Canada Tariff Deadline: Provisional Deal Announced, Details Still Pending
Just before the deadline, Trump announced a three-day delay on the Section 338 tariffs 50% tariffs scheduled to go into effect on August 19 on a multitude of Canadian products, including beverage alcohol. A formal Presidential Proclamation was published, citing a provisional deal with Canada “subject to finalization of documents.” Per the Proclamation, Canada has “expressed a commitment” to remove the discriminatory measures that triggered the tariffs in the first place, including the provincial bans on U.S. spirits and wine, plus Canada’s dairy and auto policies. One important caveat: lifting the provincial spirits bans requires action by the individual provinces, not just the federal government, so the timeline for actually getting U.S. products back on shelves across Canada is still unclear should the deal be finalized. Separately, USTR described the emerging agreement as covering “comprehensive market access for all American goods” plus broader economic security and digital trade provisions, suggesting this could end up being a bigger deal than just the Section 338 dispute. Canadian PM Carney’s own statement was more cautious, calling it “substantial progress” while stopping short of confirming a deal is actually in hand and noting “important work still to be done.”
Chile/Argentina Border: Reopened, But One Direction at a Time
The main crossing point between the Mendoza production area and Chile reopened Tuesday, August 18, under a phased schedule: Argentina-to-Chile freight only ran August 18–20 (9am–9pm), and Chile-to-Argentina freight only runs August 21–22, each limited to a partial zone before normal two-way traffic resumes. Tourist traffic remains suspended entirely while freight is prioritized. With over 3,000 trucks still waiting to cross, authorities expect full normalization to take a couple of weeks. If you have cargo moving through Mendoza, budget an extra 1–2 weeks of inland transit time and keep in mind the pass could close again should weather conditions
German Ports: 24-Hour Strike Hits Six Terminals
After workers rejected the latest wage offer (5.1% over 19 months vs. the union’s demand of 8.2% over 12 months), Germany’s ver.di union called a 24-hour warning strike across six seaports — Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Emden, and Brake — together handling about 74% of Germany’s seaport throughput. The strike ran from the night of August 17 through August 18–19 depending on the port, halting Hamburg’s four major container terminals and suspending operations in Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven entirely during that window. No truck or rail bookings were possible during the strike, and vessel closing times couldn’t be guaranteed. No further talks are scheduled yet, so more warning strikes in the coming weeks aren’t off the table. If you move cargo through German ports, this is one to watch closely alongside the Rhine situation.
Rhine Hits a New Record Low — Single Digits for the First Time Ever
The Kaub gauge didn’t just hit a record, it dropped to 8 cm on August 14, the first single-digit reading since records began in 1856 (previous record: 25 cm, set in 2018). Forecasts show 6–12 cm through midweek, with only a modest bounce to 25–28 cm possible around August 22. Barge traffic is effectively stalled, cargo continues shifting to road, and while Germany has relaxed weekend truck driving bans to help, equipment is getting harder to find and road/rail delays are worsening. No meaningful rain is in the forecast. Build in extra time and cost for anything moving through the German hinterland.
Strait of Hormuz: Talks Edging Closer, Still Not Open
Iran, Oman, and the U.S. reportedly agreed on the coordinates for a safe shipping corridor through the strait, and Trump said this week reopening could happen “soon.” Iran’s government, however, denies it’s actively negotiating with the U.S. and says a full reopening still depends on the U.S. lifting its naval blockade. On the ground, transits are down to just 2–9 vessels a day this week, versus 100+ before the conflict. Oil futures have ticked up, but no new fuel surcharges from carriers yet.
Another Typhoon Could Hit China Next Week
Typhoon Saudel is strengthening over the western Pacific and could become a super typhoon, though it’s not expected near China for the next few days. If the storm turns west instead of curving north, it could hit Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, or Shanghai directly, on top of the backlog these ports are already digging out from after Typhoon Dolphin. If that happens, expect Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Xiamen to suspend operations again, plus rerouting, blank sailings, and another 3–7 day recovery window. Nothing to act on yet, but worth watching closely if you have cargo timed through this corridor in late August.
Panama Canal Draft Cuts Coming Aug 26 & Sept 3
As a reminder, the Panama Canal Authority is tightening the maximum vessel draft again due to El Niño-driven low water — 48.0 feet on August 26, then 47.5 feet on September 3. While we are not seeing significant impacts on the wine and spirits routes at this time, we are monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates.
IEEPA Refund Case: No Decision on “finally liquidated” entries process
There is still no ruling on the class certification question for importers who have finally liquidated entries that do not yet have a process for refund claims. We will flag it as soon as a decision has been made and there is information on the path to obtain refunds for entries in this category.
ACE Reports for Rejected Refunds Due to Missing ACH Enrollment
CBP is directing brokers and importers to run the REV-613 (ACH Rejected Refunds Report) in ACE Reports to check whether any refunds have been rejected because of missing ACH enrollment, per CSMS #69570464. CBP’s Trade Refund Reports reference guide is available for help running the report.
For any affected importers, CBP outlines two steps:
- Authorize ACH refunds through the ACE Secure Data Portal (using CBP’s ACH Enrollment Overview).
- Notify frn-achrefundsupport@cbp.dhs.gov once the new ACH enrollment is complete.
CBP notes that importers who remain unenrolled for ACH refunds may continue to see refund delays or rejections. Please reach out if you have any questions on the ACH accounts or how to set them up.
LCL Services from France, Italy, and Spain/Portugal – SUMMER UPDATE
Bi-monthly departures continue from each of these countries for your small shipments, offering a per case rate from point of pick up to the Alba Wine and Spirits warehouse in Edison, New Jersey. For the summer months, all containers will be temperature controlled, ensuring your cargo is protected from summer heat. Shipments from other European countries can be added into the mix, with pick-ups offered in most European countries. Please let us know if you need any further information!