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NEMA Urges Expansion of Aluminum Tariff Incentives

New tariff incentives that reduce aluminum tariffs from 50% to 25% for companies committing to investing in US aluminum production are designed to spur domestic investment. NEMA, which previously called for tariff incentives, supports the action and is calling for similar moves to expand the program to include electrical steel, spurring further investments in US smelting and manufacturing. NEMA Senior Director for Global Policy Patrick Lozada said there’s “an opportunity to expand on the approach that they’re taking with aluminum,” adding that relief for critical inputs would help manufacturers. New aluminum incentives draw industry praise, leave questions about impact  | InsideTrade.com

Why Higher Tariffs Are Becoming the New Normal for Business by John Keilman

Many business leaders are getting used to the idea of higher tariffs—and tariff fluctuations—as a new normal that will stick around even after Trump leaves office in January 2029. The highest effective rate—the amount of tariffs collected divided by the total value of imports—was 3% in Trump’s first term. During Trump’s second term, however, the effective rate topped out at close to 11% before dropping to around 7%. That has led some companies to make major changes to their supply chains that they are unlikely to reverse. Foreign automakers are among the companies most affected by tariffs, and some have responded by announcing plans to expand their U.S. manufacturing. Import duties generate between $20 billion and $30 billion for the U.S. Treasury every month, and that money could be hard for any president to forgo said John Iselin. Trump Tariffs Could Become Permanent as Revenue Hits $20 Billion-$30 billion a Month – WSJ

Trump Unveils New Tariffs Designed to Withstand Legal Scrutiny by Gavin Bade

New duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, will replace a temporary tariff put in place after the Supreme Court derailed Trump’s trade agenda in February Goods covered by separate national security tariffs like steel, aluminum, automobiles and parts, won’t be subject to the new tariffs, and certain food and agricultural imports, fertilizers and energy products will also be exempt. The new levies are based on a frequently used section of trade law—Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974—that is considered more legally durable than the basis for the tariffs the Supreme Court struck down. Once in place, the levies can remain indefinitely and be unilaterally altered by the president. The immediate economic impacts of the tariffs are expected to be limited, as the new tariff rates are similar to the 10% global tariff that expires early Friday. Trump Unveils New Tariffs Designed to Withstand Legal Scrutiny – WSJ

Toyota, in $3.6 Billion Move, Shifting Tacoma Production to Texas from Mexico

Toyota said Monday it will shift most production of its midsize Tacoma pickup truck from Mexico to the United States as part of a $3.6 billion investment in its San Antonio, Texas, plant. The transition from Toyota’s Tijuana, Mexico, facility will take roughly four years, the Japanese auto giant said. The announcement comes just days after Washington declined to renew a North American trade pact with Mexico, as well as Canada, fueling uncertainty for businesses. Toyota said in November it planned to invest as much as $10 billion in the United States over the next five years. The world’s largest automaker by vehicle sales, Toyota plans to build a second assembly line at its San Antonio factory, creating more than 2,000 jobs and increasing annual production capacity at the plant by 150,000 units, the company said in a statement. Toyota, in $3.6 billion move, shifting Tacoma production to Texas from Mexico

NAED Washington Wire: Information and Updates on IEEPA Tariff Refunds

The Supreme Court’s February 2026 decision striking down broad IEEPA tariffs has triggered a complex refund process, now centered at the CIT and being implemented by the CBP. The main action items are straightforward. Importers should track liquidation dates, confirm ACH and ACE enrollment, preserve all entry and payment records, and review any contracts that may affect refund sharing. Wholesalers and distributors should check whether their pricing or surcharge provisions address tariff reimbursement. All parties should continue monitoring CBP’s rollout, the CIT’s next orders, and any appeal activity that could affect the scope or timing of refunds. For businesses, the key distinction is between legal entitlement and commercial recovery. Importers of record are positioned to receive refunds directly, provided they maintain proper documentation and system readiness. In contrast, wholesalers and distributors must rely on contract terms to determine whether they share in any recovered duties, making careful review of agreements essential. NAED – Washington Wire

