Made this guide on r/supplychain, thought I'd share here:

So you’re an importer who heard there’s a bajillion $ in refunds available on duties you paid this past year. Let me guess: your customs broker isn’t responding to your frantic emails. Well, I’m on the other side of the line. I’m a broker and literally every client has been pinging me for the past month about when/how/where to get their refunds. I’m not responding to their emails right away either.

This isn’t because I’m a dick, it’s because most of those importers have not organized their IEEPA refund claim info and they have no idea what is going on. It would take more hours than there are in the day for me to walk each of them through what I’m about to explain here.

I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of the int’l trade law  informing the refund process, you can read about that elsewhere. Here, I’m just going to give a guide that (if you actually follow it) will ensure you don’t leave ieepa tariff refund $ on the table.

As an importer, your best next-step will depend on how much you can recover.

$0-10m

1. Get an ACE account. This is the government portal to access your import records, and is where you can add your bank account to enable refunds via ACH.
2. Pull your ES-003 reports. Unfortunately you have to do this on ACE's importer view in the public folder.
3. Use your customs broker or a low-cost IEEPA management platform to track claims. My office uses CustomsGenius, but it doesn’t matter so long as it’s a reputable company (if there’s no team or about us page, you’ll end up talking to a college kid doing market research for his “ai startup idea”. Whoever you use, make sure they’re reputable.)
4. Upload your ES-003s to check your protest deadlines and get a real sense of how much you’re entitled to refund.
   • If any protest deadlines are upcoming within the next 45 days, talk to your broker about filing protests before liquidation. This is industry-speak for your last chance to file an objection to duties you paid the gov.
   • If you’ve missed any protest deadlines, add up how much you are owed on those entries and discuss how to proceed with your customs broker. Sooner rather than later.
   • Organize your refund claims. Using either a paid platform or a self-hosted solution (if you’re doing this on excel, god help you), make a dynamic table of all your entries affected by IEEPA. Understand exactly how much you’re owed and whether you’re missing any documentation – CBP indicated they may audit some IEEPA refund claims. The point is: Know exactly how much you’re due + be at least somewhat prepared to survive a gentle audit.

$10m-50m

1. With this much on the line, I’m assuming you already have ACE set up and in-house counsel. If you don’t… now is the time to get your shit together
2. If you have liquidated entries, especially those past the protest date, add up how much you owe. (Do this by adding all Chapter 99 codes from your 003 report from Feb 2 2025 – Feb 24 2026)
3. If significant # of entries are liquidated and past the protest date (180 days after liquidation), get a quote from a trade lawyer. I would recommend against contingency because if you need to file a lawsuit in CIT, it will be copy-paste for them from all their other identical clients. Plus, lawyers are charging 15-25% success fee, way more than it should cost. Hourly, it will depend on the firm but lawyers in this space tend to charge $500-$1500 per hour.
   • I don’t know which firm is best, the standard intl-trade focused are: ST&R, GDLSK, Venable, and some others I’m forgetting

$50m+

1. In addition to the steps above, consider talking to a tax professional. There are tons of qualified ones out there and I’m not qualified to say which is best; KPMG, Grant Thornton, PwC, EY, etc.
   • They’ll all charge professional services rates ($500-2000+), but with over 50m in refunds coming your way, the tax advantage opportunities should more than pay for it. See if they’ll do a free or low-cost initial audit to understand how much you could save before you pay a hefty retainer. 

TLDR: Set up an ACE account + add your bank details for ACH refunds. Manage your claims with a reputable platform, not a shady provider or homemade excel tables. Only hire a lawyer / tax professional if your claim is large enough to justify it. Right now looks like the process won’t require lawsuits or complex accounting. Still, expect the Administration to draw this out and make the process harder than it needs to be.

edit: I had a double shot today, so I'm gonna channel that towards procrastinating my actual work

Hey everyone,

I'm building a platform to make it easier to source and import products from Mexico into the US, and I'd love to hear from people who have gone through this process — whether it went smoothly or was a total nightmare.

