In a major technical and financial milestone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently provided an update to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) regarding the ongoing processing of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff refunds.
As of late June, CBP’s Executive Director of Trade Programs, Brandon Lord, reported that $104.29 billion in potential and certified IEEPA tariff refunds have been successfully accepted for processing through Phase 1 of the agency’s Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) module in ACE.
The Numbers at a Glance
-
18.1 Million Entries Approved: CAPE declarations passing file validations represent over 18 million distinct entries now accepted for the removal of IEEPA duties.
-
4.36 Million Entries Flagged/Rejected: Approximately 4.36 million entries failed initial entry-level system validations. According to CBP, the primary reasons for rejection include entries exceeding CBP’s 90-day re-liquidation authority, missing Chapter 99 HTS numbers, or duplicates from prior CAPE declarations.
New ACE Functionality for Unliquidated Entries
In a significant win for trade efficiency, CBP deployed new CAPE functionality in ACE at the end of June.
Importers and customs brokers can now include unliquidated entries (or entries liquidated within the preceding 80 days) flagged for reconciliation on a CAPE Declaration, even if no formal Reconciliation Entry (Entry Type 09) has been filed yet.
The trade community has adapted rapidly to this patch; within the first 24 hours of deployment, over 1.6 million entries flagged for reconciliation were successfully filed and queued for processing.
Sobel’s Takeaway for Importers
Industry Insight: The sheer volume of data moving through the new CAPE system highlights both a massive financial recovery opportunity for importers and a highly complex compliance landscape. With over 4 million entries rejected due to strict 90-day timeframes or missing classification data, precision in data filing is paramount.
As your trusted logistics and customs partner, Sobel Network Shipping Co. is actively monitoring these automated clearing developments. If you have entries subject to IEEPA duties or outstanding reconciliation flags, our compliance team is ready to ensure your filings are structured perfectly to avoid rejections and expedite your refunds.
For questions regarding your specific entries or to check the status of potential IEEPA tariff refunds, please reach out to your Sobel representative.
