1. A Historical Agreement: USIFTA and Its Implications
On April 22, 1985, a significant milestone was achieved in U.S.-Israel relations with the establishment of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Agreement (USIFTA). This agreement, sanctioned by Congress through the United States–Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-47, 99 Stat. 82), laid the groundwork for reciprocal trade benefits between the two nations. Notably, Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act grants the President the authority to adjust duties to sustain the balance of concessions promised under the agreement. In a bid to foster agricultural trade, the U.S. and Israel signed an additional accord on July 27, 2004, covering specific agricultural trade aspects from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008, known as the 2004 Agreement.
2. Proclamations and Extensions: The Evolving Trade Landscape
In Proclamation 7826 on October 4, 2004, the President utilized the authority from Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act to ensure that specific Israeli agricultural products continued receiving duty-free access to the U.S. market through December 31, 2008. This was a strategic move to maintain beneficial trade relations. The years following saw a series of annual agreements extending the 2004 Agreement, from 2008 through 2024, allowing both governments the necessary time to negotiate a more permanent solution. Each year, proclamations by Presidents Bush, Obama, and Biden modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), reaffirming the commitment to duty-free access for specified Israeli agricultural products for one-year increments.
3. A Permanent Solution on the Horizon
Fast forward to December 1, 2025, when the U.S. entered into an agreement with Israel to make lasting modifications to the 2004 Agreement. Just a few days later, on December 4, 2025, another agreement was reached to extend the 2004 Agreement’s validity, allowing time for these permanent changes to take effect. It was determined that maintaining the reciprocal trade concessions necessitated continued duty-free access for certain Israeli agricultural products through December 31, 2026, as specified in Annex I of the latest proclamation.
4. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement: A Parallel Development
On May 6, 2003, the United States also solidified trade relations with Singapore through the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), approved by Congress in 2004. The USSFTA Implementation Act empowers the President to make necessary modifications to duties and tariff treatments to align with the agreement’s provisions. The initial Proclamation 7747 issued in December 2003 introduced essential tariff modifications and rules of origin, ensuring the agreement’s smooth implementation.
5. Technical Corrections: The Ongoing Need for Refinement
Proclamation 7747, however, was not without its flaws. It contained technical errors regarding the rules of origin for certain HTSUS subheadings, prompting further necessary modifications to rectify these discrepancies. This highlights a common reality in trade agreements—constant revisions are often needed to keep pace with the complexities of international trade.
6. The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Expanding Trade Horizons
Another significant development occurred on June 30, 2007, with the establishment of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (USKFTA), further extending the U.S. trade network. Following the agreement’s approval, Proclamation 8783 in March 2012 implemented key elements of the USKFTA, incorporating necessary duty reductions and rules of origin into the HTSUS.
7. Consistency in Trade Regulations: The Role of Executive Orders
In December 2011, Proclamation 8771 modified the HTSUS to align it with amendments to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. This consistency is vital for maintaining clarity in trade practices, allowing for smooth transactions and compliance with international standards.
8. Addressing Technical Errors: An Ongoing Challenge
Proclamation 9072, issued in December 2013, aimed to correct a technical error in tariff classification rules, showcasing the need for vigilance in trade regulations. Such modifications are crucial for ensuring that the HTSUS accurately reflects current trade agreements and practices.
9. The African Growth and Opportunity Act: Special Considerations
In March 2007, Proclamation 8114 established HTSUS subheading 9819.15.10 as part of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Subsequent modifications in 2008 and 2013 aimed to refine the relevant notes and subheadings, although some inconsistencies remained, necessitating further adjustments.
10. Technical Conformity: The Importance of Accurate References
Proclamation 10326 in December 2021 sought to update U.S. Notes to ensure accurate references following previous modifications. Such efforts underscore the importance of consistency in trade documentation, which can have significant implications for compliance and enforcement.
11. Executive Orders and Trade Frameworks: A Modern Approach
Executive Order 14346, issued in September 2025, authorized the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to make necessary adjustments to implement trade and security frameworks. This reflects a modern approach to trade management, where responsiveness to global economic changes is paramount.
12. Recent Adjustments: Timber and Vehicle Imports
Proclamations in late September and October 2025 adjusted import regulations for timber, lumber, and vehicles, highlighting the dynamic nature of trade regulations. However, these adjustments also revealed the need for conforming changes to ensure that updates were fully integrated into the HTSUS.
