CBP Keeps IEEPA Tariffs Live in ACE; 211,000 Containers Hit
CBP leaves IEEPA codes in place while technical updates continue
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not yet removed the tariff lines tied to the IEEPA action from its Automated Commercial Environment, meaning import entries continue to include those duties in the official record. A CBP bulletin states agencies are studying the Supreme Court outcome and that formal technical guidance for ACE filers will follow; until then brokers and importers are using existing fields to secure cargo release and meet filing obligations.
Trade-platform data show roughly 211,000 containers carrying about $8.2 billion of goods reached U.S. ports over a single weekend, generating a large cohort of entries carrying the now‑invalidated tariff regime. Industry practitioners note the standard prepayment window — typically around 10 days — provides a narrow opportunity to file post‑summary corrections (PSCs) to strip the charges once CBP changes its ACE validations, but mechanical rework on millions of records is expected to produce sustained processing delays.
Customs brokers and trade attorneys warn that mass PSC volumes could extend resolution times well beyond normal averages; while corrections frequently clear in weeks under ordinary loads, some amendments could stretch toward 30 days or longer because of sheer scale and contention over proper accounting. At the same time, whether refunds will be issued is unresolved and is likely to be litigated at the U.S. Court of International Trade, with practitioners cautioning that high claim volumes could create multi‑year adjudication backlogs.
Adding a complicating layer, recent reporting shows customs collections linked to the emergency duties have surged — with a recent month near $30 billion and fiscal‑year‑to‑date receipts roughly $124 billion through November — creating a substantial fiscal incentive for Treasury and other agencies to resist immediate, large‑scale refunds. Administration officials have also signaled readiness to pursue alternative statutory authorities or regulatory measures that could preserve some or all of the revenue stream if IEEPA is restricted, meaning a court victory for challengers may not translate into quick consumer relief.
Practitioners advise importers to assemble complete documentation now to preserve refund pathways, prioritize high‑value claims and prepare for prolonged administrative timelines. Logistics providers and large brokers — which can better absorb short‑term liquidity pressure and coordinate mass corrections — are likely to gain leverage, while smaller importers and niche brokers face increased cash‑flow and operational risks. The incident further underscores structural fragilities in legacy customs IT and payment rails, and it is likely to accelerate strategic investments in integrated compliance tooling and customs modernization over the medium term.
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