated, we take the following actions to ensure changes are reflected accurately and promptly:
• Evaluation of Affected Products: We conduct a thorough review of all products where the tariffs were a significant cost factor. This helps us identify potential areas where pricing may be adjusted to reflect the new tariff rates.
• Vendor Engagement and Negotiations: Once our review is complete, we proactively engage with vendors to reassess cost structures and revisit any previously implemented price increases.
What You Can Do to Mitigate Risk
• Provide early visibility to forecasting and inventory needs.
• Accept alternate materials/suppliers across key components where needed.
• Provide accurate need dates to Border States to ensure effective prioritization.
• Avoid “panic buys” that will cause unnecessary spikes in demand and potentially impact availability and lead times.
Although we cannot control these global supply chain issues, we will continue to be transparent with you about the challenges and work closely with our customers and vendors to navigate these challenges together. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Border States Account Manager.
Disclaimer: Our information is compiled from several sources that, to the best of our knowledge and belief, are accurate and correct. It is always our intent to present accurate information. Border States accepts no liability or responsibility for the information published herein. These materials are provided for informational use only and do not, nor are they intended to, constitute legal advice. Customers should not take, or should refrain from taking, any action based on any information contained in this alert without first seeking independent legal advice.