IEEPA Refunds Imminent; AD/CVD Heat, Mexico Tariffs, and Critical Minerals Plan
NEWSLETTER | Trade Insight AI
First IEEPA Tariff Refunds Expected May 11; File Protests Now
STR Trade Report • May 1, 2026
CBP has begun processing IEEPA tariff refunds via its new CAPE system (Phase 1 launched Apr. 20) for certain unliquidated and near-liquidation entries; in week one, 75,306 declarations resulted in 11.2 million accepted entries (about 21% of all IEEPA-tariffed entries), with refunds typically issued 60–90 days after acceptance and first deposits possible around May 11. Uncertainty remains as 2.1 million entries failed validation, future phases are undefined, and DOJ has until June 6 to appeal the CIT order; the court requested another CBP update on May 12. Importers should monitor liquidation dates, use ACE ES-022/ES-701 reports, and file timely protests on any liquidated entries—including those in CAPE—to preserve refund rights, with litigation generally unnecessary except for finally liquidated entries.
Tariffs and Market Access Moves
Mexico Makes MFN Tariff Hikes Permanent, Adds Limited New Increases
STR Trade Report •May 1, 2026
Mexico issued an April 23 decree that makes permanent MFN duty hikes adopted in 2024 and adds limited new increases, covering 185 tariff lines across chemicals, textiles, metals, machinery and more; it does not appear to include the 1,463 lines raised on Jan. 1, 2026. New rates notably lift ferrosilicon manganese to 35%, certain arc‑welding machines to 35%, and wind-powered generating sets to 5%, while FTA-origin goods retain preferential tariffs. The move advances Mexico’s strategy to raise duties on non-FTA partners, signaling higher landed costs and a need to reassess origin and sourcing strategies.
New HTS Code Exempts Non-Metal 232 Entries; UK Tata Relief Extended
STR Trade Report •April 29, 2026
BIS created HTSUS subheading 9903.82.01 for items classified under steel, aluminum, or copper provisions that contain none of those metals, excluding them from Section 232 tariffs. The change applies to entries and warehouse withdrawals for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT April 6, 2026. BIS also clarified that UK-origin steel made by Tata Steel UK with Netherlands melt-and-pour may be entered under 9903.82.04 and count toward the 95% melt-and-pour threshold for 9903.82.04/.05 through Jan. 1, 2028, preserving access to the UK’s lower 232 rate.
USTR signals preferential duty access for UK-produced whiskey exports
USTR Press Releases •April 30, 2026
The U.S. Trade Representative issued a statement indicating preferential duty access for whiskey produced in the United Kingdom. While specifics are not yet public, the move could reduce tariff exposure and streamline U.S. market entry for UK spirits. Importers and brand owners should monitor forthcoming guidance on scope, timing, eligibility, and documentation requirements to capture potential savings.
U.S., EU Unveil Critical Minerals Action Plan: Price Floors, Supply Resilience
STR Trade Report •April 30, 2026
The U.S. and EU announced an action plan to align critical minerals trade policies as part of a push toward a plurilateral framework, following similar arrangements with Mexico and Japan. The plan explores market measures anchored in reference prices—potentially enforced via border-adjusted price floors, adjustable tariffs, price-gap subsidies, and offtake agreements—plus coordinated standards, investment screening, crisis response, R&D, and stockpiling. For miners, processors, and battery supply chains, this signals potential new price floors and compliance regimes that could reshape sourcing and investment decisions.
Enforcement and Compliance Actions
DOJ Targets Import Valuation Fraud with $2.1M FCA Settlement
STR Trade Report •April 30, 2026
The Justice Department said a U.S. importer will pay at least $2.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it undervalued China-sourced goods to reduce tariffs and other import assessments. For more than three years, the company allegedly submitted CBP invoices that underreported purchase prices and excluded the value of components in packaged products. The case signals intensified FCA-backed customs enforcement and elevates compliance risks around valuation and invoice accuracy.
DEA final rule schedules four chemicals; import/export controls start May 1
STR Trade Report •May 1, 2026
Effective May 1, 2026, DEA’s final rule places four substances—4FMDMB-BUTICA/4F-MDMB-BICA, ADB-4en-PINACA, 5F-EDMB-PICA/5F-EDMB-2201, and MMB-FUBICA (including their salts and isomers)—into Schedule I. This designation triggers full DEA import/export controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties; handling is limited to DEA-authorized research or analysis with proper registrations and permits. Trade stakeholders should update screening lists and halt non-authorized shipments to avoid violations.
ITC Proposes Beneficial-Ownership Disclosures in Section 337 IPR Cases
STR Trade Report •May 1, 2026
The International Trade Commission has proposed requiring parties in Section 337 intellectual property investigations and related proceedings to disclose entities with a financial interest in, or control over, their participation; comments are due June 29. The ITC says the rule would improve conflict checks for commissioners and ALJs, clarify real parties in interest, and boost transparency to aid settlement. Parties should assess potential disclosure burdens and consider commenting on benefits, mitigation options, and which entities or circumstances may be most affected.
Trade Remedies Spotlight
AD/CVD Roundup: High Solar Deposits, OCTG Probes, Review Outcomes
STR Trade Report •April 29, 2026
Commerce issued preliminary affirmative antidumping determinations on crystalline silicon solar cells (modules) from India, Indonesia, and Laos, setting new cash deposit rates of 107.77%, 35.17%, and 22.06% and finding partial critical circumstances that could trigger retroactive liability. It also launched AD investigations on oil country tubular goods from Austria, Taiwan, and the UAE and a CVD probe on OCTG from Austria, finalized 2023–24 review margins for Japanese glycine (9.84% and 86.22%), and amended 2023 subsidy rates for Indian off‑the‑road tires (4.91% and 7.44%). Separately, Commerce rescinded the review of Taiwanese circular welded non‑alloy steel pipe for Nov. 1, 2024–Oct. 31, 2025 and instructed CBP to liquidate at existing cash‑deposit rates.
