Business and trade policy at the Trump Administration’s midpoint

Where we are and what may lie ahead for tariff refunds, changing policy tools and the overall landscape.

Over the past 18 months, continuing shifts in trade policy have required businesses to adapt their operating models to navigate these unpredictable times. Businesses continue to face tariff uncertainty in 2026 and beyond, ranging from ongoing trade investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and novel use of authorities such as Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, to ongoing negotiations with trading partners, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) joint review. The challenges of ongoing litigation related to various tariff authorities, as well as the duty refund process of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), have further complicated the landscape.

Join us to gain actionable insights to help shift from reacting to trade policy changes to proactively preparing your operations to navigate uncertainty. Discover practical approaches that can help you anticipate and address evolving challenges, making supply chains more resilient and adaptable. Learn about the latest developments in tariff and trade policy and explore ways to strengthen your business so you’re prepared to thrive in an uncertain environment.

Topics to be discussed include:

• An overview of current trade policy: ongoing Section 232 and 301 investigations, negotiations with trading partners (including the USMCA joint review), and current litigation challenging tariff authorities
• The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) IEEPA duty refund process and its impact on businesses
• Ways businesses may realize operating model advantages
• Trade enforcement trends across CBP

Learning objectives

Identify current trade policy, the impact of the duty refunds on the business and how to plan for future volatility.

Panelists

• Sameer Anand, EY-Parthenon Americas Supply Chain Leader
• Lynlee Brown, EY Global Trade Partner and US Trade Advisory Leader, Ernst & Young LLP
• Blake Harden, Senior Trade Policy Leader, Washington Council Ernst & Young, Ernst & Young LLP

Moderator

• Al Paul, EY Americas Operating Model Effectiveness Leader, Partner, International Tax and Transaction Services, Ernst & Young LLP

EY webcast managed and produced by Ernst & Young LLP’s Tax Technical Knowledge Services Group, Washington, DC: Lynn Fairfax