Tariff Development Recap: It has been a significant week for U.S. trade policy, with developments affecting both proposed tariffs and ongoing IEEPA litigation. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the IEEPA tariffs, the Administration continues to find ways to implement tariffs on imported goods. We are currently in the Section 122 phase of 10% tariffs in effect through July 24. The latest development is a proposal under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 for tariffs on imports from 60 countries, citing concerns over forced labor enforcement. Proposed rates range from 10% to 12.5%, depending on a country’s existing policies, with implementation potentially beginning in late July. The proposal was published by the USTR/Office of the United States Trade Representative on June 2, and we are now in the 30-day comment period which will include public hearing. For the list of countries and associated tariffs, please check out WSSA’s update Important Tariff Developments! which was sent earlier this week. USMCA-eligible products remain exempt from the latest tariff proposal, but UK whisky is currently NOT exempt despite Trump’s previous statements indicating the reinstatment of duty free status. WSSA is actively working with industry partners to seek exemptions for beverage alcohol products, and we encourage members to provide feedback before the July deadlines. 

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains around refunds of previously collected IEEPA tariffs and the refunds of tariffs on entries defined under the Phase II arena. While the Court of International Trade ordered Customs to refund affected importers, the Department of Justice is appealing the decision, arguing that refunds should only apply to companies that filed lawsuits.  The appeal is focused on the “finally liquidated” entries, thus we do not believe Phase 1 refunds will be impacted, and CBP continues to process the claims and pay out refunds due. Several key court rulings and hearings are expected over the coming weeks and could determine whether importers need to take additional legal action to protect their refund rights. Importers with entries nearing liquidation should consider preserving their options through protests where appropriate. WSSA will continue to monitor developments closely and provide updates as new information becomes available. Please also monitor your Phase 1 refunds to make sure funds are transferred to your account correctly, as we have heard reports of refunds being diverted to pay outstanding government agency bills.

USMCA Update: Talks have commenced on the USMCA agreement for the required joint review. July 1, 2026, is the date when the three countries are required to declare if they want to extend the agreement as-is or make changes. The USMCA officially expires July 1, 2036, thus if the parties do not agree on all updates or new terms on July 1, the agreement will continue as-is with a framework of annual reviews for the next 10 years. The Administration has met with the Mexico trade representatives in Mexico City and with Canada trade representatives in Washington DC earlier this week. So far, all signs are positive that the parties want to work to continue to cooperate, and we expect an extension with some targeted changes. We will keep you updated as the negotiations progress.

EU-USA Trade Agreement: The latest tariff proposal may slow down the completion of the EU- USA trade deal that was on track prior to the Section 301 announcement this week. While both sides remain committed to ratifying the trade deal, and the USA administration commented that they did not think the latest tariff announcements should hold up the process, the EU has commented that they believe the claims by the US Administration in regards to forced labor are incorrect. President Trump has threatened higher tariffs if the deal is not complete by July 4. The EU Parliament has a planned vote on June 16, and we will be reporting updates as they are published. 

New Toll Structure to Increase Trucking Costs in North Europe: Effective 1 July 2026, the Netherlands will introduce a new truck toll system, replacing the current system. Charges will be based on distance travelled, vehicle weight, and emissions class, and will apply to all trucks over 3.5 tons, including international transport. Simultaneously, Belgium will update its existing toll system, introducing revised tariffs and CO?-based pricing elements. As a result, transport costs are expected to rise across Dutch and Belgian routes, with the overall impact varying according to route, vehicle type, and emissions profile. If you have cargo transiting through these regions, please prepare for slightly increased costs due to these new updates. We will continue to monitor developments and will provide further updates once the full cost implications have been confirmed.

CBP Webinar on IEEPA CAPE Duty Refunds Available: CBP recently published the recording for the IEEPA CAPE Duty Refunds Webinar they hosted back in April. As this webinar filled up quickly, we understand many were unable to secure a spot, so we are sharing the link for review here: IEEPA Duty Refunds and CAPE webinar from April. If you have any questions on the Phase 1 of the IEEPA refund process, feel free to contact us or visit the IEEPA website for training guides and FAQ’s.

Transatlantic Service Disruptions: The Ocean/Premier Alliance schedule reliability remains problematic, with multiple blank sailings scheduled for USA routes over the next six weeks creating delays and rollings for European cargo. All carriers are reporting heavy bookings and full vessels through mid-July so plan ahead as much as possible. WSSA has contracts with all carriers, so please reach out to us if you have any questions or specific needs.

LCL Services from France, Italy, and Spain/Portugal – SUMMER UPDATE! 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. For the summer months, all containers will be temperature controlled insuring your cargo is protected from summer heat. 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!