Roberts Court Shuts Door on Tariffs But Leaves Room for Trump to Prevail

In a 6–3 opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that IEEPA does not grant the president authority to impose tariffs. The ruling struck down the tariffs at issue in the case. The U.S. Supreme Court may have struck down President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but the fight is far from finished. While the Court closed one legal door, it left several others wide open – and the president has already signaled that he intends to step through them. Importantly, however, the court did not hold that the president lacks tariff authority altogether. Rather, it concluded only that IEEPA is not a valid statutory foundation for such measures. The opinion left intact the president’s ability to rely on other trade statutes enacted by Congress. The message was unmistakable: the court’s ruling will not mark the end of the administration’s tariff strategy.  Roberts court shuts door on tariffs but leaves room for Trump to prevail | Just The News

Inflation Held Steady at 2.7% to End 2025

Consumer prices rose 2.7% in December, virtually unchanged from November and roughly in line with analysts’ expectations, per the latest reading from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation was helped by falling used car and truck prices, but rising grocery costs prevented the rate from making more progress toward the Fed’s 2% target. Food prices spiked 0.7% in December—the fastest monthly gain since 2022, the New York Times noted. Compared to the same period in 2024, food prices were up by 3.1%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has previously said he expects the peak impact of tariffs to show up in Q1 of this year. Morning Brew

Mobile Robots Future-Proofing Supply Chains by Michael Murphy

Tariff implications and geopolitical tensions impact global supply chains, forcing manufacturers to think about how they manage inventory and minimize the effects of inflation. To address these conditions, manufacturers are turning to innovations, including mobile robots, that can offer more predictability for warehouse operations. Robots can work continuously to keep the flow of goods moving. With the ability to move hundreds of cases an hour, they can ensure that daily goals are met even as order-fulfillment demands increase. Automating this inbound process can alleviate several challenges for manufacturers. Mobile Robots Future-Proofing Supply Chains | advancedmanufacturing.org

Trump Meets with Xi, Declares Immediate Cut to Tariffs by Josh Chin Follow and Meridith McGraw

U.S.-China summit offers relief to both sides while high-stakes rivalry carries on. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping emerged from their first face-to-face meeting in six years with a temporary truce in the bruising trade fight between the two superpowers. Their agreement lowers immediate tensions between the U.S. and China, which have been locked for months in a bitter struggle over trade and technology that has hurt both their economies. The agreement includes a reduction in stiff U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for a pledge by China to crack down on the trade in the chemicals used to produce fentanyl. China also promised to ease the exports of rare earths—minerals that Western manufacturers rely on to make a range of goods. And Beijing promised to buy “tremendous amounts” of American soybeans.  Trump Meets With China’s Xi, Declares Immediate Tariff Cut – WSJ

US Supreme Court to Hear Trump’s Tariffs Case on November 5 by Andrew Chung

The Supreme Court will hear arguments Nov. 5 on the legality of President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The case arises after lower courts found that Trump exceeded his powers under a federal law typically reserved for emergencies. The ruling could have significant implications for US trade policy and the limits of presidential authority. US Supreme Court to hear Trump’s tariffs case on November 5 | Reuters

Interesting: The Three Pillars of Independence of an Organization

The 3 Pillars of Independence most commonly refers to a framework from the UK voluntary sector (specifically promoted by organizations like Bond and the Directory of Social Change). It is a toolkit for assessing and maintaining the independence of charities, NGOs, or civil society organizations.

The Three Pillars are:

  1. Independent of Party Politics – The organization (or regulator) must remain free from bias or influence by any political party or the government of the day. Decisions should be impartial, not favoring one political side.
  2. Independent of Populism – It should not be swayed by popular public opinion, media-driven campaigns, or transient public pressure, especially on controversial or unpopular causes.
  3. Independent of the Press – Freedom from media influence or pressure, ensuring decisions are based on evidence and law rather than headlines or public narratives.

This toolkit was created to monitor potential political encroachment on charitable regulation and to ensure charities can operate without undue external interference.

 

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