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CAPE Refund Requests: Strategies for Successful IEEPA Refund Claims

The CAPE system promises to streamline IEEPA duty refund claims for importers — but "streamlined" does not mean "simple." From ACH enrollment gaps to the no-amendment rule, here's what early filers have learned the hard way.

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The Importance of Supply Chain Audits

Supply chain audits provide structured oversight across supplier networks that are increasingly difficult to monitor. From regulatory compliance and ethical sourcing to operational resilience, regular audits help organizations identify hidden risks and build supply chains that can withstand scrutiny and disruption.

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The Importance of Export Compliance Audits

Regular export compliance audits help organizations uncover compliance gaps, adapt to evolving regulations, and demonstrate due diligence. In a landscape where enforcement actions are increasingly common, proactive auditing is essential to protecting operations and reputation.

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Nuclear Export Controls: Safeguarding Sensitive Technology in Global Trade

Nuclear export controls extend beyond physical materials to technical data, software, and services, and are enforced across multiple U.S. agencies with overlapping jurisdiction. End-use and end-user evaluation is required even when an item is not explicitly listed as controlled, making due diligence a foundational compliance obligation for any organization engaged in nuclear-related international activity.

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How Often is the HTSUS Updated and When to Review Your Company’s HTS Codes?

The HTSUS changes multiple times per year, not just annually. Importers who rely on static classification databases risk incorrect duty payments and compliance exposure without knowing it. Structured review processes and interim monitoring are the operational requirements that keep classifications current.

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Understanding the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs) in HTS Classification

The GRIs are the legal foundation of every HTSUS classification decision, requiring importers to work through six hierarchical rules in sequence rather than defaulting to duty outcomes or product names. Skipping steps, ignoring legal notes, or misidentifying essential character are the most common errors — and none are defensible in a CBP audit.

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What HTSUS Codes Are and Why They Matter

HTSUS codes determine duty rates, trade program eligibility, and regulatory obligations for every U.S. import. Misclassification creates financial and enforcement exposure that falls on the importer of record — not the customs broker — making classification accuracy a core legal responsibility rather than an administrative function.

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What Schedule B Numbers Are and Why They Matter

Schedule B numbers are mandatory for U.S. export EEI filings and are the legal responsibility of the exporter, not the freight forwarder. Understanding how they differ from HTS codes and where misclassification risk concentrates is foundational to a compliant export program.

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U.S. Overhauls Section 232 Tariffs for Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Products

The April 2026 Presidential Proclamation restructures Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper from a metal-content to a full customs value framework, with tiered rates from 10% to 50% based on composition and sourcing. Exclusion requests have been eliminated.

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The Importance of Annual Export Compliance Training

Export regulations evolve continuously – and employees who don't keep pace create compliance exposure regardless of how sound the written program is. This guide covers why annual training matters, what effective programs must include, how to tailor content by role, and how documented training affects enforcement outcomes.

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EEI Filings to Canada: When They Are Required and How to Stay Compliant

Most exports to Canada are exempt from EEI filing requirements – but controlled items, ITAR-regulated exports, and licensed goods are not. This guide covers when the Canada exemption applies, what triggers a mandatory AES filing, and the compliance practices that prevent costly mistakes on routine shipments.

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Export Control Reform: Modernizing U.S. Export Regulations

Export Control Reform shifted less sensitive military items from ITAR's Munitions List to the Commerce Control List – creating more licensing flexibility while tightening focus on truly critical technologies. This guide covers the USML-to-CCL migration, 600 series classifications, licensing implications, and what reform means for ongoing compliance obligations.

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Export Compliance Successor Liability in Mergers and Acquisitions

Under U.S. export control law, acquiring companies inherit the compliance violations of their targets – including pre-closing violations they had no knowledge of. This guide covers successor liability risk, due diligence requirements, voluntary disclosure strategy, and post-acquisition integration obligations.

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