Iran strikes, Brazil tariffs · July 20

U.S. strikes Iran to protect commercial shipping.

Today's events

Iran strikes.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is striking Iranian assets used to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, on what reporters put at the ninth consecutive day; he said diplomacy stays open but “has to be real.”¹Jul 19 · State
Brazil tariffs.
A presidential memorandum directs a 25 percent tariff on all goods of Brazil, exempting an annex of raw materials and products the U.S. cannot source at home — the close of a yearlong trade investigation that drew 360 comments and 77 witnesses.²Jul 20 · Fed. Reg.
Xi trip holds.
Rubio said Xi Jinping's September visit is still expected and that Chinese teams keep arriving to prepare it — days after the White House released declassified material alleging Chinese interference in U.S. elections.³Jul 19 · State
Public-charge rule.
Homeland Security rescinded the 2022 rule governing when immigrants may be refused entry as likely dependents on public benefits, restoring broad case-by-case discretion to its officers. Effective September 18.⁴Jul 20 · Fed. Reg.
Lebanon framework.
Rubio met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on implementation of the Trilateral Framework and backed Beirut's effort to disarm Hizballah and dismantle its infrastructure.⁵Jul 19 · State
China dumping case.
Commerce opened an investigation into whether Chinese choline salts — a feed and pharmaceutical additive — are sold in the U.S. below fair value, on a petition from domestic producer BCP Ingredients, alongside a parallel subsidy case.⁶Jul 20 · Commerce
Stablecoin reporting.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation opened comment on weekly and quarterly reporting forms that payment-stablecoin issuers under its supervision would be required to file. Comments close September 18.⁷Jul 20 · FDIC
Medicare drug prices.
Medicare issued draft guidance setting how drugmakers must apply the program's negotiated maximum fair prices in 2028, and opened it for public comment through September 18.⁸Jul 20 · HHS
Disability guidance voided.
Justice's Civil Rights Division declared its 2011 guidance on housing people with disabilities in community settings unenforceable, and will rewrite it against the Supreme Court's 2024 limit on agency interpretation.⁹Jul 20 · DOJ

Voices

“As long as Iran insists on controlling an international waterway, we're going to have to respond to that.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, Joint Base Andrews · Jul 19¹

“The Trade Representative shall impose a tariff of 25 percent on all goods of Brazil, with exemptions for certain goods.”
Presidential Memorandum to the U.S. Trade Representative · Jul 20²

“Rescission restores broader discretion for DHS officers to evaluate all pertinent facts and aligns with long-standing policy that aliens in the United States should be self-reliant.”
Public Charge Final Rule, Homeland Security · Jul 20⁴

“[The Secretary commended the courage of the Government of Lebanon] for their determined effort to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hizballah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and move towards peace.”
Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, State Dept. · Jul 19⁵

“[The] petitioner alleges that imports of choline salts from China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value.”
Commerce Dept. initiation notice · Jul 20⁶

“The Department will not rely upon the Olmstead Guidance in its enforcement of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
AAG Harmeet K. Dhillon, DOJ Civil Rights · Jul 20⁹

Sources

U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press” (Joint Base Andrews — on the Iran strikes and the Strait of Hormuz), July 19, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-remarks-to-the-press-13
Federal Register, “Action by the United States in the Investigation Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 of Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices” (Presidential Memorandum), published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/section-301-brazil-action
U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press” (on China and the September visit), July 19, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-remarks-to-the-press-13
Federal Register, “Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility” (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, final rule), published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/public-charge-ground-of-inadmissibility
U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Lebanese President Aoun,” July 19, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-meeting-lebanese-president-aoun
Federal Register, “Certain Choline Salts From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation” (Dept. of Commerce), published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/choline-salts-china-ltfv
Federal Register, “Reporting Forms and Instructions Associated With Requirements and Standards for FDIC-Supervised Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers,” published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/fdic-stablecoin-reporting-forms
Federal Register, “Medicare Program; Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Draft Guidance; Comment Request,” published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/medicare-drug-price-negotiation-guidance
Federal Register, “Clarification on Department of Justice Guidance Titled, ‘Statement of the Department of Justice on Enforcement of the Integration Mandate of Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act and Olmstead v. L.C.’” published July 20, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/doj-olmstead-guidance-clarification