Tariff consulting services help importers navigate U.S. customs duty exposure – Section 122 surcharge, Section 232 sectoral tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper, pharma), Section 301 China tariffs, and AD/CVD orders. The work covers HTS classification, USMCA/FTA qualification, FTZ activation, duty drawback, IEEPA refund recovery, and audit response. Peacock Tariff Consulting works with SMB importers ($5M-$250M revenue) across the U.S., Canada, U.K., and E.U. – independent of any customs brokerage, with transparent pricing and fixed-fee or contingency engagements.
Tariff consulting in 2026 is more central to import economics than at any point since the 2018 trade-war era. The Section 122 surcharge (15% on most non-USMCA goods through July 24, 2026), Section 232 sectoral expansions (pharma effective July 31, MedTech and semiconductor in flight), continuing Section 301 China tariffs, the IEEPA refund window (open through CBP’s CAPE portal), and the USMCA 2026 review all converge to make duty management a board-level question for SMB importers.
Most SMB importers handle tariff exposure through their customs broker, who files entries but rarely runs strategic projects. The strategic work – classification audit, USMCA qualification, FTZ feasibility, drawback program design, refund recovery, audit response – sits upstream of broker filings and requires a different kind of advisor.
This page describes what independent tariff consulting services cover, how they differ from customs brokerage and Big-4 consulting, and how SMB importers should think about engagement structure and pricing. It is the pillar guide to our practice; deeper service-level pages and topic-specific guides live elsewhere on the site.
What tariff consulting services cover
Tariff consulting covers a wider scope than most importers realize. The work clusters into eight categories.
- HTS classification – verifying that goods are correctly classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Misclassification is the most common cause of duty overpayment and the most common audit finding.
- USMCA / CUSMA / FTA qualification – analyzing whether goods meet rules of origin for preferential treatment. In 2026, USMCA-qualifying goods are exempt from Section 122 – making qualification work directly margin-creating.
- Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) activation – for high-volume importers, FTZ structures defer duty until consumption, capture inverted-tariff benefits, and provide Section 122 avoidance on re-exports.
- Duty drawback – recovering up to 99% of duty on imported goods that are subsequently exported, destroyed, or used in manufacturing exports.
- IEEPA refund recovery – filing through CBP’s CAPE portal to recover IEEPA tariffs paid April 5, 2025 – February 24, 2026.
- Section 232/301 mitigation – supplier shifts, classification optimization, exclusion requests where windows are open.
- Customs valuation – including First Sale for Export, related-party pricing, assists, royalties.
- Audit response – defending classifications, valuations, and FTA preference claims during CBP focused assessments and CBSA Trade Compliance Verifications.
How tariff consulting differs from customs brokerage
Customs brokers file entries; tariff consultants work upstream. The two are complementary but distinct.
A customs broker prepares CBP Form 7501 entry summaries, calculates duty, files the entry electronically through ACE, manages POAs, and handles operational coordination at the port. The broker’s product is the entry, and the broker’s incentive is to keep the entry simple and the relationship friction-free.
A tariff consultant works upstream of filings: verifying that the classification on the entry is correct, identifying USMCA qualification opportunities, structuring FTZ programs, filing refunds, defending audits. The consultant’s product is duty savings or risk reduction, and the consultant’s incentive is to find opportunities the broker did not see.
In practice, most active importers benefit from both. The broker handles operational filings; the consultant runs strategic projects. The two work alongside each other rather than competing. Peacock Tariff Consulting is independent – we have no customs brokerage, no logistics arm, no referral relationships that would create incentive conflicts.
How tariff consulting differs from Big-4 consulting
Big-4 firms (KPMG, EY, PwC, Deloitte) provide tariff and trade work as part of broader tax practices. Mid-tier firms (RSM, Cherry Bekaert, Baker Tilly, BDO) cover similar ground at slightly lower price points. Trade law firms (Sandler Travis, Norton Rose, Foley, Covington, Crowell) cover litigation, complex investigations, and privileged legal work.
These firms are well-suited to enterprise-scale clients with multi-jurisdiction tax integration, multi-billion-dollar M&A, or active litigation. Engagement minimums typically start at $50,000 and run into seven figures. The model assumes the client has internal trade compliance staff to manage the engagement and that tariff is one workstream among many.
Independent boutique tariff consulting fills the SMB and lower-mid-market gap. For $5M-$250M revenue companies, fixed-fee engagements ($2,500-$25,000 typical project sizing), monthly retainers ($2,000-$6,000), and contingency-based refund work fit operational reality. The work is the same in substance; the engagement structure and pricing are different.
Engagement structures and pricing
Fixed-fee project engagements
Most strategic work fits fixed-fee structures. Tariff exposure assessments $2,500-$7,500. Per-product USMCA RVC stress-tests $4,500-$8,500. FTZ feasibility analyses $2,500-$5,000. Section 232 scenario modeling $5,000-$10,000. Audit response $15,000-$45,000 depending on scope. M&A tariff DD $8,000-$15,000.
Contingency engagements
Refund recovery work often runs on contingency: 20-30% of recovery for IEEPA refund filings, manufacturing drawback, and recovered duty through PSC or protest. No recovery, no fee. Common for filings above $50,000 recoverable.
Monthly retainers
For active importers, monthly retainers cover ongoing classification review, USMCA Certificate management, audit support, regulatory monitoring, and policy alerts. Typical retainer $2,000-$6,000/month depending on company size and engagement scope.
When each structure fits
Fixed-fee for discrete projects with defined scope. Contingency for refund work where size justifies. Monthly retainer for active operations needing ongoing coverage. Many engagements combine – initial fixed-fee assessment, then ongoing retainer plus contingency on identified refunds.
