04/24/2026
CBP CAPE Module Accepting Refund Requests as of April 20, 2026
Check out this week's Customs Corner to read about CBP CAPE Module Accepting Refund Requests, CBP Issues Updated Guidance on Jones Act Waiver and Covered Products, and more.
Trade and Customs Updates
CBP CAPE Module Accepting Refund Requests as of April 20, 2026
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially rolled out the first phase of its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool within the Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal). The new CAPE functionality allows importers and authorized customs brokers to submit CAPE Declarations directly through their ACE Portal accounts, marking a significant step in modernizing trade processing.
The CAPE tool aims to simplify the refund process for IEEPA duties, including associated interest, by consolidating refunds instead of handling them on an entry-by-entry basis. Currently, CAPE Phase 1 is available for certain unliquidated entries and entries within 80 days of liquidation.
Background: Supreme Court & Initial CIT Orders
As previously shared, the Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026, decision invalidated IEEPA-based duties. Following this, the CIT initially ordered a refund of unliquidated and non-final entries.
Major Update: CIT Amended Order (March 27, 2026)
The CIT has significantly expanded the scope of eligible refunds. Key takeaways include:
- Expanded Eligibility: The Court now requires CBP to refund IEEPA duties on all entries, including those that are finally liquidated.
Technical Development: CAPE Status & Timeline
CBP provided a status update on the development of the Consolidated Administration and
Processing of Entries (CAPE) module:
- Phase 1 Launch: Scheduled for April 20, 2026.
- Phase 1 Scope: Initial processing will focus on unliquidated entries and those within 80-days post the liquidation date.
- Later Phases: Refund processing for "finally liquidated" entries (now eligible per the March 27 order) and complex types like drawback or reconciliation will follow in subsequent phases. Customs does not yet have a timeline available for subsequent phases.
Updated Recommendations for Importers
- Maintain Protests: Despite the March 27 order covering finally liquidated entries, we still recommend filing protests for entries nearing their 180-day deadline to protect your legal standing should the government appeal.
- Verify ACH Status: CBP estimates $46 billion in refunds is currently stalled for importers who have not completed their mandatory ACH Refund Authorization.
Best Practices
- Enroll in the ACE portal:
- ACE Portal Enrollment Steps
- Step 1: Audit Your Form 5106
CBP’s signup is tied to your Form 5106 (Importer Identity Form). - Step 2: Complete the Automated Application
Go to the CBP ACE Portal Application page and select the Importers link. - Step 3: Designate a Trade Account Owner (TAO)
The TAO is the primary person responsible for the company’s account. - Step 4: Enroll in ACH Refunds
Once your portal is active, you must link a U.S. bank account to receive CAPE refunds.
- Step 1: Audit Your Form 5106
- ACE Portal Enrollment Steps
- Audit Entry Status Immediately: Use ACE Reports to identify entries with IEEPA Chapter 99 duties and categorize them by liquidation status (unliquidated vs. recently liquidated).
- Preserve Records for 5 Years: While CAPE simplifies the claim, it does not change CBP recordkeeping requirements. Maintain all certification and exemption justification documents for five years post-entry.
How GEODIS Can Support Your Team
Our teams are ready to assist you in navigating these new complexities:
- Entry Review: Identifying all eligible entries and the phases that they would be covered under.
- CSV Preparation: Compiling the required CAPE Declaration files for the April 20 launch and also for subsequent phase declarations that need to be prepared once the phases are outlined and opened.
- Review, track and trace entries: Eligible entries will be tracked from start to finish - with eligible entries tracked and confirmed from filing to liquidation and refund.
If you have questions or would like to talk through what these developments may mean for your business, please reach out to your GEODIS representative or connect with [email protected].
CBP Issues Updated Guidance on Jones Act Waiver and Covered Products
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released updated guidance related to CSMS #68096516 and #68180454, including a revised list of products potentially covered by the Jones Act waiver as of April 16, 2026. This follows the original implementation message dated March 17, 2026, when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a limited, 60-day waiver of the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 55102) at the request of the Department of War, effective until 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
CBP clarifies that to qualify under the waiver, covered products must be loaded onto the appropriate vessel before the waiver’s expiration deadline. Trade community members planning to transport eligible commodities on foreign-flag vessels under this waiver must notify CBP at [email protected], providing details such as the vessel’s name (including IMO number and flag), commodity and HTS code, carrier, and relevant ports and dates of departure and arrival.
