Tariff Talk Thursday is Back!
Visit our Events page for details or register here.
Tariff Talk Thursday is Back!
Visit our Events page for details or register here.
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
How does the adage go? “The only thing that remains consistent in life is change.” This still holds true in the world of international transportation and trade, one year into the current presidential term. As our Tariff Talks continue to highlight, there are still several unresolved positions that the administration mentioned it would address in 2026 that have not yet come to fruition. On the same front, there has been some positive news with a major trade agreement to reduce tariffs on certain Indian goods. However, we have yet to see any formal declaration from U.S. Customs that would provide guidance to the trade community on how this will affect current shipments, if at all.
Express Fasteners has filed a suit with the Court of International Trade (CIT) regarding Section 232 tariffs on metal articles. The case primarily challenges the valuation methodology applied to a group of articles subject to additional tariffs of up to 50%. Importers are receiving rejections and CF28/29s disputing derivative valuation, with claims that the entire article, now considered a steel and aluminum article, is to be taxed at 50%. Without official guidance, trade practitioners have relied on an FAQ suggesting that the derivative should be calculated to the inbound point of the raw material. Importers of steel, aluminum, and copper articles should stay tuned for potential impacts to the derivative formulation.
Ocean carriers operating out of China have stopped accepting new bookings ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. The first available sailings are expected to resume after February 24th. Additionally, most Chinese manufacturers will shut down operations for the holiday by February 9th. As shippers rush to move cargo before these closures, transportation capacity is tightening across the market. As a result, air freight rates and inland trucking costs within China are rising due to limited space and heightened demand.
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