On April 14, 2026, U.S. Court of International Trade Senior Judge Richard Eaton held a closed conference in the new lead case, Euro-Notions Florida, Inc. v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, et al., addressing refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). At the conclusion of the conference, the Judge
Tariffs/Trade Policy
CBP Confirms April 20, 2026 Launch of Phase 1 of the IEEPA Tariff Refund Process
On April 10, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) published Cargo Systems Messaging Service (“CSMS”) #68315804, confirming that Phase 1 of the process to refund duties paid by importers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) will launch on April 20, 2026. Known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (“CAPE”)…
New CIT IEEPA Tariff Refund Case Selected After Dismissal of Lead Case
On April 6, 2026, Senior Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) granted the Notice of Dismissal filed by counsel for Atmus Filtration, Inc. in Atmus Filtration Inc. vs. United States, the lead case seeking refunds of tariffs paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Subsequently, he issued…
President Trump Announces Section 232 Tariffs on Pharmaceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
On April 2, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation announcing that the United States will impose on July 31, 2026, a 100% Section 232 tariff on imports of certain pharmaceuticals and associated active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”). The tariff will operate as a floating rate: where a covered product is also subject to a non-duty-free…
CIT Endorses Phase 1 of the IEEPA Tariff Refund Process Ahead of CBP’s April 20 Rollout
On April 1, 2026, Senior Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued an order in Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States, the lead case addressing refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), concluding that the government “continues to make satisfactory progress” and “is on…
CIT Expands IEEPA Tariff Refund Order to Include Finally Liquidated Entries
On March 27, 2026, Senior Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued an order in Atmus Filtration, Inc. v. United States, updating his March 20, 2026 order regarding refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). (For background on the March 20, 2026 order, see…
CIT Judge Further Amends IEEPA Order, Noting Protests for Liquidated Entries
On March 20, 2026, Senior Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued another Order in Atmus Filtration Inc. vs. United States regarding refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In summarizing the CIT’s March 19, 2026 closed conference with plaintiff and government legal counsel, the…
Eaton Formally Assigned IEEPA Tariff Refund Litigation, Signals New Lead Case
On March 17, 2026, Chief Judge Mark Barnett of the U.S. Court of International Trade (“CIT”) issued an order of reassignment transferring cases seeking refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) to CIT Senior Judge Richard Eaton. Chief Judge Barnett’s order effectively ratified Judge Eaton’s March 4, 2026 order in…
USTR Launches Section 301 Investigations into Forced Labor Practices
On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it was launching Section 301 investigations into 60 trade partners to determine whether they have been engaged in forced labor practices. The investigations, to be conducted pursuant to Section 301of the Trade Act of 1974, include China, the European Union, India, and Mexico. A…
USTR Releases President Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda and 2025 Annual Report
On March 2, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) delivered President Donald Trump’s 2026 Trade Policy Agenda and 2025 Annual Report to Congress. This year’s trade agenda seeks to promote U.S. interests abroad and reduce trade deficits by pursuing trade deals with other countries and strengthening domestic manufacturing.