Industry Spotlight


CBP REQUIRES ELECTRONIC REFUND VIA ACH EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 6, 2026

Beginning February 6, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will issue refunds electronically through Automated Clearing House (ACH) rather than by paper check, except in limited circumstances. The change is outlined in an interim final rule published January 2, 2026. Refunds processed on or after February 6, 2026, will [...]

SECTION 232 WOOD PRODUCTS TARIFFS REMAIN UNCHANGED THROUGH 2026

U.S. importers of upholstered wooden furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities will see no change in Section 232 duty rates in 2026 following a new White House proclamation issued on December 31, 2025. The action amends Proclamation 10976 and postpones scheduled tariff increases that were set to take effect on January [...]

USTR ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SECTION 301 TRADE ACTION ON CHINESE SEMICONDUCTORS: ZERO PERCENT NOW, TBD JUNE 2027

In a move that could ripple across global supply chains, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced decisive action in response to years of industrial policy by the People’s Republic of China aimed at securing dominance in the semiconductor sector. The formal notice, scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on December 29, [...]

2025-12-23T16:32:29+00:00December 23rd, 2025|Customs, Freight Talk, Import, Industry Spotlight|

U.S.-SWITZERLAND-LIECHTENSTEIN TRADE FRAMEWORK INTRODUCES RECIPROCAL TARIFF CHANGES

The United States has modified tariffs to implement provisions of the U.S.–Switzerland–Liechtenstein Agreement on Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade. In an unpublished document, the International Trade Administration and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule is amended to grant provisional reciprocal tariff treatment while final [...]

2025-12-17T21:50:04+00:00December 17th, 2025|Customs, Freight Talk, Import, Industry Spotlight|

SECTION 232 AUTO PARTS INCLUSIONS WINDOW FOR JANUARY 2026 SUBMISSIONS

The Department of Commerce has formally opened the January 2026 inclusions window under the Section 232 automobile parts framework established by Proclamation 10908 and the interim final rule that took effect in September 2025. The notice issued by the International Trade Administration confirms that the process is now operational for [...]

2025-12-16T15:42:30+00:00December 16th, 2025|Customs, Freight Talk, Import, Industry Spotlight|

COURT CONFIRMS IEEPA TARIFF LIQUIDATION CAN PROCEED WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING REFUNDS

The U.S. Court of International Trade has ruled that liquidation may continue for entries subject to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) while related legal challenges remain pending. The court declined to pause liquidation, finding that importers are not at risk of losing potential refund [...]

2025-12-15T23:22:23+00:00December 15th, 2025|Freight Talk, Industry Spotlight, Shipping News|

APHIS REINSTATES ISPM 15 HYPHEN REQUIREMENT FOR ALL WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2026

Importers using Wood Packaging Material (WPM) will face a significant compliance shift on January 1, 2026, when the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) resumes full enforcement of the ISPM 15 hyphen requirement. The temporary suspension of this requirement ends on December 31, [...]

2025-12-11T20:39:44+00:00December 11th, 2025|Freight Talk, Industry Spotlight, Shipping News|

NEW SECTION 301 ACTION ON NICARAGUA ESTABLISHES PHASED TARIFFS FOR NON-CAFTA-DR IMPORTS

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) published a new trade action under Section 301 targeting Nicaragua’s acts, policies, and practices related to labor rights, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. The December 10, 2025, report concludes that Nicaragua's trade practices are unreasonable and burden or restrict [...]

2025-12-11T19:27:26+00:00December 11th, 2025|Freight Talk, Industry Spotlight, Shipping News|

WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE U.S. FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

The White House recently announced a new Executive Order directing the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to establish dedicated Food Supply Chain Security Task Forces. The order establishes a federal review framework centered on price fixing, anti-competitive conduct, and foreign ownership within the U.S. food supply [...]

2025-12-08T21:02:04+00:00December 8th, 2025|Customs, Freight Talk, Import, Industry Spotlight|

NEW U.S.-KOREA TARIFF STRUCTURE NOW IN EFFECT FOR AUTOS, RECIPROCAL GOODS, AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT

WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE U.S.-KOREA STRATEGIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEAL? The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the United States Trade Representative have formally implemented tariff modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to execute key tariff-related elements of the U.S.-Korea Strategic [...]

2025-12-04T17:18:15+00:00December 4th, 2025|Customs, Freight Talk, Import, Industry Spotlight|
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