IEEPA Refund Phase 3
CBP confirmed to the court that CAPE Phase 3 — the piece covering “finally liquidated” entries — remains delayed for the parties that filed litigation while it builds additional validation checks, with no new deployment date announced. Phases 1 and 2 are still running fine: as of late August, over $106 billion in refunds has been certified and sent to Treasury, with about $1.7 billion more held up pending importers’ ACH information.
In terms of the certification of a class for all other “Phase 3” importers, no decision has been made as of yet. If you have entries waiting on Phase 3, keep an eye on your deadlines for potential Protests as a means to protect your rights to a refund. Should you have questions on the status of any of your import entries or deadline calculations, please reach out to us at any time.
US-Canada trade “War”: Retaliatory Tariffs Take Effect September 8 on Canadian goods
50% tariffs have been in effect for Canadian products imported into the USA for a week now, and Canada’s countermeasures land next week — tariffs of 15%, 25%, or 50% on roughly $27.6 billion of U.S. goods. Currently, beverage alcohol products are NOT on the list, but since US alcoholic beverages are not being sold in most Canadian provinces, this exemption is not very meaningful for USA exporters. Goods already in transit when the tariffs take effect are exempt. There is no news on either side regarding a return to the negotiating table, and President Trump is threatening additional tariffs on January 1, 2027.
CBP/US Customs Enforcement
President Trump issued an executive order in June covering the strengthening of Customs Enforcement. Customs has issued a Federal Register Notice giving notice that all importers must make sure that their importer data on CBP Form 5106 is accurate, with a deadline of September 18. If the information is found to be inaccurate, CBP will void the importer of record number, thus stopping the ability to import into the USA. Key items to check include:
- Physical address
- Importer’s email address
- Importer’s phone number
All of the 3 items listed above must be related to the actual importer of record, not the customs broker, agent or other party. Should you have any questions on the above details, let us know.
German Ports: Another Strike, This Time 48 Hours
Workers voted decisively (over 6,100 participated) to reject the port employers’ latest wage offer, and ver.di called a new 48-hour warning strike beginning the evening of September 2 across Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Emden, and Brake, the same six ports hit two weeks ago, this time for twice as long. Rail circulation is affected as well as terminal handling. Recovery to normal operations is expected to take more than a week. The core dispute hasn’t moved: the union wants 8.2% over 12 months, employers are offering 5.1% over 18 months. If you’re routing through German ports, build in real buffer time over the next couple of weeks.
Rotterdam: September 4 Strike Happened as Planned
As previewed last week, dockworkers struck today, with vessel, barge, rail, and truck handling largely suspended from mid-morning through evening. This was a national action (also affecting Amsterdam, Vlissingen, and Terneuzen) over Dutch government social security cuts, not port-specific pay. Combined with the ECT Euromax barge restrictions and last weekend’s rail closure, Rotterdam has had a rough two weeks. The nationwide Dutch rail strike is still scheduled for September 9 and would hit the Betuweroute (the main NL–Germany freight rail link). Expect continued schedule disruption through mid-September.
Rhine Water Levels: Choppy Recovery
After the rebound reported last week, levels at Kaub have come back down somewhat, around 61–68 cm as of early September, still well below the normal ~200 cm for this time of year. The pattern has been varying based on sporadic rainfall, rather than a sustained recovery. Forecasters say low water conditions could persist into late September. Continue to plan for low water surcharges and delays in moving cargo from the hinterland due to continued restrictions on the Rhine, leading to congestion on the rail and limited availability of trucks.
Chile/Argentina Border: Open, No New Closures
The Mendoza–Los Libertadores crossing remains open as of this week, with no new weather closures reported since late August. There is still significant backlog, but cargo is slowly being moved from Argentina to the Chilean ports. It is still winter in the Southern Hemisphere, so closures could still happen but hopefully the worst is over for 2026.
Strait of Hormuz: Major Military Escalation
On September 2, the U.S. military struck two Iranian government tankers directly for the first time, as part of a broader strike package reportedly hitting around 100 Iran-linked targets. Iran retaliated with roughly 25 ballistic missiles and drones aimed at U.S. bases in the region. Two more tankers were attacked in the strait, and an Iranian strike on a Saudi tanker killed two sailors. As of September 3, the strait is effectively closed to commercial shipping. There’s a reported Iran-Oman agreement in principle on a temporary alternate shipping route, but implementation depends on the U.S. lifting its naval blockade — something that isn’t happening amid active strikes. This is moving fast and the risk of broader disruption to oil prices and shipping routes is real. We’re monitoring closely and will flag any fuel surcharges or routing changes immediately.
Suez Canal Update
All carriers are beginning to utilize the Suez Canal, primarily for cargo moving from Asia to the Mediterranean region. For those of you with cargo moving through the Red Sea into the Suez, we do suggest you verify your insurance coverage.
Panama Canal Update
The Panama Canal remains in drought conditions. The reduced water levels have led to reduced weight allowance for vessels and limited number of transits, thus effecting schedules and volume of cargo moving through the Canal. Most ocean carriers are implementing Panama Canal Surcharge on a per container basis for cargo moving through the Canal.
Transatlantic Market Conditions
Ocean carriers remain heavily booked from both North Europe and Mediterranean ports, leading to expected rate increases for the 4th quarter, as well as potential bunker fuel increases. Many announcements have been published, and we expect to see higher rates imposed on this key trade lane commencing in October.
LCL Services from France, Italy, and Spain/Portugal – Heat continues, protect your small shipments!
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!