Tariff Refund Showdown, Tightening Enforcement, and Data Deadlines
NEWSLETTER | Trade Insight AI
Tariff Refund Fight, Canada-U.S. Swap Talks, China Escalates Tech Curbs
STR Trade Report • August 13, 2026
U.S. government lawyers are contesting a trade court’s tariff-refund order even as CBP has already certified about $100 billion in refunds, with remaining disputes tied to finalized entries. Canada is exploring a concessions-for-relief package that could ease Section 232 steel and aluminum duties—potentially touching autos and forest products—in exchange for movement on dairy quotas, procurement, and other irritants, while China responds to new U.S. actions with sanctions and drone export curbs. Separately, India and SACU revived trade pact talks centered on industrial tariff cuts and critical minerals access, and Myanmar tightened import/export rules with tougher penalties and documentation requirements.
Policy & Compliance Deadlines: ACE, ACAS, and Critical Filings
CBP Shifts ACE Rollout: 2FA in September, Export Formats Delayed
STR Trade Report •August 14, 2026
CBP updated its ACE deployment timeline, adding two-factor authentication for portal logins in September and pulling forward rail manifest EDI modernization to September, while ocean/air/in-bond enhancements remain slated for October. A new entry type 13 for U.S. mail shipments goes live Sept. 22, ACH debit via pay.gov for maritime fees shifts to September, but GBI expansion, sanctions data for Russian diamonds/seafood, and X12/EDIFACT for export truck manifests are delayed (the latter indefinitely). CBP also removed planned upgrades for cargo description rejections, de minimis bond validations, detention integration, and in-bond processing, easing immediate system changes for filers and carriers.
CBP Delays Full ACAS Air Cargo Enforcement to May 1, 2027
STR Trade Report •August 13, 2026
CBP has pushed back full enforcement of expanded Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) data elements from Nov. 21, 2026, to May 1, 2027. The extension gives carriers and filers more time to complete system integrations and fix data-quality issues related to new fields added in Nov. 2025 to better assess evolving security risks, including party relationships, financial data, and certain online marketplace identifiers. During the delay CBP will emphasize outreach and monitoring, while filers must continue ACAS submissions, remediate data issues, validate technical readiness, and coordinate with CBP.
U.S. agencies seek input on steel, aluminum, OTI, and ag imports
STR Trade Report •August 14, 2026
USDA, FMC, and ITA are accepting comments on proposed renewals or revisions to import-related information collections, including USDA rules for Canadian gypsy moth host materials; FMC licensing and financial-responsibility filings for ocean transportation intermediaries; and ITA’s steel import license and aluminum import monitoring forms. Importers, OTIs, and agricultural shippers should review potential reporting changes and consider commenting to influence future compliance requirements.
DEA Temporarily Lists O-Desmethyltramadol in Schedule I, Restricting Trade
STR Trade Report •August 14, 2026
Effective Aug. 12, 2026 through Aug. 12, 2028, DEA has temporarily placed O-desmethyltramadol (O-DSMT) and all isomers, esters, ethers, and salts in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The order triggers full Schedule I controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for anyone importing, exporting, manufacturing, distributing, researching, or possessing the substance. Companies handling related chemicals should confirm DEA authorization and tighten compliance to avoid enforcement risk.
Trade Remedies & Trade Flows: AD/CVD Exposure and Bilateral Imbalances
Commerce Updates AD/CVD Margins Across PET, Shrimp, Soymeal, Steel
STR Trade Report •August 14, 2026
Commerce released new AD/CVD review results: PET resin from Oman preliminarily at 0.00% (May 1, 2024–Apr 30, 2025); Ecuador shrimp final CVD rates of 2.21–15.17% (expedited review); India organic soybean meal preliminary CVD 3.57% (CY2024) and preliminary AD 26.6% (May 1, 2024–Apr 30, 2025); Taiwan forged steel fittings final AD 10.62% (Sept 1, 2023–Aug 31, 2024); and Türkiye OCTG final CVD 0.8% (CY2023). Importers and exporters should review assessment and cash deposit implications for entries in the listed periods and prepare for potential duty adjustments as results are finalized and implemented.
AD/CVD Update: Door Panel Orders, Asia Circumvention, New Dumping Margins
STR Trade Report •August 13, 2026
U.S. trade authorities launched circumvention inquiries into disposable aluminum containers finished in Indonesia and Malaysia from Chinese foil and tissue paper finished in Vietnam from Chinese jumbo rolls, signaling tighter scrutiny of China-to-SEA processing. Antidumping and countervailing duty orders were issued on fiberglass door panels from China, effective Aug. 6. Preliminary administrative reviews set dumping margins of 7.23% for citric acid from China and 25.01% for stainless steel plate in coils from Taiwan for May 1, 2024–Apr. 30, 2025, heightening potential duty exposure and compliance risk for importers.
