November 2025 Volume 7

WASHINGTON UPDATE

China bears the brunt of the Section 301 tariffs imposed starting in 2018 for intellectual property theft and other trade violations. More than 10,000 imports from China remain subject to a 7.5 percent or 25 percent tariff under the 301 action, tariffs left in place by former President Biden. The current administration has not only maintained the 301 tariffs on China, but is looking to expand their use to cover other countries such as Brazil. The Section 232 and 301 laws are not President Trump’s only options clearly providing him the authority to impose tariffs. The administration is reportedly prepared to use Section 122, which permits a 15 percent tariff on imports for 150 days, and Section 338, which may result in a 50 percent tariff on targeted imports. This means, even an adverse ruling on IEEPA is not the end of the tariff conversation. In the coming months we should expect that tariff expansion will remain fully underway, and even that fellow can’t hide behind the tree.

Omar S. Nashashibi is the Founder of Inside Beltway, a nonpartisan lobbying and strategic consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Having worked in the nation’s capital for over twenty-five years, Mr. Nashashibi provides strategic consulting services to companies while also lobbying the White House and Congress on behalf of manufacturing, associations, defense firms, nonprofits, and other sectors. He works with policymakers on trade, taxes, environmental and workplace regulations, supply chains, job training and identifying grants and funding to support projects. Having started his career

in Washington D.C. in 1996, Mr. Nashashibi worked for the Office of Management and Budget, a branch of the White House, a large multi-state law firm, and founded a previous lobbying firm in 2005. He graduated from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he studied Political Science and International Affairs. He is based in Washington, D.C., representing the Forging Industry Association. He can be reached at omar@ insidebeltway.com.

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FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2025 7