Category: Uncategorized

When U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposes a change to your tariff classification most often communicated via a CF‑29 (Notice of Action) following a CF‑28 (Request for Information) your response must be swift, structured, and supported by evidence. A reclassification can alter duty rates, trigger trade remedies (e.g., Sections 301 and 232), and even…

Purpose and Use CF‑28 (Request for Information) is CBP’s fact‑finding instrument. It asks an importer to substantiate the accuracy of an entry covering tariff classification (HTSUS), valuation, country of origin, trade remedy exposure (e.g., Sections 301/232), or preferential duty claims (USMCA/CUSMA, Chapter 98). It is typically issued before liquidation and carries a 30‑day response window…

The presumption that goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA or CUSMA) are immune from post‑entry duty assessments is not always borne out in practice. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintains robust authority to scrutinize entries, verify eligibility, and where documentation is incomplete or responsiveness is deficient assess duties…

On December 8, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the City of Donna, Texas signed a Donation Acceptance Agreement (DAA) to expand the Donna Land Port of Entry (LPOE). This milestone is part of CBP’s Donations Acceptance Program (DAP), which allows local governments and private entities…

CBP’s Intensified Focus on HS Code Compliance U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has transformed HS code compliance from a technical requirement into a frontline enforcement priority. Every manifest must now include valid six‑digit HS codes paired with precise cargo descriptions that match the classification. Vague or generic terms such as “parts,” “miscellaneous goods,” or…

Costco’s lawsuit against the U.S. government over tariffs is more than a corporate safeguard it’s a pivotal domino in a chain reaction that could reshape American retail, global trade, and presidential authority. With billions at stake, the case has shifted sentiment toward a Supreme Court ruling that may strike down the tariffs altogether. Background: The…

Author: Maria Pechurina, Director of International Trade Why Seoul Is Betting $350 Billion on U.S. Shipyards  Earlier this year, South Korea pledged a $350 billion investment package, with roughly $150 billion specifically allocated toward shipbuilding collaboration. $5 billion is coming from Hanwha Ocean, one of the “big three” shipbuilders in South Korea, signaling a forming…

The United Kingdom and the United States are locked in negotiations to resolve tariffs on British steel and Scotch whisky measures that have strained trade relations since 2018. These tariffs, originally imposed under the Trump administration’s Section 232 national security justification, have had significant economic and political consequences. Steel tariffs of 25% and whisky levies…

HS Classification Compliance: The Ultimate Guide for U.S. Importers and Exporters in 2026 Why Compliance Is Non-Negotiable, Global trade is the lifeblood of modern economies, but it’s also a complex web of regulations, tariffs, and compliance requirements. For U.S. importers and exporters, one of the most critical and often underestimated elements of trade compliance is…

Tariff refund checks are becoming a new entry point for scammers, and in late 2025 almost any “tariff refund” check that shows up in the mail should be treated as suspicious until proven otherwise. Executive-branch and CBP payment changes mean legitimate duty refunds increasingly move electronically, not by paper check, which makes mailed refund checks…