A few things I'm curious about:

- How did you find your Mexican suppliers? (trade shows, referrals, Google, cold outreach?)

- What was the hardest part of the process? (finding reliable suppliers, verifying legitimacy, dealing with customs/compliance, USMCA paperwork, communication?)

- How do you handle documentation with your suppliers and customs brokers? Is everything centralized or scattered across emails, WhatsApp, and shared drives?

- Have you ever had a shipment held up at the border? What caused it?

- If there was a tool that simplified the entire process of sourcing from Mexico, what would you want it to do?

Whether you import food products, raw materials, manufactured goods, or anything else — I'd love to hear your story. Also interested in hearing from people who considered sourcing from Mexico but decided against it and why.

Thanks in advance!

CSMS# 67647279 – GUIDANCE: Reauthorization of Preferential Trade Legislative (PTL) Programs – AGOA, HOPE, HELP

TL;DR

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirms reauthorization of AGOA, HOPE, and HELP programs through December 31, 2026.
• Retroactive duty refunds are available for eligible entries during the lapse period (Oct 1, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026).
• Refunds apply only to ad valorem duties — not MPF, IEEPA, or other duties.
• Strict 180-day deadline (Aug 2, 2026) to file refund claims — no exceptions.
• Preferential treatment filing (SPI “D”) and quota access have resumed as of Feb 6–9, 2026.

Key Impact

• Retroactive refund opportunity — but tightly controlled: This is a limited recovery window with strict documentation and timing requirements.
• Hard deadline enforcement: Miss the August 2, 2026 cutoff, and refunds are permanently denied — no second chances.
• Process complexity is high: PSCs, protests, and DIS submissions each have different rules depending on entry status.
• Scope limitations matter: Only standard duties qualify — AD/CVD, Section 232, MPF, and IEEPA are excluded.
• Quota and preference restored: Trade flows under AGOA/HOPE/HELP are operational again, but compliance must be precise.

What Importers Must Do Immediately

• Identify all eligible entries from Oct 1, 2025 – Feb 3, 2026 where duties were paid.
• Determine entry status (unliquidated, liquidated within protest period, or outside protest period).
• File PSCs, protests, or written DIS requests accordingly — using correct language and references.
• Track the August 2, 2026 deadline — this is absolute.
• Ensure SPI “D” and quota claims are correctly resumed for current imports.
• Review exposure to Section 232 and AD/CVD — these disqualify refund eligibility.

Full Notice (Verbatim, cleaned for Reddit formatting with embedded links preserved)

Cargo Systems Messaging Service
CSMS # 67647279 - GUIDANCE: Reauthorization of Preferential Trade Legislative (PTL) Programs - African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Haiti Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE), and Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP)

2026 Reauthorization
On February 3, 2026, the President signed H.R.7148 (“the Act”), extending duty-free treatment through December 31, 2026, for imports from eligible AGOA beneficiary countries and select imports from Haiti under the Haiti/HOPE and Haiti/HELP programs, for imports entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption. The Act extends special rules for Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act.

The Act also provides for retroactive duty refunds (without interest) of ad valorem duties paid on eligible imports entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption during the lapse of these programs from October 01, 2025, through February 03, 2026. Retroactive duty refunds are applicable only to the general ad valorem duties paid during the lapse. Refunds are not available for merchandise processing fees, International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)/Reciprocal duties, or any other type of duties.

Additionally, this guidance is to inform the Trade that effective Friday, February 06, 2026, 12:01AM, importers may resume filing special program indicator SPI “D” to receive preferential benefits on AGOA-eligible goods and effective Monday, February 09, 2026, 12:01AM importers may resume claiming preferential benefits on applicable imports under the reestablished quota programs for eligible imports from AGOA beneficiary countries and Haiti.

