07/17/2026
Court Reviews Progress of CBP’s CAPE Program; Orders Reliquidation Procedures for IEEPA Cases
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Trade and Customs Updates
Court Reviews Progress of CBP’s CAPE Program; Orders Reliquidation Procedures for IEEPA Cases
At a closed conference on July 14, 2026, the court and involved parties evaluated the ongoing development of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) program. A key topic was the anticipated launch of CAPE Phase 3, which is currently in development. In preparation, the court announced plans to issue an order directing Customs to reliquidate certain previously finalized entries, following procedures that will be detailed in the forthcoming order. This directive will apply to approximately 3,700 cases governed by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) that are currently pending before the court.
Participants also discussed the expansion of CAPE’s capabilities, specifically new features to enable the processing of refunds for entries with outstanding protests. The Government is required to file a CAPE status update with the court by 5:00 pm on August 4, 2026, outlining further progress and next steps for the program.
Given that the current order stipulates fully liquidated entries will only be issued to importers who have filed a 1581(i) case with the Court of International Trade (CIT), importers who have not yet initiated such action are advised to consider this option. CIT cases must be filed through a qualified trade attorney, and associated legal costs may vary. Importers are encouraged to assess the value of their pending Phase 3 refunds, consult with a trade attorney regarding applicable fees and procedures, and make an informed business decision about whether pursuing a claim is beneficial.
Under Section 1581(i), the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the action being contested; for IEEPA tariffs, this refers specifically to the collection of the tariff.
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USTR Announces 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Goods Following Investigation
On July 15, 2026, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) imposed a 25% tariff on specific goods imported from Brazil, effective July 22, 2026. This decision follows a comprehensive yearlong investigation in which USTR found that various Brazilian policies—including those related to digital trade, electronic payment services, preferential tariffs, anti-corruption efforts, intellectual property protection, ethanol market access, and illegal deforestation—are unreasonable and negatively impact American commerce, affecting farmers, workers, innovators, and exporters.
The new tariffs will apply to goods listed in Annex I of the Federal Register, while Annex II specifies products exempt from these additional duties. An in-transit exemption will be granted for goods loaded onto vessels before 12:01 am on July 22, 2026, and entered for consumption prior to 12:01 am on July 29, 2026.
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Country of Smelt and Cast Requirement for Copper Articles Take Effect July 30, 2026
On April 2, 2026, President Biden issued Proclamation 11021, titled “Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper into the United States,” under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This proclamation requires importers to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with detailed information identifying the countries where copper used in imported articles is smelted and cast.
According to Federal Register notice 91 FR 18201 and CBP’s Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS) 68253075, new functionality has been developed in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system to accept these data fields. Testing in the ACE certification environment began July 16, 2026, with full production deployment scheduled for July 30, 2026.
Beginning July 30, importers of specified copper articles from any country except the United States must report the primary country of smelt, the country of cast, and may also report a secondary country of smelt for each entry summary line. These requirements apply to copper articles classified under the following HTSUS codes: 8544.42.10, 8544.42.20, 8544.42.90, and 8544.49.10.
If the required country information is unknown, importers may use the code “OTH” (Other) in the entry summary line.
Reference:
CSMS # 69252300 - GUIDANCE: Section 232 Copper Smelt and Cast Reporting Requirements
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Eases Import/Export Requirements for Shellfish Products Effective July 23, 2026
Starting July 23, 2026, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will exempt wildlife and wildlife products that fall under the amended definition of shellfish—including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish—from declaration, license, and clearance requirements when imported or exported for human or animal consumption. This means importers and exporters will no longer need to provide FWS data for these commodities if the purpose is consumption.
Accordingly, on July 23, 2026, the FWS tariff flag code for the following HTS codes will change from FW2 (MUST file) to FW1 (MAY file):
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CBP to Implement “Inactive for Entry Purposes” Status for Importers of Record in ACE
On July 16, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch a new “Inactive for Entry Purposes” status for Importers of Record (IOR) within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Production system. This new feature will allow CBP to automatically deactivate IOR accounts that have not submitted an entry within the past 366 days, in line with regulation 19 CFR 24.5(e).
IORs assigned this status will no longer be able to transmit ACE Cargo Release and ACE Entry Summary transactions. However, the “Inactive for Entry Purposes” designation will not impact other non-entry related activities for the IOR, such as serving as a consignee, filing drawback claims, handling reconciliations, securing bonds, transmitting Importer Security Filing data, or performing other ACE business operations. This enhancement is designed to help CBP maintain up-to-date records and improve efficiency in trade processing.
