IEEPA Tariff Refund Process Recap: As of April 20, 2026, importers and customs brokers can submit refund requests through the ACE Portal by uploading a CSV CAPE Declaration via a new CAPE tab in applicable accounts. Submissions must be made exclusively in ACE. The system validates entries and provides feedback, though Phase 1 limits which entries are eligible.For approved claims, ACE will remove IEEPA-related HTS Chapter 99 duties, recalculate totals, and, after CBP review, process liquidation or reliquidation with refunds issued by recipient and date. The portal also allows tracking and highlights errors, some of which can be easily corrected and resubmitted. There is no update yet on Phase 2. For entries over 80 days past liquidation, filing a Protest remains an option to preserve eligibility. WSSA can assist with both the IEEPA process and Protest filings, please contact us for more information. Additionally, the CIT held a closed-door hearing on April 28, during which Customs provided updates on the CAPE system and IEEPA refunds. Customs indicated that the first refund is expected to be issued around May 11, 2026. The full declaration is available here. The next update is scheduled for May 12, 2026.

Trump Announces Rollback on Scotch Whisky Tariffs: Donald Trump announced plans to remove certain U.S. tariffs on Scotch whisky following the recent visit by the UK’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The tariffs had contributed to trade tensions and declining exports between the U.S. and UK, and their removal is expected to support the spirits industry on both sides, including cooperation between Scotch producers and U.S. bourbon makers. In his post, Trump said, “I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey…” and added that “the King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do.” Details on the scope and timing of the tariff rollback have not yet been fully clarified. We will provide updates as they become available.

Tariff Landscape Summary: Section 122 tariffs imposed by President Trump currently remain at 10% despite indications they could rise to 15%, while the U.S. administration has also initiated multiple Section 301 investigations that may lead to additional tariffs; following a public comment period that closed April 15, WSSA joined the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition—representing 58 alcohol and hospitality groups—in urging the USTR to exempt wine and spirits, citing risks to jobs, exports, and an already strained hospitality sector facing inflation, weak demand, and declining exports, particularly to Canada. At the same time, updates to Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum have adjusted product coverage and valuation methods, removing some derivative products, lowering tariffs for certain goods, and increasing them for others based on full sales value; notably, beer imported in cans is no longer subject to Section 232 tariffs on aluminum content, though it is now fully subject to the 10% Section 122 tariff. 

Government Shutdown Ends: On Thursday the US House of Representatives voted to end the government shutdown and send the DHS funding bill to President Trump to sign. This effectively ends the partial government shutdown that has been in place since February.

CBMA myTTB Portal Maintenance: TTB will conduct maintenance on the myTTB CBMA portal from 6:00 PM on Thursday, April 29, 2026, through Monday, May 4, 2026. During this time, importers will not be able to submit CBMA claims. This maintenance is expected to resolve the data import issue from the Customs ACE system. Once completed, importers may submit Q1 2026 claims for any entries that were previously imported incorrectly

See You Next Week at WSSA’s Annual California Event! WSSA will host 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. See you there!

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!