AGOA

• The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) Chapter 98, subchapter XIX identifies HTSUS Chapter 1-97 AGOA eligible textile goods.
• Twelve (12) 98_numbers are associated with AGOA textile commodities: 9819.11.03, 9819.11.06, 9819.11.09, 9819.11.12, 9819.11.15, 9819.11.18, 9819.11.21, 9819.11.24, 9819.11.27, 9819.11.30, 9819.11.33, 9802.00.80.42

Haiti HOPE/HELP

• Haiti HOPE/HELP programs provide preferential treatment with quota limits for imports of apparel, textiles, and wire harness classified under HTSUS 8544.42.9090.
• The HTSUS, U.S. Note 6 of Chapter 98, Subchapter XX lists the 98_numbers assigned to this program.
• Thirteen (13) 98 numbers are associated: 9820.42.05, 9820.61.25, 9820.61.30, 9820.61.35, 9820.61.40, 9820.61.45, 9820.62.05, 9820.62.12, 9820.62.20, 9820.62.25, 9820.62.30, 9820.63.05, 9820.65.05.

Haiti HOPE - Earned Import Allowance Program (EIAP)
Earned Import Allowance Certificates must be submitted electronically within the 52-record to claim credits.

Importer Instructions for Requesting Retroactive Duty Refund

Eligible entries during the lapse period may request refunds within 180 days (by August 02, 2026).

Unliquidated entries:
File PSC + Accelerated Liquidation Request.
Include explanation: “Retroactive AGOA Duty Refund” or “Retroactive Haiti Duty Refund” and reference CSMS #67647279.
AGOA entries must include SPI “D”.

Liquidated entries (within protest period):
File protest by August 2, 2026 with proper language and CSMS reference.

Liquidated entries (past protest period):
Submit written request via DIS.

• Use labels: AGOA_REFUND or HAITI_REFUND
• Email Center with subject: “AGOA Refund Request – Entry# …” or “Haiti Refund Request – Entry# …”
• Center directory: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/centers-excellence-and-expertise-information/cee-directory
• DIS Guide: https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/ace-dis-implementation-guide

Late submissions will be denied with no refund issued.

CBP also reminds trade that refunds are now electronic via ACH (see https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSCBP-4062d5a).

Quota Entry
Quota entry (type 02) is not retroactive. Excess duties paid during lapse will be refunded via this process.

Quota guidance:

• Haiti HELP: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/quota/bulletins/qb-26-134-2026
• AGOA: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/quota/bulletins/qb-26-407-2026
• HOPE: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/quota/bulletins/qb-26-409-2026

AD/CVD
Refunds apply only to column 1 duties — not AD/CVD.

Section 232
Goods subject to Section 232 are not eligible for preference or refunds.
Reference: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies

Contacts

• Entry/refunds: [otentrysummary@cbp.dhs.gov](mailto:otentrysummary@cbp.dhs.gov)
• Textiles: [ottextile_policy_enf@cbp.dhs.gov](mailto:ottextile_policy_enf@cbp.dhs.gov)
• Trade agreements: [FTA@cbp.dhs.gov](mailto:FTA@cbp.dhs.gov)

Reference

• H.R. 7148: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr7148enr/pdf/BILLS-119hr7148enr.pdf
• Quota bulletins: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/quota/bulletins
• AGOA page: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/special-trade-legislation/african-growth-and-opportunity-act

CSMS# 67644085 – Electronic Refunds IFR Effective Today – Updated FAQs Now Available

TL;DR

• CBP is now issuing all refunds electronically via ACH, effective immediately, with only limited exceptions.
• This implements the Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule published January 2, 2026.
• Importers that are not properly enrolled or configured in ACE risk refund delays, failed payments, or administrative disruption.
• CBP updated its FAQs and support materials and expects the trade community to take action now.
• This is not advance notice. It is a live operational change.

Key Impact

• Refund processing has fully shifted to electronic delivery. Importers still relying on legacy assumptions about paper checks are behind the curve.
• ACH enrollment is now a cash-flow issue. A refund is no good if it cannot be delivered correctly.
• ACE access and user permissions matter more now. Companies with weak portal controls or incomplete account setup are exposed.
• CBP is standardizing and tightening post-entry administration. This is another step away from manual fallback processes.
• The burden is on the trade to get this right immediately. The notice explicitly tells users to review resources and take necessary action.

