President Trump touted that tariff was one of his favorite words and he has been doing everything in his power to have additional tariffs stick on certain products and/or countries since the beginning of his second time in office. Earlier this month, the White House hosted a Small Business Summit. I saw some of the…
Well, the day has come that every importer has been holding their breath for… the ability to get back the IEEPA refunds that had been paid. On April 20, CBP’s CAPE system became available for importers or customs brokers to file for refunds under Phase 1, after SCOTUS ruled that the IEEPA tariffs were illegal….
When I think about artificial intelligence, my mind goes straight to the movies. Blade Runner, The Terminator, RoboCop, and of course, Johnny Five from Short Circuit. “Johnny Five is alive!” Still one of the best lines. More recent films like Ex Machina and Her push the idea even further, showing AI as something deeply embedded…
It feels like we’re living in a never‑ending cycle of “Breaking News” alerts when it comes to IEEPA tariffs—and now Section 122 headlines have joined the party. The first major shake‑up landed on February 20, 2026, when SCOTUS ruled the IEEPA tariffs unlawful. Since the Court left the question of importer refunds unanswered, everyone has…
Your import bond is not just a formality or a good-looking paper to wave around showing your friends. It’s your license to operate, it’s your bond, shaken not stirred. Ok, maybe a few too many 007 references, but let’s clear some things up about CUSTOMS BONDS! An import bond is not just a box you…
Just last week I was reminded of an experience I had at a previous employer with an import shipment. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and many people were already on their holiday, while I received a frantic call from our freight forwarder & customs broker about an Emergency Action Notification (EAN) from U.S. Customs…
If you ever received a refund from CBP, you would typically receive a paper check mailed to you. But get ready, changes are coming and very soon. No longer will you see that check from the US Department of Treasury, refunds will be issued electronically. The interim final rule goes into effect on February 6,…
What Is the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA)? The Enforce and Protect Act of 2015 was enacted as part of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) and became effective in August 2016, this law gives US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to investigate and stop evasion of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imported goods. Its purpose is to protect US…
This year has been exceptionally challenging for importers. From the outset, new tariffs appeared to be implemented almost daily, with China-related tariff rates changing multiple times—sometimes within a single day. Keeping pace with these developments has proven difficult even for the most experienced trade professionals. Compounding the uncertainty were a series of legal challenges surrounding…
When it comes to importing, accuracy in your import entry is not only important, but also essential. One of the most critical components of this process is the proper classification of goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS). At first glance, this might seem like a simple task. Depending on the product, it can be—but…