June Trade Gap Shrinks; Record Deficits With Mexico, Vietnam, South Korea
STR Trade Report •August 13, 2026
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed 5.7% to $73.3 billion in June as imports fell 1.8% to $388.0 billion and exports slipped 0.9% to $314.7 billion; the goods gap eased while the services surplus widened to $28.8 billion. Despite the headline improvement, bilateral deficits with Mexico ($20.3b), Vietnam ($21.6b), and South Korea ($7.4b) hit records on surging imports, with goods flows weighed by lower crude and fuel oil and computers, partly offset by stronger non‑monetary gold exports. Year-to-date, the deficit is 33.8% smaller than a year ago as exports rose 11.7% and imports dipped 0.4%, signaling shifting demand and sourcing patterns trade teams should monitor.
Border & IP Enforcement: Seizures, Scrutiny, and Ag Safeguards
CBP posts 15 months zero releases, tightens July trade enforcement
CBP Media Releases •August 13, 2026
DHS and CBP report 15 consecutive months of zero releases at the border and historically low crossings while maintaining lawful trade and travel. In July 2026, CBP processed $342 billion in imports, identified $23 billion in duties, and seized 2.9 million counterfeit goods valued at over $2 billion amid increased narcotics interdictions. For importers and brokers, this signals sustained, rigorous scrutiny of IP protection, agriculture compliance, and duty accuracy.
Louisville CBP Seizes $43M in Counterfeit Audemars Piguet Watches
CBP Media Releases •August 7, 2026
On July 31, CBP officers in Louisville intercepted a Hong Kong shipment bound for Houston containing 300 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches—valued at over $43 million if genuine—and seized the goods for trademark infringement after review by CBP trade experts. It’s the third Louisville seizure in June–July, bringing totals to 875 fake AP watches from Hong Kong headed to multiple states, with a notional MSRP above $1.25 billion. The pattern signals intensified IP enforcement through express hubs, with importers and brokers facing heightened scrutiny, potential seizures, forfeiture, and fines for infringing goods.
Houston CBP Seizes $3.7M in Counterfeits; E‑Commerce Under Scrutiny
CBP Media Releases •August 7, 2026
CBP’s Trade Enforcement Team at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport seized counterfeit MLB and Nike apparel, Louis Vuitton bags, Cartier sunglasses, and Jaguar Land Rover vehicle computer systems, valued at an MSRP of $3.7 million, after the agency’s Centers of Excellence confirmed IPR violations. Most shipments originated from China and were destined for U.S. and overseas addresses; CBP notes that over 90% of counterfeit seizures occur in international mail and express channels tied to e‑commerce small parcels. The case signals continued IPR enforcement pressure on high‑risk categories and heightened compliance expectations for importers, marketplaces, and express carriers.
Dulles CBP stops 440 pounds of raw cotton over pest risk
CBP Media Releases •August 13, 2026
CBP agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles seized about 440 pounds of unprocessed cotton on Monday from a family arriving from Afghanistan after finding seeds that require a USDA permit, phytosanitary certification, and treatments such as fumigation. The family was released, but the case underscores strict U.S. biosecurity controls to prevent pests like cotton seed bug and pink bollworm that could threaten textile and agriculture sectors—importers and travelers should ensure raw fibers meet USDA entry requirements.
Market Access, Labor & Compliance Actions
FDA Expands Import Alerts: Dairy, Seafood, Laser and Medical Devices
STR Trade Report •August 13, 2026
The FDA issued or modified multiple import alerts in the past week covering asadero and semi-dry cheeses, carp and imitation crab, green chili, ice cream and jellied candy, nicotine pouches, and laser/medical devices from China, Mexico, India, Thailand, Germany, Pakistan, Sweden, Honduras, and Burma (Myanmar). These actions authorize detention without physical examination (DWPE) for red-listed firms and products, with yellow-list intensified surveillance and green-list exclusions. Importers should verify listing status, assemble supporting test results and documentation, and prepare for potential detentions or refusals if compliance cannot be demonstrated.
U.S. Anti-Boycott Rules: Steep Penalties and Reporting Obligations
STR Trade Report •August 14, 2026
Treasury’s latest quarterly list of countries tied to unsanctioned foreign boycotts remains unchanged—covering Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. Under Commerce’s EAR, U.S. persons must reject boycott-related terms, report quarterly any boycott requests, and face civil penalties up to nearly $375,000 per violation (or twice the transaction value) and criminal penalties up to $1 million and/or 20 years. The IRS also requires annual reporting of operations, participation, and requests, with potential denial of tax benefits and up to a $25,000 fine and one year’s imprisonment for willful reporting failures.
U.S. Closes USMCA Rapid-Response Labor Case at Grupo Yazaki
USTR Press Releases •August 13, 2026
The United States announced a successful resolution of a USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism matter involving Grupo Yazaki S.A. de C.V., closing its review of alleged worker-rights denials at the Mexican facility. The outcome underscores active enforcement of facility-level labor obligations in the North American auto supply chain and could influence sourcing and compliance strategies for parts makers.
