What International Shippers Need to Know

On March 6, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) informed the Court of International Trade (CIT) that while they are not yet ready to process the court-ordered IEEPA tariff refunds, they are actively building the necessary infrastructure within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

Following a Supreme Court decision striking down the use of IEEPA tariffs, the CIT ordered CBP to liquidate or reliquidate affected entries without those duties.

Because there are over 53 million separate entries eligible for refunds, CBP is developing a new “streamline” functionality in ACE. Instead of issuing millions of individual checks, this system will consolidate refunds and interest payments by importer to speed up the process.

The Proposed Refund Process

CBP expects the new ACE functionality to be programmed within the next 45 days, though the full refund cycle may take several months. Once live, the process is expected to follow these steps:

• Importer Declaration: The importer files a declaration in ACE listing the entries where IEEPA duties were paid.
• Validation & Calculation: ACE automatically validates the entries and re-calculates the duty owed (plus interest) without the IEEPA tariffs.
• Verification: CBP verifies the declaration and processes the refund.
• Liquidation: ACE automatically finalizes (liquidates or reliquidates) the entries.
• Payment: The Department of the Treasury issues the refund electronically.

What This Means For Your Tariff Refunds

While the CIT has ordered these refunds, the “legal, technical, and operational” requirements mean it will take time for the money to reach your accounts. The NCBFAA and legal counsel are continuing to monitor CBP’s progress and the administration’s response to the court’s decision.

Sheltered International will continue to track these developments closely to ensure our clients are prepared as soon as the ACE portal is ready for declarations.

Stay in Control with Sheltered International

Global supply chains are constantly shifting. SiShips puts the shipper in control, offering efficient and cost-effective ways to transport your product.

To learn more about our personalized expertise and state-of-the-art software, contact us today.