When SMB importers should engage a tariff consultant
Five common triggers for SMB importer tariff consulting engagement:
- Annual import volume above $5M with no internal trade compliance staff. Volume justifies strategic work; lack of internal expertise creates value gap.
- Section 122, Section 232, or Section 301 exposure that is material to margin. Mitigation work pays for itself rapidly when high-rate sectoral tariffs apply.
- USMCA / FTA qualification opportunity that has not been pursued. With Section 122 expiring in July, USMCA exemption is the single highest-leverage tariff move available.
- Audit notice from CBP or CBSA. Response timing is short; consultant engagement supports clean response and penalty mitigation.
- M&A activity where tariff exposure affects deal value. Pre-acquisition diligence or sell-side prep both benefit from quantified tariff analysis.
How Peacock Tariff Consulting structures engagements
Our default engagement starts with a 15-minute scoping call (no charge, no obligation) to confirm fit. If the engagement makes sense, we propose a written scope with fixed-fee or contingency structure depending on the work. Most engagements run 2-12 weeks for project work; ongoing retainers continue indefinitely.
We are independent of any customs brokerage, freight forwarder, 3PL, or trade law firm. We have no referral relationships that pay us for business we send. We do not earn commission on duty paid or refunds recovered (other than contingency where explicitly agreed). We work alongside your existing customs broker and existing trade attorney where applicable.
Our engagements run remotely. We work with U.S., Canadian, U.K., and E.U. importers across multiple time zones. Most engagements have no in-person component; documentation review and scheduled video calls are the standard mode.
Geographic and sector coverage
Geographic: U.S. (50 states), Canada (10 provinces), U.K., and E.U. We are based in Orillia, Ontario, with bilingual capability (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese) for cross-border work. Our cross-border specialty (CBP + CBSA + SAT/Aduanas + EU Member State customs) is unusual for a boutique firm.
Sectors: automotive (Tier 1/2/3 suppliers), pharmaceuticals (branded and generic), MedTech, electronics and semiconductors, apparel and footwear, wine and spirits, food and agriculture, machinery, chemicals, aerospace, and DTC e-commerce. Cross-sector horizontal specialties: classification, USMCA, FTZ, drawback, refund recovery, audit response.
How we measure success
Engagement-level success metrics vary by project type:
- Classification engagements: PSC or protest filings yielding measurable duty reduction. Typical target: 1-3% of recoverable duty across audited catalog.
- USMCA qualification: documented qualification of products previously paying Section 122. Target: products at 70-85% RVC moved to qualification.
- FTZ feasibility: ROI analysis demonstrating savings exceed activation cost by 2-3x.
- Refund work: net recovery after fees. CAPE refunds typically recover 60-80% of the IEEPA-attributable portion of duty paid in the eligible window.
- Audit response: penalty mitigation versus the maximum exposure. Target: 60-80% reduction from maximum penalty.
Frequently asked questions
How is Peacock different from KPMG or EY?
KPMG and EY engage at $50k+ minimums for enterprise-scale clients with multi-jurisdiction tax integration. Peacock works with SMB importers ($5M-$250M revenue) at fixed-fee project pricing ($2,500-$25,000) or monthly retainers ($2,000-$6,000). Substantively similar work; engagement structure and pricing fit SMB reality.
Do I need a tariff consultant if I have a good customs broker?
Most SMB importers benefit from both. Brokers file entries; consultants work upstream on classification, USMCA, FTZ, drawback, refunds, and audit response. The two are complementary. Brokers rarely have incentive (or scope) to run strategic projects; consultants do.
What does a tariff exposure assessment cost and what does it produce?
Fixed-fee $2,500-$7,500 depending on company size. Two-week turnaround. Output: written report covering annual duty exposure, identified classification opportunities, USMCA qualification candidates, IEEPA refund eligibility, and prioritized action list with estimated savings.
Can you work on contingency for refund filings?
Yes – for IEEPA refunds and drawback claims above $50,000 recoverable, we work on contingency at 20-30% of recovery. No recovery, no fee.
Are you affiliated with any customs broker, freight forwarder, or trade attorney?
No. Peacock is independent. We work alongside your existing broker and attorney, but we have no referral relationships that pay us. Our recommendations are conflict-free.
How long does a typical engagement take?
Project work 2-12 weeks. Audit response 6-18 months. Ongoing retainers continue indefinitely. Refund filings 60 days to 12 months depending on type.
Do you handle CBSA / Canadian work in addition to U.S.?
Yes. Cross-border CBP + CBSA work is one of our core specialties. We are based in Ontario; bilingual French; our team handles dual-jurisdiction compliance for Canadian SMBs entering the U.S. market and U.S. importers sourcing from Canada.
Can you defend a CBP focused assessment?
Yes. Audit response is a core service. Engagement typically $15,000-$45,000 fixed-fee depending on scope. We coordinate with your customs broker and (where needed) trade attorney.
What about Mexico / IMMEX / cross-border maquila operations?
Yes. Mexico-side compliance, IMMEX program work, and USMCA + IMMEX layering are active engagement profiles. Bilingual Spanish; we coordinate with Mexican-side counsel where needed.
What if my company is too small for a fixed-fee engagement?
Below $1M annual import volume, our written guides and templates are usually sufficient. We offer free downloadable templates (USMCA Certificate, customs POA, drawback claim letter, audit response checklist). Above $1M, fixed-fee engagements pay for themselves rapidly.
How do I get started?
Book a 15-minute scoping call through the website. We confirm fit, propose scope, and provide a written engagement letter. No obligation; the call is free.
Get started
Book a 30-minute scoping call to discuss your situation.