Updated June 5, 2025

Resources for businesses and employees

We encourage you to monitor these resources for the latest business and safety updates.

  1. Business & Community Assistance Resources
    1. AI Tools Small Businesses Need for Competitive Analysis
    2. Disaster Assistance
    3. FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) for Natural Hazards – shows which communities are most at risk
    4. Feeding America
    5. Illinois Small Business Assistance
    6. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
  2. Food Safety
    1. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment – Proposition 65 List
    2. FDA 2022 Food Code
    3. FDA Authorized Uses of PFAS in Food Contact Applications
    4. USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  3. Human Resources
    1. Community Assistance Programs (Illinois job placement)
    2. DOL Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – DOL-Timesheet App
    3. DOL Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – FMLA Poster
    4. EEOC: What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
    5. OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Fact Sheet
    6. International Economic Development Council (Workforce Reports) – Artificial Intelligence Impact on Labor Markets
    7. National Safety Council – Safety Training, Workplace Safety and Roadway Safety
    8. World Health Organization (WHO)
  4. Energy Resources & Rebates
    1. Appliance Standards Awareness Project (State Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards)
    2. Blue Flame Alliance
    3. California Energy Wise
    4. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®
    5. Electric Foodservice Council
    6. ENERGY STAR® Commercial Foodservice Equipment
    7. SoCalGas Food Service Equipment Center – Webinars, Rebates, Safe Food Handling Guidelines
  5. Environment Related Regulation and Requirements
    1. California Assembly Bill 1200 – Hazardous Chemicals in Food Packaging and Cookware
    2. Compliance Monitoring Strategy for the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
    3. Deloitte – Executive Summary of SEC’s Landmark Climate Disclosure Rule
    4. EPA Instructions for Reporting per-or poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
    5. EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap
    6. PFAS Overview – International Federal State –3.3.25.xlsx
    7. PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
    8. Prop 65 FAQs for Businesses
    9. Prop 65 – Sample Warnings and Translations For Businesses
    10. Safer States Legislation Tracker Website
  1. Taxes and Tariffs

U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs

  • Steel and aluminum products (including derivatives) – regardless of country of origin – are subject to a uniform 50% Section 232 (national security) tariff. Tariff rate applies to goods that are entered (or withdrawn from a warehouse) for consumption as of 12:01 am June 4.Aluminum and derivatives smelt or cast in Russia, or containing Russian-origin aluminum, are subject to a 200% duty rate.
  • Tariff rate on steel/aluminum imports from the UK remains at 25% at least until July 9.
  • Previously – If something was subject to the IEEPA Fentanyl duties for CA/MX, then §232 on steel/aluminum didn’t apply
  • As of June 4 – If something is subject to the §232 steel/aluminum, then IEEPA Fentanyl for CA/MX doesn’t apply. This effectively moves goods flagged for §232 from 25% under IEEPA to this higher 50% under §232
  • Reciprocal Tariffs now apply to non-§232 Lines (currently at 10% until July 9)
  • There is no duty drawback for section 232 duties.
  • De Minimis no longer available for Chinese shipments effective May 2.
  • Following are useful documents addressing steel imports:
    • Summary of all Section 232 tariffs
  • Following are useful documents addressing aluminum imports:
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection Guidelines Customs

U.S. covered steel and aluminum derivative products (part of the Section 232 national security tariffs)

Additional U.S. tariffs:

  • Effective April 9, imports from all countries are subject to a minimum 10% tariff.
  • Imports from China, Hong Kong and Maca are subject to a 30% tariff during the May 14to August 12, 90-day negotiation period. DeMinimis is no longer available, effective May 2.
    • Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted a message exempting certain electronic products, items and components from the IEEPA reciprocal tariffs. The exemptions are applied based on HTS codes included in the link.
  • Imports from Canada and Mexico
    • 25% tariff on imports of all products of Canada and Mexico.
      • 10% on Canadian energy products and potash
      • 10% on Mexican potash
      • Automobile production and products qualifying under the USMCA are exempt.

Additional U.S. investigations

  • The U.S. Department of Commerce opened a brief three-week comment period (April 16 – May 7) on its Section 232 investigation of the security risks of imports of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment and their derivative products. The investigation also covers semiconductor substrates and bare wafers, legacy chips, leading-edge chips, microelectronics and manufacturing equipment components. The final report is due to President Trump Dec. 27, although the administration has stated its intent to move at a faster pace.
  • Despite possessing ample copper reserves, America’s smelting and refining capacity lags far behind global competitors. President Trump initiated a Section 232 investigation to assess U.S. national security risks arising from the country’s increasing dependence on imported smelted and refined copper. Findings are due Nov. 22. 
  • A similar Section 232 investigation is underway for imports of timber, lumber and their derivative products. According to the White House, “current United States softwood lumber industry has the practical production capacity to supply 95% of the United States’ 2024 softwood consumption. Yet, since 2016 the United States has been a net importer of lumber.” Findings are due Nov. 26. 
  • Following a Section 301 investigation of China’s targeting dominance in the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, the U.S. Trade Representative proposed significant service fees on China-bult vessels upon entrance to U.S. ports. NAFEM, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 100+ others advocated against the proposal that would increase shipping costs, raise prices and decrease exports and imports.

Canada’s response

China’s response

  • China lowered reciprocal tariffs to 10% during the May 14 to August 12, 90-day negotiation period.

The E.U. response

7. Trade

  1. Canada Forced Labor Law
  2. Customs and Border Protection Trade Outreach Webinars
  3. Department of Commerce (DOC)
  4. Department of Commerce – Human Trafficking: Forced Labor Training for Global Supply Chains
  5. European Chemicals Agency – 40 Hazardous Chemicals Added to EU’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC)Regulation
  6. International Trade Administration  – Consolidated Screening List (CSL)  – UFLPA Entity List – FTA Tariff Tool
  7. ITA – U.S. Aluminum Import Monitor – Country of Most Recent Cast Dashboard & Country of Smelt Dashboard
  8. ITA – U.S. Imports of Steel Mill Products (for Domestic Consumption)
  9. NAFEM Global Market Access and Conformity Guide
  10. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Data Dictionary
  11. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Statistics
  12. USMCA Origin Certification – Informational Fact Sheet
  13. U.S. Trade Representative
  14. White House website

8. Travel

  1. Department of Homeland Security – Trusted Traveler Programs
  2. U.S. Department of State – Travel Advisories
  3. U.S. Department of State – Travel Resources

NAFEM has not confirmed the accuracy of or endorsed the information available through the links.