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CSMS # 69241265 - New “Inactive for Entry Purposes” Status will Deploy in ACE on July 16
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces Registration Open for Trade Enforcement Webinars
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its free quarterly webinars. 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.
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.
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National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) July 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 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
NCSD’s July Webinar Schedule:
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Festivus for the Rest of Us! Festive Article Classification – The “Festivus for the Rest of Us! Festive Article Classification” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar highlights recent updates to Chapter 95 festive article classification and clarifies common classification questions.
Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Stepping Forward in Smart Kicks – The “Stepping Forward in Smart Kicks” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will explain the classification of smart footwear.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Plates, Sheets, Film, Foil & Strip of Plastics – The “Plates, Sheets, Film, Foil & Strip of Plastics” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will focus on the nuances of classification of plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip of plastics in headings 3920 and 3921 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. It will examine the applicable legal notes and Explanatory Notes.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Reinforced, Laminated or Both? Safety Headgear of 6506 – The “Reinforced, Laminated or Both? Safety Headgear of 6506” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. The webinar will examine the tariff classification of safety headgear under heading 6506, HTSUS, with a focus on distinguishing between reinforced plastics, laminated plastics and products incorporating both. The presentation will also explore how advancements in material engineering, smart protective equipment, and emerging manufacturing technologies are shaping the future of trade and creating new classification challenges for next generation safety headgear.
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Anode Active Materials – An Overview – The “Anode Active Materials - An Overview” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will discuss materials that are used to coat the anodes of lithium-ion batteries and discuss some recent trade related developments concerning them.
Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Beverage Drinking Vessels Confusion: Let’s Classify It! – The “Beverage Drinking Vessels Confusion: Let’s Classify it!” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will focus on the correct classification of various drinking vessels that are classified in Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States headings 3924, 6912, 7323, 7615, and 9617.
Friday, July 17, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Display Devices are Getting “Smarter!” – The “Display Devices are Getting “Smarter!”” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will provide an overview of the future of trade and how it impacts the tariff classification of innovative and emerging technology in flat panel display modules, wearable displays, monitors, and televisions, including how AI is transforming the future of displays. It will also provide the key difference between displays classified in headings 8524 vs. 8528, HTSUS, and case studies of the latest display technologies classified in these headings.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two – The “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. The webinar will cover: CBP’s definition of a pocket; a discussion of what is, and is not, a pocket; the location/placement of pockets on garments; and how these considerations can affect the proper classification of apparel.
NCSD’s August Webinar Schedule:
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Into the Future with the General Rules of Interpretation – The “Into the Future with the General Rules of Interpretation” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. The webinar will provide an overview of the GRIs with a focus on using them to classify future products.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Innovation in Handbags, Travel Bags, and Luggage – The “Innovation in Handbags, Travel Bags, and Luggage” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will provide an overview of innovations in handbags, travel bags, and luggage. It will also discuss classification considerations related to these products.
Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Women’s Suits and Ensembles – The “Women’s Suits and Ensembles” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will be discussing women’s suits and ensembles, the features of both, and the questions we often get on these garments. Our focus will be on Note 3 of Chapters 61 and 62.
Friday, August 14, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: The Classification of Steel Bars and Rods in Chapter 72 – “The Classification of Steel Bars and Rods in Chapter 72” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar distinguishes between different types of bars and rods, including the key legal notes, product definitions, and the major headings used for classification.
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Mattresses and Cushions: Hybrids & More of Heading 9404 – The “Mattresses and Cushions: Hybrids & More of Heading 9404” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will cover the classification of mattresses and cushions of heading 9404 and how classification is determined for more complex items such as hybrids, pneumatic items, and bed-in-the-box items. We will examine the legal notes, previously issued rulings and court cases that guide our classification of these products.
Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Counter-Balance: Surfaces of Chapters 68 and 70 – The “Counter-Balance: Surfaces of Chapters 68 and 70” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will discuss the classification of, and AD/CVD scopes related to, manufactured surface products of Chapters 68 and 70.
Friday, August 28, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Wadding, Gauze, Bandages, and Similar Articles – The “Wadding, Gauze, Bandages, and Similar Articles” is part of the 2026 Educations Commodity Specific Webinar Series hosted by the National Commodity Specialist Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade. This webinar will focus on the primary factors to consider when classifying products under heading 3005: medical use, wound treatment, the presence of pharmaceutical substances, and packing.
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CSMS # 68856484 - National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) July 2026 Webinars
CSMS # 69242526 - National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) August 2026 Webinars
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