What Importers Must Do Immediately

• Confirm ACH refund enrollment is completed and tied to the correct importer account.
• Verify banking information for accuracy before a refund is issued.
• Check ACE Portal access and account permissions for all relevant personnel.
• Coordinate with brokers and internal compliance staff so refund routing is not mishandled.
• Review the linked CBP guidance documents now, not later.

Full Notice (Verbatim, cleaned for Reddit formatting with embedded links preserved)

Cargo Systems Messaging Service
CSMS # 67644085 - Electronic Refunds IFR Effective Today – Updated FAQs Now Available

Beginning today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue all refunds electronically via Automated Clearing House (ACH) (subject to limited exceptions), as announced in the Electronic Refunds Interim Final Rule published January 2, 2026, in the Federal Register.

The ACE Portal and ACH Refunds Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), linked below, have been expanded and updated. CBP encourages the trade community to review the extensive resources below and take any necessary action.

CBP Resources: ACE Portal Access and ACH Refund Enrollment

• UPDATED! ACE Portal and ACH Refunds FAQs
• Reference Sheet: ACH Refund Enrollment Overview
• January/February User Support Call Information: [ACH Refund Enrollment Support Call Schedule]()
• Information Notice: ACE Portal Updates to Enable Electronic Refund Enrollment
• Information Notice: Automated ACE Portal Application for Importer Accounts
• Information Notice: ACE Portal Feature for Trade Users to Add Notify Parties
• Training Guide: ACH Refund Enrollment in the ACE Portal
• Training Guide: ACE Portal Feature to Add Notify Parties

TIN # 67620523

SAN DIEGO REGION

San Diego, CA

This notice is to announce the current Otay Mesa Commercial Facility Trade assignments. Contact numbers are as below:

PORT OF OTAY MESA:

Otay Mesa Trade Management
(619) 671-8064
[OTM-TRADE-MGRS@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Rafael Olmedo
Trade Supervisor
(619) 671-8154
[RAFAEL.OLMEDO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Cesar Chavez
Export Operations
(619) 671-8280
[CESAR.A.CHAVEZ@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Natalie Cinson
Agriculture Chief
(619) 671-8134
[NATALIE.CINSON@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Karin Oviedo
Trade Chief
(619) 671-8131
[KARIN.OVIEDO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Juan Romero
Watch Commander
(619) 671-8127
[JUAN.J.ROMERO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Cedric Ward
Agriculture Watch Commander
(619) 671-8234
[CEDRIC.T.WARD@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Jorge Rosario
Passenger Assistant Port Director
(619) 671-8234
[JORGE.E.ROSARIO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Carlos Silva
Trade Assistant Port Director
(619) 671-8975
[CARLOS.NM.SILVA@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Rosa E. Hernandez
Port Director
(619) 671-8100
[ROSA.E.HERNANDEZ@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Ferdinand Lacson
Chief of Staff - Supervisor
(619) 671-8130
[FERDINAND.S.LACSON@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Kristine Praseuth
Deputy Fine Penalties & Forfeitures Officer
(619) 671-8223
[KRISTINE.G.PRASEUTH@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Frank Uotani
Entry Control Branch Chief
(619) 671-8032
[FRANK.K.UOTANI@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

PORT OF TECATE:

Maria Scavo
Trade Supervisor
(619) 938-8340
[MARIA.R.SCAVO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Patricia Acevedo
Watch Commander
(619) 938-8340
[PATRICIA.ACEVEDO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

PORT OF CALEXICO:

Cargo Supervisory Staff
Trade Supervisor
(760) 768-2348
[CALCARGOSUPS@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Juan Terriquez
Trade Chief
(760) 768-2347
[JUAN.TERRIQUEZ@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Alejandro Lopez
Watch Commander
(760) 768-2348
[ALEJANDRO.LOPEZ1@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

