Executive Order 14198: Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border
President: Donald J. Trump
Paused the Mexican duties after the President found that Mexico had taken immediate cooperative steps.
Status: Completed/expired. The pause window, rather than a continuing tariff program.
Is Executive Order 14198 still in effect? No. Section 3(a) delayed the scheduled duties only until March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time; that pause has completed its stated period. The Supreme Court later rejected IEEPA tariff authority on February 20, 2026, in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, and EO 14389 ended the underlying duties the same day. Original signed text; Supreme Court, February 20, 2026; EO 14389; CBP CSMS 67834313.
What does Executive Order 14198 do?
The measure relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The order remains part of the historical presidential record, but its IEEPA duty direction cannot supply current tariff authority.
The signed order delayed the scheduled start of EO 14194 duties, rather than forgiving a tax debt or creating a new tariff schedule. Section 3(a) moved the specified February 4 dates to March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time and withdrew the original in-transit exception. Section 3(a).
During that pause, Homeland Security had to assess Mexico’s actions with State, the Attorney General and the two named White House advisers. Section 3(c) made an earlier tariff response conditional on worsening crises and inadequate foreign action. Those original instructions are distinct from proof that an assessment was completed, or from the later judicial rejection of IEEPA tariff authority. Sections 3(b)–(c).
Before and after
Before the order
Tariff treatment was set by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and measures issued under specific trade statutes.
IEEPA had not previously been used to impose the broad tariffs at issue in the 2026 Supreme Court cases.
After the order
The original pause itself ended at the March 4, 2025 start time. EO 14232, signed March 6 and effective March 7, separately introduced relief for qualifying USMCA entries and certain potash; it was not the instrument that ended this pause. Original pause deadline; Later relief, section 2.
The Supreme Court held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs. The administration then used other statutes for separate measures, including a temporary section 122 surcharge that ran from February 24 to July 24, 2026.
Who had to do what
| Agency / official | Original direction | Timing and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Homeland Security Secretary | Continue assessing Mexico’s actions on the declared emergency, in consultation with the four officials named in section 3(b). | During the pause; the tariff start was delayed until March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time. No separate report deadline. |
| Secretary of State | Consult with the Homeland Security Secretary on Mexico’s actions; section 3(b). | During the pause; no independent fixed reporting deadline. |
| Attorney General | Consult with the Homeland Security Secretary on the foreign actions; section 3(b). | During the pause; not a new tariff-schedule assignment. |
| Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs | Participate in the section 3(b) assessment consultation. | During the pause; no separate numerical deadline. |
| Assistant to the President for Homeland Security | Participate in the section 3(b) assessment consultation. | During the pause; no separate numerical deadline. |
| President | Take necessary steps, including immediate implementation of duties, if the crises worsen and Mexico fails to take adequate steps; section 3(c). | Conditional direction in the original text, not evidence that the condition occurred or surviving IEEPA tariff authority after the Court ruling. |
Original section 3 assignments. The table separates consultation and conditional presidential action; general savings language does not add Treasury, USTR or Commerce assignments.
What happened next
EO 14198 signed.
The signed pause order was published in the Federal Register. Official publication.
The pause reached its express endpoint at 12:01 a.m. eastern time; the order had moved the underlying start dates to this time. Section 3(a).
EO 14232 was signed, providing later USMCA-entry and potash relief effective March 7, not ending the already-completed pause. Later signed amendment.
The Supreme Court rejected IEEPA tariff authority; this does not invalidate USMCA qualification or every customs action. Controlling opinion.
EO 14389 ended the underlying listed IEEPA duties as amended, preserving emergencies and non-tariff actions. Termination scope.
CBP issued the operational collection instructions in CSMS 67834313. Dated bulletin.
CBP specified no IEEPA duty collection on covered entries or warehouse withdrawals from 12:00 a.m. eastern time. Covered-entry cutoff.
EO 14389 was published in the Federal Register, after signing and the collection cutoff. Official publication.
A separate temporary 10% surcharge operated under section 122 of the Trade Act.
Current position checked against the Court judgment and official USTR tariff record.
Court status
See the court documents in Sources by type.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The order relied on IEEPA and the national-emergency framework, but the Supreme Court held on February 20, 2026, that IEEPA does not authorize presidential tariffs. It affirmed the Federal Circuit judgment in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, No. 25–250, and vacated the separate District of Columbia judgment in Learning Resources, No. 24–1287, with instructions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Majority holding and judgment dispositions.
The pause window, rather than a continuing tariff program. EO 14389 ended the listed IEEPA additional duties as amended without ending their emergency declarations or non-tariff actions. Its termination did not remove separate section 232 or section 301 duties, or decide whether a particular historical entry qualifies for a refund. Sections 1–2; Later collection instructions.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 9, 2026. How we research →
Additional evidence review: October 16, 2026. Checked the signed amendment, its precise timing and assignments, later rate changes where applicable, the Supreme Court’s distinct judgments, EO 14389 and CBP’s collection cutoff. Historical terms do not establish current entry eligibility, individual refunds or fulfillment of every consultation.