03/27/2026
Court of International Trade Amends Order in IEEPA Tariff Case, Directs CBP to Progress on Refund Process
Check out this week's Customs Corner to read about how the Court of International Trade amends its order in IEEPA tariff case to direct CBP to progress on refund process and more.
Trade and Customs Updates
Court of International Trade Amends Order in IEEPA Tariff Case, Directs CBP to Progress on Refund Process
Judge Richard Eaton of the Court of International Trade has issued a summary of the March 19, 2026, settlement conference between Atmus Filtration, the plaintiff in the IEEPA tariff case, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The court announced it will further amend its March 5, 2026, Amended Order (ECF No. 29) to include all duties imposed under various Executive Orders pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), covering imports from Brazil and India.
During the conference, participants discussed refund procedures for deemed liquidation, reliquidation of entries where liquidation has become final, and options for importers not utilizing CBP’s new CAPE functionality in the ACE system. Since no resolution was reached regarding reliquidation of finalized entries, importers were reminded of their rights to protest under 19 U.S.C. § 1514.
The court also reviewed the Declaration of Brandon Lord, Executive Director of Trade Programs, which confirmed CBP’s progress toward issuing refunds of IEEPA duties with interest. The amended order now directs CBP to liquidate unliquidated entries without IEEPA duties and to reliquidate non-final liquidated entries accordingly, while clarifying it does not address duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. § 1321.
Immediate compliance with the amended order is suspended, and CBP must submit a report on its refund process progress by noon EDT on March 31, 2026. A closed follow-up settlement conference will be held via Webex at 2:00 p.m. the same day.
Reference:
gov.uscourts.cit.19346.49.0.pdf
CBP Launches New ACE Reports to Track Rejected Refunds Due to Missing Banking Information
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has introduced new reporting tools within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to help importers monitor refund rejections caused by incomplete banking details. The newly created REV 613 ACH Rejected Refunds report identifies refunds that are rejected “solely due to failure to provide CBP with the necessary banking information to effectuate the electronic refund,” marking these transactions with a status of “SAP ACH Rejected.”
Additionally, the REV 603 Trade Refund Report highlights refunds that are returned by banks when account information provided in ACE is incorrect, displaying a Refund Secondary Status of “Check/ACH Returned.” CBP reminds importers that all refunds are now processed electronically, and ACH banking details must be included in every importer’s ACE account to ensure smooth refund processing. Importers without an ACE account are urged to create one as soon as possible to avoid delays and rejected refunds.
Reference:
ACH Refund | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Trade and Cargo Security Summit Postponed to September 2026 Due to Federal Funding Lapse
CBP has announced the postponement of this year’s Trade and Cargo Security Summit (TCSS), originally set for April 28-30, 2026. The summit will now take place from September 8-10, 2026, at the same venue—the Hyatt Regency Dallas.
The decision to reschedule was made in response to the lapse in appropriations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This funding gap has affected U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) capacity to complete several essential, time-sensitive processes required to ensure a successful event. According to organizers, postponing was deemed the most responsible course of action under the circumstances.
For those who have already registered, registrations will remain valid for the new dates. No further action is required for registrants who still plan to attend. If you are no longer able to participate, you may manage your registration via the Ticket Manager link found in your confirmation email. Options include requesting a refund, transferring your ticket to another individual, or switching attendance format (from in-person to virtual, or vice versa). Please note that refunds will not be processed until DHS receives full funding.
Additionally, hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency Dallas made for the original dates will not carry over and will be cancelled by the hotel. Attendees will receive separate instructions regarding how to rebook their rooms for the new September dates.
Reference:
Trade and Cargo Security Summit (TCSS) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP Cancels March NCSD Commodity Webinars Amid Partial DHS Funding Lapse
Due to a partial lapse in funding at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the cancellation of its complimentary National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) commodity webinars originally set for March 24 and March 26, 2026. The impacted sessions—“Parts of General Use” and “Stepping Forward in Smart Kicks”—will be rescheduled once funding is restored and normal operations resume. CBP encourages interested participants to monitor official channels for updates regarding new dates for these webinars.
Reference:
CSMS # 68109215 - CBP Cancels NCSD Webinars Scheduled for March 2026
NCSD's April Webinar Schedules
April 7, 2026 – April 9, 2026 | 1:30 PM ET | Webinar
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade’s National Commodity Specialist Division (NCSD) is hosting the following webinars in the month of April as a part of the 2026 NCSD webinar series. These webinars are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.
To register for these free webinars, click on the registration link for the coordinating webinar below. All registrants will receive the link for the webinar on their confirmation email, 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).
These webinars are a part of CBP’s Continuing Education program.
NCSD’s April Webinar Schedule:
Tuesday, April 7, 2026: The Classification of Steel Bars and Rods in Chapter 72 – The “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 will cover the tariff classification of chapter 72.
Thursday, April 9, 2026: 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.
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