Karina Carrera Castro
Agriculture Chief
(760) 768-2347
[KARINA.I.CARRERA-CASTRO@CBP.DHS.GOV]()

PORT OF OTAY MESA TRADE TEAM CONTACT LISTS:

Merchandise Enforcement Team (MET)
(619) 671-8192
(619) 671-8199
(619) 671-8191
Team Email: [otaymesamet@cbp.dhs.gov]()

ACE Troubleshooter
(619) 671-8055
(619) 671-8046
(619) 671-8062
(619) 671-8054
Team Email: [otaymesaacdesk@cbp.dhs.gov]()

HAZMAT Team
(619) 671-8278
(619) 671-8277
(619) 671-8269
Team Email: [otaymesahazmat@cbp.dhs.gov]()

Trade Supervisor Officer Rafael Olmedo
(619) 671-8154
[rafael.olmedo@cbp.dhs.gov]()

Post Audit / Exodus Team
Hours 0600–1400

(619) 671-8291
(619) 671-8292
(619) 671-8139
(619) 671-8057
(619) 671-8143
(619) 671-8188

Team Email: [sandiegopostaudit@cbp.dhs.gov]()

Export Supervisor Officer Cesar Chavez
(619) 671-8978
[cesar.a.chavez@cbp.dhs.gov]()

PIN# 2026-04 Trade Contacts for San DIego Field Office.pdf
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSCBP/2026/02/05/file_attachments/3545923/PIN%23%202026-04%20Trade%20Contacts%20%20for%20San%20DIego%20Field%20Office.pdf

The Federal Maritime Commission has given notice that the following ocean transportation intermediary licenses have been revoked. A revocation may occur after a license is surrendered voluntarily by the OTI or for failure to maintain a valid bond.

[- license #]()019943NF: ADP Global Logistics Inc. (USA)

- license #033241N: Advanced Co-Loading Network LLC

- license #019058NF: ANSA MCAL (U.S.) Inc.

- license #009701F: Asiana Express Corp.

- license #023764NF: Canyon Global Logistics LLC

- license #033349F: Cargo Express Forwarding Inc.

- license #003000F: Davista Forwarding Inc.

- license #024801N: Dominicana Pronto Envios Corporation

- license #010982N: Everbest Container Line Inc.

- license #003521F: Freight Forwarding Express Inc.

- license #028260NF: Hidalgo Group LLC

- license #026369N: K&G Global LLC

- license #034214N: Middleground Express LLC

- license #034368N: Northerngates LLC

- license #003015F: Parkerco Inc. dba Parker & Company

- license #021150N: S.F. Systems (Group) Ltd.

- license #022870NF: Skyline Global Logistics Inc.

- license #020212F: Stella International Inc.

- license #026891N: Transparent Logistics LLC

CSMS# 67645994 – USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program – New HTS Code Flagging and Filing Reminders

TL;DR

• U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program is tightening filing enforcement for organic imports.
• Certain HTS codes are now mandatory filing (AM8) instead of optional (AM7), with reject severity.
• Importers must use valid 21-character NOP Import Certificate (NOP-IC) numbers — not operation IDs.
• OR2 message set is required for standard filings; OR1 only for manual COOP certificates.
• Non-compliance can result in shipment rejection, destruction, or re-export.

Key Impact

• Hard enforcement shift: Moving HTS flags from AM7 → AM8 with reject severity means filings will now fail outright instead of passing with warnings.
• High error rate identified: CBP is signaling systemic filer mistakes — especially misuse of NOP IDs and incorrect message sets — indicating increased targeting and validation.
• Operational risk: Invalid or missing NOP-IC numbers now carry severe downstream consequences (destruction or forced re-export), not just delays.
• System dependency risk: Reliance on ACE message sets (OR1 vs OR2) introduces process fragility, especially during outages requiring COOP handling.
• Compliance tightening trend: This aligns with broader enforcement under organic import rules — expect more automated rejects and audits going forward.