13. The Authority of the Trade Act: A Foundation for Trade Adjustments
The Trade Act of 1974 grants the President the authority to modify tariffs and import restrictions, providing a legal foundation for ongoing adjustments in response to changing trade dynamics.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act, sections 201 and 202 of the USSFTA Implementation Act, sections 201 and 202 of the USKFTA Implementation Act, and section 604 of the Trade Act, do proclaim that:
(1) In order to implement tariff commitments under the 2004 Agreement through December 31, 2026, the HTSUS is modified as set forth in Annex I of this proclamation.
(2) The modifications and technical rectifications to the HTSUS made by Annex I of this proclamation shall enter into effect on the applicable dates set forth in Annex I of this proclamation.
(3) In order to make the modifications and technical rectifications to the HTSUS described in paragraphs 4 through 12 of this proclamation, the HTSUS is modified as set forth in Annex II of this proclamation. These modifications and technical rectifications shall enter into effect on the applicable dates set forth in Annex II of this proclamation.
(4) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
ANNEX I
TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS
OF THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES
Effective with respect to eligible agricultural products of Israel which are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 am eastern time on January 1, 2026, and before 11:59 pm eastern time on December 31, 2026, subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is hereby modified as follows:
1. U.S. note 1 to such subchapter is modified by striking “December 31, 2025” and by inserting in lieu thereof “December 31, 2026”.
2. U.S. note 3 to such subchapter is modified by adding at the end of the “Applicable time period” column in the table “Calendar year 2026” and by adding at the end of the “Quantity (kg)” column opposite such year the quantity “466,000”.
3. U.S. note 4 to such subchapter is modified by adding at the end of the “Applicable time period” column in the table “Calendar year 2026” and by adding at the end of the “Quantity (kg)” column opposite such year the quantity “1,304,000”.
4. U.S. note 5 to such subchapter is modified by adding at the end of the “Applicable time period” column in the table “Calendar year 2026” and by adding at the end of the “Quantity (kg)” column opposite such year the quantity “1,534,000”.
5. U.S. note 6 to such subchapter is modified by adding at the end of the “Applicable time period” column in the table “Calendar year 2026” and by adding at the end of the “Quantity (kg)” column opposite such year the quantity “131,000”.
6. U.S. note 7 to such subchapter is modified by adding at the end of the “Applicable time period” column in the table “Calendar year 2026” and by adding at the end of the “Quantity (kg)” column opposite such year the quantity “707,000”.
ANNEX II
TECHNICAL MODIFICATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS TO
THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES
A. Tariff classification rule (TCR) 2 to chapter 90 in general note 25 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is modified by deleting “9901.90” and by inserting “9001.90” in lieu thereof.
B. TCR 4(B) to chapter 90 in general note 25 of the HTSUS is modified by deleting “900.19” and by inserting “9003.19” in lieu thereof.
C. TCR 1(A) to chapter 88 in general note 33 of the HTSUS is deleted and TCRs 1(B) and 1(C) to chapter 88 in general note 33 of the HTSUS are re-lettered as 1(A) and 1(B), respectively.
D. U.S. note 2(b) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTSUS is modified by deleting “and 9819.15.10”.
E. Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 am eastern time on October 14, 2025, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as follows:
1. The article description of heading 9903.02.74 is modified by deleting “(xvi)” and by inserting “(xvii)” in lieu thereof;
2. The article description of heading 9903.02.75 is modified by deleting “(xvii)” and by inserting “(xviii)” in lieu thereof;
3. The article description of heading 9903.02.76 is modified by deleting “(xviii)” and by inserting “(xix)” in lieu thereof; and
4. The article description of heading 9903.02.77 is modified by deleting “(xix)” and by inserting “(xx)” in lieu thereof.
F. Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 am eastern time on November 1, 2025, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as follows:
1. The article description of heading 9903.02.74 is modified by deleting “(xvii)” and by inserting “(xix)” in lieu thereof;
2. The article description of heading 9903.02.75 is modified by deleting “(xviii)” and by inserting “(xx)” in lieu thereof;
3. The article description of heading 9903.02.76 is modified by deleting “(xix)” and by inserting “(xxi)” in lieu thereof; and
4. The article description of heading 9903.02.77 is modified by deleting “(xx)” and by inserting “(xxii)” in lieu thereof.
