Steel, Aluminum & Copper Tariff Changes Effective April 6, 2026 Posted on April 8, 2026 at 12:30 am.Written by acs-admin Significant changes to Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, steel, and copper articles and their derivatives will take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on April 6, 2026. What Changed? The most important update is how tariffs are calculated. Previously, duties applied only to the metal content of derivative products.Now, tariffs will be assessed on the full customs value of the imported product, regardless of how much metal it contains. This change may significantly increase total duty costs for many importers. New Tariff Rates at a Glance 50% on aluminum and steel articles, most copper articles, and certain derivatives (Annex I-A) 25% on other copper articles and select aluminum and steel derivatives (Annex I-B) Reduced UK rates: 25% (Annex I-A) 15% (Annex I-B)(Requires qualifying melt/pour or smelt/cast processes in the UK) 10% rate for derivative articles made entirely with U.S.-processed metals 200% tariff on Russian-origin aluminum remains unchanged Transitional Treatment (Through December 31, 2027) Certain products listed in Annex III will follow a transitional structure: Combined duty capped at 15% If the standard duty rate is already 15% or higher, no additional Section 232 duty applies Beginning January 1, 2028, these products will shift to the standard 25% rate Additional Key Updates The process for adding derivative products to tariff coverage has been restructured The Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative now jointly determine product inclusion This authority now explicitly includes metal containers, even when filled with non-metal goods Manufacturing drawback is available for certain derivative articles from Trade Agreement Partners, including: UK, EU, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Canada, and others(Conditions apply based on origin of metal content) Need Help Navigating These Changes? These updates may impact duty exposure, sourcing decisions, and compliance requirements. American Cargoservice works closely with clients to evaluate shipping strategies, documentation, and cost implications in response to regulatory changes. 👉 Contact Us to discuss how these changes may affect your shipments. The full proclamation text and annexes are available through official government sources. American Cargoservice will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they become available. IEEPA Tariffs Struck Down — What Importers Need to Know Posted on March 2, 2026 at 9:21 am.Written by acs-admin IEEPA Tariffs Are Gone. The Questions Remain. As you have no doubt heard, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026, that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. CBP has ceased collection of all IEEPA tariffs as of February 24. This is a significant development — but it does not mean tariffs have disappeared. And for importers who paid IEEPA duties over the past year, the path to recovering those costs is far more complicated than it may appear. Here’s what you need to know. Section 122 Has Replaced IEEPA Within hours of the Supreme Court’s decision, the President invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This imposed a temporary import surcharge effective February 24. Per CBP CSMS #67844987, the surcharge is an additional 10% ad valorem duty on imported articles from all countries, in effect for 150 days through July 24, 2026, unless extended by Congress. This is in addition to the ‘regular’ duty rate that would otherwise apply to the commodity. An increase to 15% has been announced,but it has not been made official. Section 232 (which applies mainly to steel and aluminum) and Section 301 (which applies to goods from China) tariffs remain fully in effect and are not impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision. Refunds Will Not Be Simple The Supreme Court’s ruling struck down the legal authority behind IEEPA tariffs, but the Court did not address refunds. It did not order the government to return what was collected, and it did not establish a process for doing so. That process will be determined by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which the Supreme Court confirmed has exclusive jurisdiction over IEEPA tariff cases. Already, FedEx has filed suit against CBP at the Court of International Trade seeking a full refund of all IEEPA duties paid — becoming one of the highest-profile companies to take legal action since Friday’s ruling. Over 1,800 importers had already filed cases at the CIT before the decision came down. The reality is this: pursuing IEEPA refunds is not as straightforward as filing a protest or a post-entry amendment. The refund process has not been defined, the legal landscape is still developing, and