President Donald Trump issued an executive order amending and expanding his previous orders on duties to address the situation at our southern border. The new executive order, titled “Amendment to Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border,” aims to address issues related to immigration and trade. The order includes several provisions aimed at strengthening border security and enforcing immigration laws, as well as provisions intended to support U.S. manufacturing by increasing duties on certain products from foreign countries.
The amended executive order expands the scope of the original order to include all covered articles that are otherwise eligible for de minimis treatment under section 1321 of Title 19, United States Code, subject to conditions set forth in the new provision. The duty-free de minimis treatment will cease to be available if the Secretary of Commerce notifies the President that adequate systems are in place to fully and expeditiously process and collect tariff revenue applicable pursuant to subsection (a) of section 1321.
The executive order also includes provisions related to enforcement of immigration laws, including increasing penalties for illegal entry into the United States, expanding resources for border security and immigration law enforcement, and establishing a new task force within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate efforts related to illegal immigration.
In addition, the executive order includes provisions intended to support U.S. manufacturing by increasing duties on certain products from foreign countries that are deemed to have received unfair trade advantages due to government subsidies or other forms of state intervention. The new duty rates will be applied at levels determined by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Trade Representative, taking into account the effect of the increased duties on U.S. consumers and businesses.
Overall, President Trump’s amended executive order aims to strengthen border security, enforce immigration laws, support U.S. manufacturing, and protect American interests in global trade. However, it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in achieving these goals, particularly given the ongoing challenges associated with illegal immigration and foreign competition in domestic markets.
Read the full text of the order at the whitehouse.gov website.