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On October 3, 2023, Venezuela was designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) due to conditions in the country that made it unsafe for Venezuelans to return home. This status was set to expire on April 2, 2025. However, after reviewing the situation in Venezuela, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security decided that it's against the U.S. national interest for Venezuelans to remain in the U.S. under the 2023 TPS designation. As a result, this designation is being terminated, effective April 7, 2025. The termination doesn't affect the 2021 TPS designation for Venezuela, which remains active until September 10, 2025.

In this presidential proclamation, President Donald J. Trump adjusts the tariffs on aluminum imports into the United States. Originally, a 10% tariff was imposed on imported aluminum to protect national security, but it is now increased to 25% due to continued high import levels that threaten U.S. industry. Agreements with countries like Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the EU, and the UK, which allowed for exceptions to these tariffs, will end, and those countries will now face the same increased tariffs as others. This decision aims to help domestic aluminum producers by reducing reliance on foreign aluminum that is often cheaply shipped from countries like China and Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated an investigation into whether pentafluoroethane (R-125) imported from China is being sold in the United States at less than fair value, potentially harming the domestic industry. Honeywell International, Inc., the sole U.S. producer of R-125, brought the petition, and Commerce has found sufficient industry support to proceed. The investigation will focus on imports between July and December 2020, using a combination of U.S. price and factors of production from a similar market, Russia, to assess fair value. Stakeholders are given deadlines to submit comments on product characteristics, scope, and other relevant information.

In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking public comments on potential regulations concerning information and communications technology and services (ICTS) used in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). These technologies, if linked to foreign adversaries like China or Russia, may pose risks to U.S. national security and critical infrastructure. BIS is asking for feedback on possible definitions of UAS, risks involved, and ways to mitigate those risks, with an aim to protect U.S. interests while minimizing economic impact. The public has until March 4, 2025, to submit their comments.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule to update the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding certain chemical families and an individual chemical to “Schedule 1” of the CWC Annex on Chemicals. These changes reflect decisions made during an international conference and clarify the definition of "production" under the CWCR. The updates ensure the U.S. complies with international obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, but are not expected to significantly impact U.S. industry due to limited commercial applications of the newly added chemicals.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. These changes include adjustments to recreational fishery seasons and allocations for 2025. New measures are also proposed to transfer unused fishing quotas from Northern California to areas south of Point Arena to help maintain opportunities for anglers. The public is invited to provide comments on these proposed rules by January 27, 2025.

The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council has announced a new rule that includes mining as a sector eligible for coverage under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41). This means that mining projects can now benefit from improved coordination and transparency in the federal permitting process. The rule aims to make the permitting process for mining projects more efficient without bypassing any environmental reviews or public consultations. By adding mining to the list of FAST-41 sectors, it is expected to help streamline the project review process for eligible mining endeavors.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a rule that would require alcohol beverage labels to disclose the presence of major food allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. This initiative aims to give consumers who are allergic to these foods essential information to make informed choices about alcohol consumption. The proposal is part of a broader push to standardize labeling with other food products, and TTB is considering an extended compliance period to reduce the impact on the industry, particularly small businesses. Comments on the proposal are being sought until April 17, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), is introducing a temporary rule to help U.S. businesses struggling from a lack of workers by increasing the number of H-2B visas available for Fiscal Year 2025 by up to 64,716. These visas will be distributed over the fiscal year in four allocations, with a portion reserved specifically for nationals of certain countries including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Haiti. The rule also allows greater job flexibility for H-2B workers already in the U.S. by letting them change employers more easily. Businesses must attest they are facing severe loss without these workers for their applications to be considered.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador for 18 months, starting March 10, 2025, and ending September 9, 2026. This extension allows eligible Salvadorans to stay in the U.S. safely due to ongoing environmental challenges in El Salvador, such as natural disasters and a lack of clean water. Existing TPS beneficiaries must re-register between January 17, 2025, and March 18, 2025, to maintain their status and, if desired, renew their Employment Authorization Documents. DHS has recognized 232,000 Salvadoran beneficiaries eligible for re-registration under this extension.