The Latest Breaking News from the Commerce Department

Boost for Trump as US growth revised higher in Q2

The US economy rebounded this spring from a first-quarter downturn caused by fallout from President Donald Trump's trade wars.

Euronews · Aug 28, 2025

U.S. gov't seizes $7.4 billion semiconductor research fund created under Biden admin, calling it 'illegal' — Lutnick says fund 'served as a semiconductor slush fund that did nothing but line the pockets of Biden loyalists with American tax dollars'

The US Commerce Department of the Trump administration has pulled back billions of dollars in funding for a non-profit aimed at promoting US chip design and fabrication, suggesting that its appointment under the Biden administration somehow made it inappropriate for distributing taxpayer funds.

Tom’s Hardware · Aug 26, 2025

Trump's Steel Tariffs Now Apply to Milk and Hundreds of Other Products That Aren't Steel

It makes little sense, but that's what happens when you give the president unchecked, unilateral tariff powers.

Reason · Aug 20, 2025

Trump Administration Weighs 'Paradigm Shift' In Patent System To Raise Billions In Revenue: Report

The Trump administration is contemplating a significant revamp of the U.S. patent system, which could potentially generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue. 

Benzinga · Jul 29, 2025

Enterprise Products: Trump “weaponizing” ethane exports to China backfires against U.S.

About half of all ethane exports go to China to feed its petrochemical manufacturing industry.

Fortune · Jul 28, 2025

First Solar, Other US Solar Firms Urge Trump Administration To Impose Tariffs On Solar Cell Imports From Indonesia, India, Laos

A group of U.S. solar panel manufacturers has called on the Commerce Department to impose tariffs on imports from Indonesia, India, and Laos. The manufacturers allege that these countries are saturating the market with low-cost goods.

Benzinga · Jul 18, 2025

The U.S. Would Need To Plant Up to 250,000 More Acres of Tomatoes To Replace Those Imported from Mexico

According to one analyst, the U.S. would need between 42,000 and 250,000 more acres growing tomatoes to replace Mexican imports.

Reason · Jul 16, 2025

US imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production

The U.S. government says it's placing a 17% duty on most fresh Mexican tomatoes after negotiations ended without an agreement to avert the tariff

The Independent UK · Jul 14, 2025

Texas lawmakers urge Trump to extend tomato trade agreement with Mexico

The 1996 agreement is set to expire Monday, which could raise the price of Mexican tomatoes and threaten thousands of Texas jobs.

The Texas Tribune · Jul 11, 2025

Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts

Downsizing at the National Weather Service appears to be part of an effort by Republicans to privatize such agencies

The Independent UK · Jul 9, 2025