U.S. AD/CVD: NOES Orders Upheld; 127% Rebar Duty; Wire Rod Probe
STR Trade Report •May 1, 2026
U.S. authorities kept antidumping/countervailing orders on non‑oriented electrical steel from China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan in place after a sunset review, and issued a new AD order on Algerian rebar effective April 29 with a 127.32% margin. Commerce also rescinded administrative reviews for Korean passenger/light truck tires (7/1/2024–6/30/2025) and Canadian utility‑scale wind towers (calendar 2024), instructing CBP to assess duties at existing cash‑deposit rates. A CVD investigation into carbon and alloy steel wire rod from Algeria was launched, with scope comments due by May 18—implications include continued cash‑deposit exposure and potential new liabilities for affected supply chains.
WTO members review 2H 2025 anti-dumping actions; Mexico, India questioned
WTO Latest News •April 27, 2026
Meeting on 28 April, the WTO Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices reviewed members’ notifications of anti-dumping laws and semi-annual actions for July–December 2025, alongside numerous ad hoc case notifications. Forty-eight members reported actions, 16 reported none, and 46 indicated they lack an authority and have taken no actions; members raised concerns regarding measures by Mexico and India as the Chair urged timely portal-based reporting. The next committee meeting is scheduled for the week of 26 October 2026.
Global Policy and Geopolitics
China tightens trade controls; EU revamps preferences; India–NZ sign FTA
STR Trade Report •April 30, 2026
China is expanding its economic pressure toolkit despite a trade truce, punishing supply‑chain shifts, tightening rare‑earth licensing, banning foreign AI chips in state‑funded data centers, barring U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity software, and weighing curbs on solar‑equipment exports to the U.S.—elevating compliance and sourcing risk for tech and clean‑energy firms. The European Parliament endorsed an updated development trade preference regime that maintains low/zero tariffs for vulnerable countries while expanding required human‑rights and environmental commitments, raising eligibility and diligence thresholds. India and New Zealand signed an FTA granting India duty‑free access for all exports to New Zealand and giving New Zealand immediate duty‑free entry for over 54% of its exports (e.g., sheep meat, wool, coal, forestry), with phased cuts for seafood and certain metals.
USTR’s 2026 Special 301 Sets IP Enforcement Priorities for Trading Partners
USTR Press Releases •April 30, 2026
USTR issued its annual Special 301 Report evaluating the adequacy of intellectual property protection and enforcement among key U.S. trading partners. The report identifies economies for Priority Watch List and Watch List designation and outlines concerns—from counterfeiting and online piracy to patent and regulatory data protection—that will drive bilateral engagement and potential Out‑of‑Cycle Reviews over the coming year. IP‑intensive exporters should review country narratives to gauge market‑access risks and plan advocacy and compliance strategies.
Canada invests CAD 500,000 via STDF to strengthen SPS, trade
WTO Latest News •April 27, 2026
Canada will provide CAD 500,000 over FY 2026–27 and 2027–28 to the WTO-hosted STDF to build sanitary and phytosanitary capacity in developing and least-developed countries, aligned with the STDF 2025–2030 strategy. The funding supports projects that help producers meet international food safety and plant/animal health standards, improving regulatory predictability and enabling safer market access across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America/Caribbean. The pledge adds to Canada’s roughly CHF 8 million in cumulative STDF support and ongoing technical engagement on SPS digitalization (e.g., ePhyto), signaling continued opportunities for compliance-driven trade growth.
WTO ramps up ePing use to unlock African market access
WTO Latest News •April 26, 2026
The WTO has launched a three-year, STDF-funded push to scale adoption of the ePing SPS & TBT Platform in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda to improve regulatory transparency and predictability. National workshops—starting 28–30 April in Arusha—will train users, collect feedback for platform upgrades, and help traders navigate record SPS/TBT activity (7,000+ notifications in 2025). Better ePing uptake can help SMEs avoid costly border surprises, engage regulators earlier, and capture market opportunities.
Dates and Dockets
WTO 2026 Public Forum opens; call for services trade sessions
WTO Latest News •April 29, 2026
The WTO opened registration for its Public Forum in Geneva on 15–17 September and launched a call for participant-organized sessions, with 2026 programming centered on services trade as a driver of development and jobs. Proposals, including for the researcher–policymaker Trade Policy Hub, are due by 15 June (23:59 CET), and attendee registration closes 21 August. The event draws 2,000+ stakeholders to debate priorities for strengthening the multilateral trading system.
CIT maintenance May 2, 1–7 a.m. ET; CM/ECF, PACER intermittent
CIT News •April 30, 2026
The U.S. Court of International Trade will conduct system maintenance on Saturday, May 2, from 1:00–7:00 a.m. ET. During this window, access to the Court’s website, CM/ECF, and PACER may be intermittent; plan time-sensitive filings and docket work outside the maintenance period.
Related News
January 13, 2026
How Image Classification Works: A Clear Explanation for Trade and Compliance Teams
Read more →
November 12, 2025
Export Snapshot: Morocco – What U.S. Exporters Need to Know About the United States–Morocco Free Trade Agreement (USMFTA)
Read more →
November 26, 2025