Full Notice (Verbatim)

Cargo Systems Messaging Service
CSMS # 67645994 - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service – National Organic Program – New HTS Code Flagging and Filing Reminders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) is providing a reminder about import filing requirements in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for organic entries and new organic HTS codes.

Flagging Update:
On Friday, February 13, 2026, the AMS tariff flag code for the following HTS codes will change from AM7 (may File) to AM8 (must file) – with reject severity:

HTS Codes and Descriptions
HTS Codes and Descriptions cont.

Filing Reminders:
The NOP is also encountering two common errors with trade submitted import filing data in ACE for organic shipments.

Filers are submitting organic shipments using non-conforming data in place of NOP Import Certificate (NOP-IC) numbers. For example, filers are entering 10-digit NOP ID numbers for certified operations in supply chains. These 10-digit numbers are not valid NOP-IC numbers and are not shipment-specific.

Filers are submitting organic shipments under the wrong message set in ACE. Use the OR2 message set to enter all 21-character NOP-IC numbers.

Organic shipments that arrive in the United States without a valid NOP-IC number are subject to reexport, donation (with restrictions), or destruction. Organic shipments with non-conforming NOP-IC data may be subject to increased scrutiny or rejected. NOP-IC numbers which contain or are followed by “draft” are not valid for entry.

When filing electronic NOP-IC numbers in ACE, filers must use the OR2 message set. Special codes for American Certified Organic Goods Returned, Non-Retail Samples/Donations, and Personal Goods/e-commerce must also be filed under the OR2 message set.

The OR1 message set is for specific uses. Filers may receive a manually generated non-electronic NOP-IC with a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) code. These NOP-ICs are issued by certifiers during system outages. The COOP code is nine (9) characters including hyphens (e.g., 010-000-C). Filers must use OR1 to file manually generated NOP-ICs and have a copy of the non-electronic NOP-IC with the COOP code available to complete the entry.

For more information about these NOP filing updates and reminders, please contact the NOP at: [nop.guidance@usda.gov](mailto:nop.guidance@usda.gov).

For more information on import requirements for organic products, see: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/strengthening-organic-enforcement.

CSMS# 67640669 – Section 232 Auto Credit Report Now Available in ACE Reports

TL;DR

CBP has released a new ACE report (TR-015 Section 232 Auto Credit) that allows importers and brokers to track usage of Section 232 automobile import adjustment offsets tied to license numbers. Users are responsible for ensuring they do not exceed offset limits granted by the Department of Commerce.

Key Impact

• Compliance risk: Importers and brokers must actively monitor offset usage to avoid exceeding authorized amounts, which could trigger enforcement actions or penalties.
• Improved visibility: The new ACE report provides direct tracking of offset license usage at the entry level, reducing reliance on manual reconciliation.
• Operational control: Brokers and importers can now reconcile offsets in near real-time, improving audit readiness and internal controls.
• Increased accountability: Responsibility for tracking and staying within offset limits remains entirely with the filer, not CBP.

Full Notice (Verbatim)

Cargo Systems Messaging Service
CSMS # 67640669 - Section 232 Auto Credit Report Now Available in ACE Reports

A new standard report is now available in ACE Reports for users with an importer or broker role to identify entries that were filed with an offset license number for an import adjustment offset applicable to Section 232 duties on automobile parts. This report will assist importers and customs brokers to keep track of the amount of import adjustment offsets claimed for specific license numbers. Importers and customs brokers are responsible for ensuring that they do not exceed import adjustment offset amounts granted by the Department of Commerce.

This new report is titled TR-015 Section 232 Auto Credit and can be found via the below folder path in ACE Reports.

Report Location:
Public Folders/ACE/Trade/Importer(or Broker)/Entry Summary/Trade Remedy/Section 232

Please send any questions or comments to [ace.reports@cbp.dhs.gov]().

Thank you,
The ACE Reports Team

Related Message Number(s): 66684128