Ask Ahab: March 2026

Dear Ahab:

With the Supreme Court invalidating the IEEPA tariffs, do you think I will receive a refund, and when do you think one would be issued?

– Customs Curious

Dear Customs Curious:

It appears likely that you will receive a refund, however, the timing remains uncertain. Recently, the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund duties collected under the IEEPA. That said, there is currently no formal process in place to distribute those refunds.

CBP has indicated that it is working to establish a refund mechanism and hopes to have a system operational by the end of April. While no firm timeline has been announced, importers should begin preparing now.

If you have not already done so, I strongly recommend establishing an ACH refund account with CBP, as this is the method through which refunds will be issued. Instructions for setting up an ACH refund account can be found here.

What should shippers expect from this year’s contract season, and what approach should they take?

– Looking For An Edge

Dear Looking For An Edge:

This year’s contract season offers continued uncertainty as carriers continue to grapple with trade policies and geopolitics. As a result, it is difficult to predict what fixed rates carriers will offer – if they offer them at all. This uncertainty has created an elevated level of market volatility as carriers continue to look for ways to recover market losses from the past six months.

Given these conditions, shippers are best served by remaining flexible and partnering with a logistics provider that is willing to adapt to changing market dynamics. An adaptable strategy can help reduce risk, keep the supply chain agile, and allow shippers to respond quickly to disruptions or sudden capacity shifts. Most importantly, flexibility can help shippers better manage and control costs in an unpredictable and volatile environment.