the financial and procedural complexity of these claims requires a level of legal expertise that goes beyond what a customs broker — even the most experienced one — should provide. Our Customs Broker’s Recommendation: Talk to a Trade Attorney We are being direct with you because that’s what a good partner does. Customs brokers do not have attorney-client privilege. The strategic decisions involved in pursuing IEEPA refunds — including timing, venue, and claim structure — require qualified legal counsel. If you paid IEEPA tariffs and want to explore your options for recovery, we strongly recommend speaking with a customs and trade attorney who can evaluate your specific situation and advise you on the best path forward. As always, American Cargoservice is committed to providing valuable updates to our customers. We will continue to monitor the situation, and send out updates as they become available. Questions about how these changes affect your shipments? Contact ACS at info@acssan.com or (858) 565-4125. February 2026 Tariff Update: Key Changes for International Shippers Posted on February 19, 2026 at 10:10 pm.Written by acs-admin Tariff Updates February 2026 There have been many changes to import tariffs since we last reported on this in October. Here are some of the recent highlights: INDIA Effective February 7 the additional 25% “Russian Oil” Tariff has been removed. The 25% “reciprocal” tariff will be reduced to 18% (effective date for that TBD) SWITZERLAND A framework for a trade deal was announced on November 15, 2025 to reduce the 39% “reciprocal” tariff rate to 15%, the same as that of the EU. ARGENTINA A trade deal was announced on February 15 that will reduce or eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain goods and reduce the rate for other goods to 10% (effective date TBD) BANGLADESH A trade deal was announced on Feb. 9 that will remove reciprocal tariffs from some goods and reduce rates on other goods from 20% to “no higher than 19%”. CANADA Goods eligible for USMCA are still duty free. Rates for other goods range from 10% to 35%. Various other additional tariffs have been threatened this year, ranging from 50% to 100%, but have not been implemented. TAIWAN A trade deal was announced on Feb. 12 that will reduce tariff rates from 20% to 0 for certain goods and 15% for other goods. As always, American Cargoservice is committed to providing valuable updates to our customers. We will continue to monitor the situation, and send out updates as they become available. Questions about how these changes affect your shipments? Contact ACS at info@acssan.com or (858) 565-4125. Cleanup of Great Pacific Garbage Patch Posted on July 29, 2022 at 11:49 pm.Written by acs-admin The largest and most ambitious ocean cleanup project in history is claiming its first 100,000 kg of plastic removed from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The company behind the project, called The Ocean Cleanup, announced the milestone this week. Its second system “Jenny” was deployed to the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii in August 2021. Since then, the system has collected 101,353 kg of plastic over 45 extractions. Combined with its first system, the total amount of plastic collected weighs in at 108,526 kg, more than the combined weight of two and a half Boeing 737-800s. The Ocean Cleanup’s System 002 deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Photo credit: The Ocean Cleanup Read more The high cost of undeclared dangerous goods Posted on May 28, 2022 at 12:24 am.Written by acs-admin MSC has announced that in light of recent near-miss incidents, they will increase their Hazardous Cargo Mis Declaration Fee (HCM) to USD 15,000/per container on all cargo from any to all destinations with immediate effect. The fee is applicable to misdeclared and undeclared hazardous goods. Just a reminder of the importance of making sure you properly declare any dangerous goods in your shipment! Read more A lot of boxes: 24,004 teu Ever Alot breaks records Posted on May 20, 2022 at 10:47 pm.Written by acs-admin The largest container ships to be delivered this year have a maximum capacity of 24,000 TEUs. (This class of ship is named — appropriately — the “Ever Alot.” The Evergreen shipping company, the very same that blocked the Suez Canal last year, ordered the record-breaking ship.) Let’s hope it doesn’t also become “Ever Stuck”. Read more Cargo Ship Felicity Ace sinks with load of cars Posted on April 20, 2022 at 9:49 pm.Written by acs-admin A month ago, the cargo ship Felicity Ace caught fire and eventually sank in the Atlantic Ocean while carrying around 4000 VW Group vehicles, including Lamborghinis, Audis, Bentleys, and Porsches. This should serve as a reminder of the importance of marine cargo insurance! Felicity Ace Check out all the cars that were lost!