Tariff & Trade Insights
Expert analysis on U.S. tariff policy, HS code classification, landed cost calculations, and trade compliance strategies for importers.
Why Small Businesses Are Being Left Out of IEEPA Refunds (and How to Fix It)
SMBs paid the duties but are disproportionately locked out of IEEPA refunds. The fix is operational, not legislative. Here's the 3-step playbook to stay in the refund game before May 2026.
CAPE Portal Phase 1 Launch Readiness: What Importers Must Do Before April 20, 2026
The CAPE portal goes live April 20, 2026. If your ACE account, ACH details, and broker coordination aren't in place by April 19, you won't get a refund on day one. Here's the operational readiness checklist.
76 New Section 301 Investigations: Comment Deadline Tracker (April 2026)
USTR opened 76 Section 301 investigations — 16 countries for manufacturing overcapacity and 60 for forced-labor enforcement. Written comments are due April 15, 2026, with hearings April 28–May 8.
Tariff Stacking Explained: How 5 Duty Layers Add Up on One Product (With Examples)
A visual importer guide to tariff stacking with product examples, effective-rate math, and the questions to ask before pricing any shipment.
Tariff Engineering: How Legal Product Design Changes Can Cut Your Duty Rate
A practical guide to tariff engineering, including redesign strategy, binding rulings, classification risk, and how Section 301 and Section 232 affect the analysis.
Antidumping & Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD): What Importers Need to Know
A practical importer guide to antidumping and countervailing duties, including investigations, scope, supplier-specific rates, and tariff stacking risk.
DDP vs DAP for Ecommerce in 2026: Which One Prevents Surprise Fees?
DDP vs DAP is now a core ecommerce decision. This guide explains when each shipping term works and how to prepare your catalog data.
How to Collect Duties at Checkout in Shopify (2026): Managed Markets, DDP, and Hidden-Fee Pitfalls
Shopify can collect duties at checkout, but only if the underlying tariff data and shipping workflow are solid.
Pharmaceutical Tariffs 2026: 100% Section 232 Duties Effective July 31 — Rates, Exemptions & Importer Checklist
Now finalized as a Section 232 proclamation: a 100% tariff on patented pharmaceuticals, their APIs, and key starting materials takes effect July 31, 2026 for Annex III companies and September 29, 2026 for all others. Generics, biosimilars, US-origin products, and specialty drugs are exempt.
Section 232 April 2026 Update: 50% Tariffs, Copper, and What Importers Need to Do
The White House revised Section 232 on April 2, 2026. Many primary steel, aluminum, and copper articles now face 50% tariffs effective April 6.
How Small Businesses Should Reprice Under Tariff Pressure (2026 Guide)
A practical guide for small businesses facing tariff-driven cost increases in 2026. Covers three repricing models, margin analysis frameworks, competitive positioning, and real case studies.
Section 122 Expires July 24, 2026: What Happens Next? (Planning Guide)
After July 24, Section 122 could lapse, be replaced, or be undone by the courts. The May 7, 2026 CIT ruling makes litigation a third axis to model. Here are all three scenarios with triggers, duty impact, and action steps.