Foreign vessels operating under the waiver are still subject to all vessel entrance and clearance requirements, including the use of the Vessel Entrance and Clearance System (VECS) in the ACE Portal and submission of a formal vessel entry as required by federal regulations. Failure to comply with arrival or entrance reporting requirements may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Carriers must submit a paper CBP Form 1302 “Inward Cargo Declaration” for all U.S. domestic cargo shipped under the waiver, with specific notations identifying the shipment as subject to the March 17, 2026, waiver. The form can be uploaded to VECS via the Document Imaging System (DIS), emailed to both the port of loading and discharge, or provided in physical form to local CBP offices.
Additionally, within 10 days of the conclusion of any voyage conducted under this waiver, vessel owners or operators (or the requesting party, if different) must submit a report to the Maritime Administrator. The report should include the vessel’s name and flag, owner and operator details, voyage dates, ports of call, cargo description, justification for the waiver in the interest of national defense, and any other information requested by the Maritime Administrator.
Reference:
List of Potentially Covered Products as of April 16 2026.xlsx
CBP Reminds PMS Participants that Electronic Payment of Supplemental Duty Bills is Now Required
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reminding Periodic Monthly Statement participants (PMS), as outlined in CSMS #66599946 and Federal Register Notice 90 FR 48314, that all supplemental duty bills (SDB) arising from entries originally paid via the PMS must be settled electronically beginning December 15, 2025. Payments should be made using either ACH Debit through the Pay.gov Bill Payment Form or ACH Credit, with instructions available on CBP.gov and included in supplemental duty bills mailed since March 1, 2026. Parties wishing to use ACH Credit must contact [email protected] prior to payment. CBP cautions that failure to comply with these electronic payment requirements may result in suspension from PMS monthly statement privileges.
Reference:
NOAA Fisheries Lifts Yellowfin Tuna Embargo on Panama, Renews Affirmative Findings for Seven Countries
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has issued a five-year affirmative finding to Panama, effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2031, removing the embargo imposed in 2000 on yellowfin tuna and related products harvested by purse seine vessels in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This decision marks a significant milestone for Panama’s tuna industry, allowing exports to resume after more than two decades. Additionally, NOAA Fisheries has renewed one-year affirmative findings for Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain, effective from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. These actions support continued trade in tuna products among these countries while ensuring compliance with marine mammal protection standards. For more information, refer to the Federal Register notices Panama and other countries.
More information about NOAA Fisheries' affirmative findings and yellowfin tuna import restrictions is available online: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/resources-us-importers
Reference:
ACE Support Calls
The Trade Transformation Office (TTO) will conduct support calls for the trade community. Registration links for the webinar is provided below. All registrants will receive the access link for the webinar the day of the event, but entry into the webinar is on a first-come, first-served basis as seats are limited. After the live event, this and other previously recorded webinars will be available for replay at Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov).
- Registration link for webinar on April 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET: Register here
Reference:
CPSC Announces Webinar Series to Prepare for E-Filing
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is pleased to announce a series of upcoming webinars designed to guide you through the final months leading up to implementation of eFiling for most regulated products. These sessions will provide a general overview of eFiling, share what you can expect upon full implementation, and highlight updates to the Product Registry.
Deadline/event date:
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (2:00–3:00 PM ET) – 2 Months Out
- Register here: May 6 Webinar Registration
- Please submit your questions by May 1, 2026,with your registration at the link above.
- Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (2:00–3:00 PM ET) – 1 Month Out
- Register here: June 3 Webinar Registration
- Please submit your questions by May 29, 2026,with your registration at the link above.
Webinar Details
- Attendance is limited to 1,000 participants per session.
Q&A and Chat features will not be available live; please submit all questions by the deadlines indicated above when registering.
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