CBP updated its FAQ page on the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries tariff refund tool on May 20, adding several new questions and updating prior answers, including guidance on whether importers should file with the Court of International Trade to protect their refunds.
All drawback claims since April 22 are being “routed directly” to CBP’s petroleum, natural gas and minerals Center of Excellence and Expertise, CBP said in a May 8 CSMS message. CBP had announced the CEE would take responsibility for all drawback in October (see 2511190062).
As the interagency committee for Section 301 investigations began four marathon days of testimony from 130 witnesses, the Consumer Technology Association's Ed Brzytwa, vice president of international trade, said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has not yet -- and needs to -- put forward "a specific definition of structural excess capacity."
CBP issued the following releases on commercial and trade related matters:
Trade groups representing a wide swath of businesses accused the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative of using Section 301 to reverse-engineer the global tariffs that were struck down by the Supreme Court.
CBP on April 20 will launch the first phase of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, or CAPE, tool for International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff refunds, it said in a CSMS message. CAPE phase one is limited to certain unliquidated entries and entries that have liquidated in the past 80 days.
President Donald Trump signed a series of executive actions Apr. 2 to set Section 232 tariffs on pharmaceutical products and charge a flat 25% rate for steel, aluminum and copper derivative products. The pharmaceutical tariffs will be set at 100% for patented drugs from companies without "most favored nation" drug pricing deals, though that rate may be reduced to 20% for companies that reshore their production to the U.S.
A proclamation issued by President Donald Trump April 2 creates a new "de minimis" exemption from Section 232 metals tariffs for some metal derivatives that contain less than 15% of Section 232 metal content by weight. The proclamation was issued alongside an executive order setting Section 232 tariffs on brand-name pharmaceuticals at 100%, though with exceptions for companies that onshore production.
The following lawsuits were filed at the Court of International Trade during the week of March 23-29:
CBP said it expects the first phase of its automated refund system for International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs to cover about 63% of entries that paid or deposited the duties. That includes unliquidated entries and entries that will still be in the 90-day window when CBP is able to initiate reliquidation.