San Francisco-based Caspian, an ABI software vendor and licensed customs broker, is officially launching its AI-informed advisory services for duty drawback and tariff refund processing, according to a recent announcement. The company, which bills itself as "an AI-driven customs compliance startup," says its tools are able to analyze companies' international shipping records and inventory data to find eligible duty refunds that can be submitted as claims within days. Because Caspian is approved by CBP as a tech provider and customs broker, it says it can file claims with CBP on behalf of clients or in support of others' existing trade advisory work.
Now that the White House appears to have given more direction on its trade and tariff actions, more companies may transition from a wait-and-see approach to more specific courses of action, trade experts with KPMG said during a July 31 webinar on tariffs and trade complexities.
The National Foreign Trade Council responded to the U.S. hikes in tariffs Aug. 1 (see 2507310081) by saying that agreements to remove some trade barriers are encouraging but "a great deal of work remains to be done to make sure they deliver on those promises and to accelerate efforts to remove discriminatory measures that were not part of those initial understandings.
Way2Go Cargo, a Florida-based freight forwarder, has accused two people who were affiliated with the company of violating the Shipping Act by running a competing business without obtaining a required license from the Federal Maritime Commission, according to a complaint filed with the FMC July 25.
Multiple countries said they're still assessing the impact of the new U.S. tariffs that took effect Aug. 1 (see 2507310081), although some that agreed to deals, including the EU and South Korea, said they now have more stability for their industries.
On the first day of higher tariffs for dozens of countries, prominent Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee attacked the policy, while the Republican chairman put a positive spin on soft employment numbers. The Senate minority leader used his daily floor speech to tie the tariffs to broader economic woes, while Republican leadership focused on Democrats' obstructions to prompt confirmation votes for presidential nominees.
CBP on July 31 provided guidance on new tariffs on Canadian imports, which were raised from 25% to 35% Aug. 1 (see 2507310082).
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in two television interviews Aug. 1, defended a surprise 39% rate for Swiss exports and said his focus isn't on reaching new settlements before reciprocal tariffs begin collection Aug. 7. Rather, he said, "We're really focused right now on implementing the deals that have been reached."
The Bureau of Industry and Security is seeking public comments on an information collection related to Section 232 national security adjustments for imports, it said in a Federal Register notice. The data collection relates to presidential proclamations 10895 and 10896, which require the Department of Commerce secretary to establish a process for including additional derivative aluminum and steel articles within the Section 232 tariffs for steel and aluminum. BIS said the agency is collecting data as part of broader efforts by the commerce secretary to conduct investigations on the effects on U.S. national security of importing an article. Comments are due by Sept. 30.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., made a joint announcement July 31 that they will request a vote to end the new International Emergency Economic Powers Act declaration for Brazil, that underpins an additional 40% tariff on a portion of Brazil's exports.