Every change that moves a number, dated and sourced.

CBP launches CAPE Phase 1: consolidated IEEPA refund process for duties paid Apr 2025 – Feb 2026 #

CBP issued CSMS #68315804 on April 10 confirming that Phase 1 of the Consolidated Adjustment for Prior Entries (CAPE) refund process launched April 20, 2026. The mechanism mass-processes accepted entry summaries by recalculating duties as if IEEPA tariffs were never owed; interest is computed under 19 CFR 24.36. The refund channel exists because the Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs in Learning Resources v. Trump (Feb 20, 2026, 6-3 ruling). CBP follow-up CSMS dated April 13 detailed the entry-summary recalculation logic. Importers do not have to file entry-by-entry; CAPE consolidates the refund.

Coverage: Export country All → Import country US · HS All

• Official source: CBP IEEPA Duty Refunds (CBP.gov landing page)
• Official source: CBP IEEPA FAQ
• Official source: CSMS #68315804 — CAPE Introduction (Apr 10)
• Official source: CSMS #68340863 — CAPE Update (Apr 20 deployment)
• Official source: CSMS #68396594 — CAPE Available Now
• Source: Thompson Hine SmarTrade — CBP Confirms April 20 Launch
• Source: Holland & Knight — CAPE Has Arrived: Navigating Phase 1
• Source: Sourcing Journal — IEEPA refund portal: 3% of entries refunded
• Source: Abasto — 11.2M IEEPA refund claims in first week
• Source: Neville Peterson — IEEPA Refund Litigation update + CAPE

§232 restructured: derivatives now pay full customs value (was metal-content) #

April 2 proclamation raises Annex I-A primary metals to 50% ad valorem, Annex I-B derivatives to 25% on full customs value (no more metal-content split). UK origin qualifies for 25%/15% tiers with 95% melt-and-pour rule. Products with ≤15% metal content fully exempt. Quarterly inclusion process terminated.

Coverage: Export country All → Import country US · HS 72 · 73 · 74 · 76 · 84 · 85 · 87 · 94

• Official source: White House Proclamation
• Official source: CBP §232 FAQ

USTR Greer + Mexico's Ebrard formally launch bilateral USMCA pre-review track #

On March 18, 2026, USTR Jamieson Greer met Mexico's Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard in Washington to formally open bilateral USMCA review discussions, ahead of the July 1, 2026 first joint review. The published agenda: increasing US and Mexican production, limiting non-market inputs into North American supply chains, and identifying gaps in key supply chains. Canada was not included in this bilateral track — the meeting reads as a US-MX positioning channel rather than a trilateral preparatory.

Coverage: Export country All → Import country US · MX · HS All

• Official source: USTR press release — US-Mexico bilateral discussions next steps
• Source: Brookings — The US has formally started joint review of USMCA
• Official source: CRS — USMCA Joint Review process and role of Congress