Weekly Trade Policy Update
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Texas in September + Chicago/Milwaukee in October!
- Sep 9: Dallas
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- Sep 14: Grapevine
- Oct 20: Chicago
- Oct (TBD): Milwaukee
The Bottom Line
An August 26 proclamation adds 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings to the 2026 beef tariff-rate quota at the lower in-quota duty rate. The volume comes in three monthly tranches, starting September 1. The quota is for "other countries or areas," so Brazil and Paraguay can use it.
The President also declared a national emergency over foreign-made grid equipment. Executive Order 14421 allows the Energy Department to block imports of bulk-power system equipment tied to a covered foreign entity. There's no HTS list yet. The Energy Department still needs to issue rules setting out the restrictions.
Tariff-Rate Quota
An August 26 proclamation adds 300,000 metric tons of lean beef trimmings to the 2026 beef tariff-rate quota. The volume is available at the lower in-quota duty rate and is reserved for "other countries or areas." President Trump signed the measure as Proclamation 11059.
CBP will release the volume in three 100,000-metric-ton tranches: September 1-30, October 1-30, and October 31-November 30. The quota is first come, first served. Filers should use Chapter 99 heading 9903.54.02 before the Chapter 2 line for covered trimmings under 0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091, or 0202.30.5097.
Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay, and the United Kingdom have separate beef quotas. Brazil and Paraguay can use this additional quota. USDA and USTR are reviewing whether the imported beef is being sold at least 25% below the market price for lean beef trimmings. The President can end the remaining quota based on that review.
The first 100,000-metric-ton tranche is open now and runs through September 30. Once the tranche fills, entries move to the higher over-quota rate.
Sources: CBP quota bulletin, Federal Register
Grid Equipment
President Trump declared a national emergency over foreign-made equipment used in the electric grid. Executive Order 14421, signed August 26, gives the Energy Department authority to block the acquisition, import, or installation of bulk-power system equipment tied to a covered foreign entity if it poses a security risk.
The order applies to transactions started after August 26. There's no HTS list yet. The Energy Department still needs to issue rules covering the specific restrictions and any approved vendors. Importers of transformers, large generators, and other grid equipment should watch for those rules.
Source: Federal Register
Canada's counter-tariffs take effect September 8. Canada's Department of Finance has published the measure, which adds 15%, 25%, or 50% surtaxes on U.S.-origin goods, matched to the U.S. Section 338 or Section 232 rate for the same product. The tariffs take effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 8. The list covers about $27.6 billion in U.S. goods, including steel and aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. The existing 25% counter-tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum will also increase to 50%. Origin is determined under the CUSMA marking regulations, and the measure does not carve out CUSMA-qualifying goods. Goods already in transit to Canada on September 8 are excluded. (Department of Finance Canada: announcement, product list)
CAPE Phase 3 is delayed. CBP told the Court of International Trade on August 25 that it has temporarily pushed back Phase 3 of CAPE, the IEEPA refund process for finally liquidated entries where the court has ordered reliquidation. The delay gives CBP time to build validations that make sure other duties on those entries aren't changed. Phases 1 and 2 are not affected. As of August 21, CBP had sent about $106.6 billion in refunds to Treasury, while about $1.7 billion across 22,170 refunds was still pending because no bank account information was on file. CBP's next progress report is due September 15, followed by a court conference on September 16. (Court of International Trade: CBP declaration, order)
Van trailers from China face final AD and CVD duties. Commerce issued final affirmative antidumping and countervailing duty determinations on van-type trailers and subassemblies from China. An order, along with the applicable cash-deposit rates, will follow if the International Trade Commission makes a final injury finding. (Federal Register: antidumping, countervailing)
Check Your Beef Entries
If you import lean beef trimmings under 0201.30.5091, 0201.30.5097, 0202.30.5091, or 0202.30.5097 from an eligible country, use 9903.54.02 while the first tranche has space. The tranche is first come, first served and closes September 30.
Check Your CAPE Refund Information
About $1.7 billion in IEEPA refunds is pending at CBP because the importer or its Form 4811 designee has no ACH information on file. If you've accepted CAPE declarations and haven't received a refund, check your ACH information in ACE before September 15.
Reach Out to Caspian to Understand Your Impact
File manufacturing drawback claims through Caspian. If you import materials, make something from them, and export the finished goods, Caspian can now build the claim and send it to CBP. Both direct identification and substitution claims are supported. You can also set a production-date window to limit the claim to the runs you want to include.
See each entry down to the individual product. Caspian reads the commercial invoice and packing list for each entry and breaks it down to the products on it. You can filter imports by HTS code or add products to your catalog using the part numbers already on the paperwork.
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