EEPA Tariff Refund Process Recap: Last Friday CBP announced the launch of Phase 1 of CAPE, a new platform for processing IEEPA tariff refund requests. Beginning April 20, 2026, importers and customs brokers can submit refund requests through the ACE Portal by uploading a CSV file—referred to as a CAPE Declaration—via a new CAPE tab available in Importer, Organizational Broker, and Filer accounts. Each submission can include up to 9,999 entry numbers, with multiple filings permitted, and a template will be available within the portal. Submissions cannot be made any other way other than in the ACE portal.

Once filed, the CAPE system will validate the entries and provide feedback. For valid claims, ACE will update the relevant entry summaries by removing IEEPA-related HTS Chapter 99 duties and recalculating the total duties owed. Following CBP review, entries will be liquidated or reliquidated, and approved refunds will be issued, consolidated by recipient and liquidation date. CBP held two webinars on the IEEPA CAPE process this week, which filled up fast. We will be circulating recordings of the webinars once we receive them. Please feel free to request a recording if you have interest. Because of the interest, CBP has announced another two webinars April 21 and 28, details of which we circulated under separate cover.

Section 122 tariffs and Section 301 Investigations: At this point, the new tariffs implemented by President Trump under Section 122 remain at 10% despite various threats to raise this amount to 15%. Subsequently, the US administration has launched a series of Section 301 investigations into trade practices that could result in additional tariffs being levied. The USTR had an open comment period and hearing process for these investigations, and affected stakeholders were able to submit written comments by April 15. WSSA has continued to participate in the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, and on Wednesday, the Coalition, representing 58 US alcohol and hospitality groups, submitted comments urging the USTR to exempt wine and spirits from current and future tariffs, warning that such measures would harm jobs, exports, and the broader hospitality sector. The coalition highlighted mounting economic pressures—including inflation and weak consumer demand—and emphasized that tariffs could disproportionately impact restaurants and a supply chain supporting over 3.5 million jobs. It also pointed to sharp export declines, particularly in Canada, as evidence of the damage caused by trade disputes, arguing that retaliatory tariffs and ongoing uncertainty threaten long-term growth and competitiveness for US producers.

Section 232 Update: New executive actions have modified Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum products. Some products with minimal derivative products have been removed from the list, some commodities will have a lower tariff, and others a higher tariff due to a change in valuation process, now basing the tariff on the full sales value of the metals.  For importers of beer in cans, beer has been removed from the list and the value of the steel and aluminum content of the cans is no longer subject to the Section 232 tariffs.  The entire product is, however, now subject to the Section 122 tariff of 10%.  If you have any questions on this change, please let us know. 

EU-USA Trade Agreement:  The European Union continues to move forward to approve the EU-USA trade agreement. The EU parliament voted for conditional approval of the agreement and the next phase is to have each country in the EU finalize approval and sign off on the deal, which is likely to happen in April and May. The good news for beverage alcohol importers is that the agreement has been modified with a “suspension” clause that could suspend the deal if the US implements new tariffs exceeding 15%.   There are no further updates at this time in terms of full implementation date and we will continue to monitor.

Felixstowe Port disruption: Fuel protest activity linked to rising prices is beginning to surface in the UK, with the Port of Felixstowe identified as a potential focal point. This week police warned of planned demonstrations along the A14, likely involving slow-moving tractor convoys rather than full blockades, though disruption to freight traffic remains possible given the port’s strategic importance. The protests are being driven by sharply increased fuel costs placing significant strain on farmers and haulage operators already facing broader cost pressures. While authorities expect largely peaceful action, earlier protests at Felixstowe have shown that even limited activity can impact access to the port, and the situation continues to be monitored for potential escalation.

Chile Fuel Protest: Please be advised that the Federation of Truck Owners of Valparaíso has confirmed a strike scheduled for Monday Apr/20^th starting at 08:00 AM, in protest against the increase in fuel prices. The demonstration is expected to include a significant presence of trucks on the main access routes to both Port of Valparaíso and San Antonio Port, as a pressure measure in response to what they describe as an unsustainable situation for the industry. As a result, this situation may lead to operational disruptions, including but not limited to:

• Delays in the delivery and reception of containers at port terminals
• Limited access to port facilities due to road congestion or blockages
• Possible rescheduling or cancellation of trucking services
• Increased waiting times for loading and unloading operations

We are closely monitoring how this situation develops. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further clarification.

Government Shutdown Update: The US remains in a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, now entering its ninth week. Some workers, like TSA agents, have received temporary pay through executive action, but the broader funding issue remains unresolved, and negotiations are still ongoing. While the Senate has proposed a compromise to fund most of DHS, the House was on recess, so a vote is still pending. Until then, the shutdown remains in effect. We will continue to provide updates on this ongoing situation.

Space is Still Available for WSSA’s Annual California Event! Join WSSA for a business meeting and luncheon discussing the latest updates within the wine and spirits and logistics industries, followed by a guided harbor cruise showcasing the Port of Oakland. The event will take place May 8, 2026, with the business meeting at the Claremont Resort & Club from 12-3:30pm and the Harbor Cruise Tour from 4:30-7:30pm. Topics include updates on the global logistics market, discussion on IEEPA and tariff mitigation, and expertise on duty drawback. RSVP to hrandolph@wssa.com to reserve your spot!

LCL Services from France, Italy, and Spain/Portugal: Bi-monthly departures continue from each of these countries for your small shipments, offering a per case rate from point of pick up to the Alba Wine and Spirits warehouse in Edison New Jersey. Shipments from other European countries can be added into the mix, with pick-ups offered in most European countries. Please let us know if you need any further information!