05/29/2026

CBP Updates IEEPA FAQ Page with New Reconciliation Guidance

Check out this week's Customs Corner to read about CBP Updates IEEPA FAQ Page with New Reconciliation Guidance

Trade and Customs Updates

CBP Updates IEEPA FAQ Page with New Reconciliation Guidance

On May 26, 2026, CBP released an update to its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, adding two new responses focused on the topic of reconciliation. 

 

Question: How does CBP currently address IEEPA refunds if CAPE declarations are not allowed to be filed for entry summaries flagged for reconciliation?

 

Answer: CBP is currently working on a phased solution to process unliquidated or liquidated (not more than 80 days beyond the liquidation date) entries flagged for reconciliation (Entry Types 01, 02, and 06) that are included on a CAPE declaration, and for which an Entry Type 09 has not yet been filed at the time of CAPE acceptance. The CAPE process does not prevent an entry from being reconciled; however, CBP suggests that the trade community hold reconciliation filings (Entry Type 09) unless the reconciliation filing deadline is close to expiring (less than 30 days) so that the CAPE declaration can be filed and processed first. CBP is also working on a solution for situations where the reconciliation entry is already on file. As these phases are deployed, CBP will issue Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) messages providing filing requirements and guidance.

 

Question: What should the trade do if they have a reconciliation filing deadline that is close to expiring for which the reconciliation will result in an increase in IEEPA duties?

 

Answer: Trade should file the reconciliation entry and deposit the duties, taxes and fees owed, without the increased IEEPA duties.

 

Geodis will continue to monitor the FAQs and CBP guidance and provide updates as they become available.

Reference:

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Duty Refunds | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CBP Director Provides Update on IEEPA Refund Progress: $20.6 Billion in Refunds Processed Through CAPE

On March 26, 2026, Brandon Lord, Director of the Trade Programs Directorate at CBP, presented an update to the CIT on the ongoing IEEPA refund process.

 

As of May 22, 2026, a total of 157,402 CAPE (Customs Automated Processing Environment) declarations has been submitted. Of these, 108,760 declarations successfully passed the initial file validation phase. The main issues causing file validation failures include mismatches between the importer of record or filer on CAPE declarations, errors in entry number validation (such as incorrect length or non-existent numbers), and .CSV files not formatted according to the official template provided on the ACE portal.

 

The validated CAPE declarations represent 15,852,806 import entries that met all entry-specific criteria, paving the way for IEEPA duties to be removed. Of these, 8,515,477 entries have already been liquidated or reliquidated without IEEPA duties.

 

However, 3,481,844 entries failed the entry-level validation for reasons such as the entry date exceeding CBP’s 90-day re-liquidation window, absence of a Chapter 99 IEEPA HTS, or the entry having previously been included in an earlier CAPE declaration.

 

To date, approximately $85 billion in potential and certified refunds have been accepted for processing through CAPE. Of this sum, about $20.6 billion in refunds—including duties and accrued interest—have been completed, certified by CBP, and forwarded to the U.S. Department of Treasury for disbursement.

 

CBP also noted that 4,185 consolidated refunds remain pending and have not yet been transmitted to Treasury, as ACH account information is still outstanding from the importer of record or their authorized CBP Form 4811 designee.

 

Reference:

#30 in Euro-Notions Florida, Inc. v. United States (Ct. Intl. Trade, 1:25-cv-00595) – CourtListener.com

U.S. and Mexico Launch Series of USMCA Joint Review Negotiations

The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced that the United States and Mexico will hold a series of bilateral negotiating rounds as part of the first Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

 

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jeff Goettman will lead the American delegation to Mexico City for the initial round of talks on May 28-29, focusing on economic security and rules of origin for key industrial goods. The second round is scheduled for June 16-17 in Washington, D.C., where negotiations will expand to cover agriculture and ensuring a level playing field. A third round is planned for the week of July 20, returning to Mexico City.

 

Reference:

The United States and Mexico Announce Series of Bilateral Negotiating Rounds Related to the First Joint Review of the USMCA | United States Trade Representative

 

U.S. Modifies Tariffs on Taiwanese Products Under New Trade Memorandum

On September 5, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14346, empowering the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to implement trade and security agreements addressing national security and trade imbalances. Acting under this authority, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 15, 2026, to adjust certain tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

 

A subsequent agreement, the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), was signed between AIT and TECRO on February 12, 2026, but is not yet in force. The MOU, now being implemented, calls for amending the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) to modify Section 232 tariffs on various Taiwanese products, including automobile parts, timber, lumber, and wood derivatives. Additionally, the MOU removes derivative Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper aircraft components from Taiwan.

 

The following new headings are inserted in numerical sequence, with the material in the new headings inserted in the columns of the HTSUS labeled “Heading/Subheading”, “Article Description”, “Rates of Duty 1—General”, “Rates of Duty 1—Special”, and “Rates of Duty 2”, respectively:  

 

These tariff changes take effect May 28, 2026, with modifications applying to goods imported for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse after 12:01 a.m. ET on May 1, 2026. The official notice and details are available in the Federal Register.

 

Reference:

Federal Register :: Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of a Trade and Security Agreement Between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States

 

CSMS # 68762890 - GUIDANCE: Implementation of Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the Trade and Security Agreement Between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and the American Institute in Taiwan

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, 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. 

8th Annual Customs & International Trade Day 

Join us on June 4 for the 8th Annual Customs & International Trade Day in Lafayette Hill, PA, a full-day event focused on the latest developments shaping global trade, customs, compliance, and logistics. Attendees will hear from industry leaders and subject matter experts through executive discussions, timely policy updates, and practical breakout sessions designed to help organizations navigate today’s evolving trade environment.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces Registration Open for June Trade Enforcement Webinars

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its free quarterly webinars in June 2026. These essential sessions are designed to empower the public with the knowledge to effectively report suspected trade violations and file Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) allegations with CBP. 

 

Upcoming June Webinar Dates (Registration Now Open): 

Please click on the direct links below to register for individual webinars: 

 

 

 

Rescheduled August Webinar Dates: 

Please note that due to the recent government shutdown, the March and April webinars have been rescheduled. We encourage you to plan for these new dates: 

 

  • Rescheduled Trade Violations Reporting (TVR) Webinar: Monday, August 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Rescheduled Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) Webinar: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST 

 

Registration links for the August rescheduled webinars will become available one month prior to each webinar date at https://go.dhs.gov/4i4. 

 

Registration is free and open to everyone, but you must register to attend.

 

Reference:

CSMS # 68772822 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces Registration Open for June Trade Enforcement Webinars 

National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) June 2026 Webinars

The National Commodity Specialist Division, part of the Office of Trade, is launching a new series of over 30 commodity-specific educational webinars aimed at supporting both internal and external stakeholders. This year’s program, themed "The Future of Trade: Innovation and Emerging Technology," will focus on the impact of rapidly advancing technology while also offering general classification guidance to facilitate legitimate trade.

 

The webinars will run from May through September 2026, beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET and lasting approximately one hour, except for sessions on September 22, 24, and 25, which will start at 11:00 a.m. ET. Registration is currently open for the June webinars, with monthly registration for subsequent sessions through September.

 

The webinars will be hosted on the WebEx platform to ensure a seamless experience, and recordings will be posted publicly at Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

Upcoming webinar links and further details are available on the CBP website Trade Outreach Webinars | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

The June schedule is as follows:  

 

Reference:

Webinar External Schedule May Final 2026.pdf

CSMS # 68770785 - National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) June 2026 Webinars

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