Updated: SCOTUS Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs

Updated: SCOTUS Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs

Update- 2/24/2026:

CBP Guidance: Temporary 10% Section 122 Duty

On February 20, 2026, the President issued a Proclamation under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 imposing a temporary 10% additional duty on most imported goods. On February 23, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued guidance on how this will be implemented.

When Does It Apply?

The additional 10% duty applies to goods:

  • Entered for consumption, or

  • Withdrawn from warehouse for consumption

On or after 12:01 a.m. ET on February 24, 2026 through 12:01 a.m. ET on July 24, 2026

This is currently a 150-day temporary surcharge.

What Is the Duty?

  • An additional 10% ad valorem duty

  • Applies to products of all countries

  • Filed under HTSUS 9903.03.01

  • Applies unless an exemption is met

This is in addition to regular duties and any applicable trade remedy duties.

Important: USMCA Shipments

Products of Mexico that qualify and are entered free under USMCA are exempt from the 10% duty.

Products of Canada that qualify and are entered free under USMCA are exempt from the 10% duty.

⚠️ If the product does NOT qualify under USMCA:

The 10% Section 122 duty will apply.

We strongly recommend reviewing origin qualifications and ensuring valid USMCA certifications are on file.

Other General Exemptions (Simplified)

The 10% duty does NOT apply to certain categories, including:

  • Certain goods already in transit before Feb. 24

  • Certain iron, steel, aluminum, vehicle, semiconductor, copper, and wood products

  • Civil aircraft and related parts

  • Certain religious-use articles

  • Donations for humanitarian relief

  • Informational materials

  • Most properly claimed Chapter 98 entries (with limited exceptions)

We Are Monitoring Closely

We will continue to monitor the situation and will keep updating this post as new information becomes available.

If you have any questions about how this impacts your shipments, please email the JOA Compliance Team and we will be happy to assist.


Update- 2/23/2026:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided guidance to the trade regarding its discontinuation of collecting IEEPA tariffs effective 12:00 a.m. ET on Feb. 24 in response to Feb. 20 Executive Order (EO), “Ending Certain Tariff Actions.”

Guidance

Ending IEEPA Tariff Collection

Duties imposed pursuant to IEEPA under the following presidential actions, including all modifications and amendments, will no longer be in effect and will no longer be collected for goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:00 a.m. ET on Feb. 24, 2026:

  • Executive Order 14193, Imposing Duties To Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border, 90 Fed. Reg. 9113 (Feb. 1, 2025), as amended;
  • Executive Order 14194, Imposing Duties To Address the Situation at Our Southern Border, 90 Fed. Reg. 9117 (Feb. 1, 2025), as amended;
  • Executive Order 14195, Imposing Duties To Address the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China, 90 Fed. Reg. 9121 (Feb. 1, 2025), as amended;
  • Executive Order 14245, Imposing Tariffs on Countries Importing Venezuelan Oil; 90 Fed. Reg. 13829 (Mar. 24, 2025);
  • Executive Order 14257, Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits, 90 Fed. Reg. 15041 (Apr. 2, 2025), as amended;
  • Executive Order 14323, Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Brazil, 90 Fed. Reg. 37739 (July 30, 2025); and
  • Executive Order 14329, Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation, 90 Fed. Reg. 38701 (Aug. 6, 2025), as amended.

CBP said it will update ACE programming, and all HTSUS numbers applicable to the IEEPA tariffs will be inactive in ACE as of Feb. 24, 2026.

“This EO affects IEEPA duties only and does not affect any other duties, including duties imposed under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, and section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended,” the agency said.

CBP will provide additional guidance to the trade through CSMS messages as appropriate. If you encounter any errors in filing an entry summary, contact your CBP Client Representative or the ACE Help Desk. Questions regarding this message should be directed to CBP’s Office of Trade Relations at [email protected].


Update- 2/20/2026:

During a White House press briefing in the aftermath of the ruling, Trump said he will sign an executive order on Feb. 20 “to impose a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122, over and above our normal tariffs already being charged.”

The President also stated that his administration will initiate “several Section 301 and other investigations to protect our country from unfair trading practices of other countries and companies.” He indicated that he will not seek congressional approval for new tariff authorities.

About Section 122

Under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974: 

  • The President may impose temporary import surcharges (tariffs) of up to 15% or quotas.
  • These measures may last for no more than 150 days unless Congress approves an extension.
  • They may apply to all imports or selectively to countries that impose “unjustifiable or unreasonable” restrictions on U.S. commerce.
  • The provision was created to give the president a fast-acting tool to respond to serious balance-of-payments deficits, urgent trade imbalances, or retaliatory trade actions.

No formal action has been taken by the Administration at this time, and additional details are not yet available

We are monitoring the situation and will provide updates if any changes occur.


Update from the J.O. Alvarez, Inc. Compliance Team

On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Learning Resources v. Trump confirming that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. This ruling affirms that tariffs imposed under IEEPA authority were not legally supported.

Link: Learning Resources v. Trump


Refunds

Although the Supreme Court struck down the legality of IEEPA-based tariffs, the Court did not address whether refunds must be issued, nor did it provide guidance on when or how refunds would be processed.

At this time:

  • There is no formal confirmation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection or other authorities on whether tariff refunds will be issued.

  • There is no published timetable or procedural roadmap for refunds.

  • If refunds are authorized, it has not been determined whether they will be automatic or require formal claims.

  • There is no confirmed timing on when refunds, if issued, will be received.

We are awaiting clarification on:

  • Whether refunds will be issued

  • How refunds will be administered

  • The procedures and documentation that may be required

Important: Electronic Refunds via ACE & ACH

CBP has updated its refund procedures such that all duty refunds are issued electronically via Automated Clearing House (ACH) through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Portal. Paper checks are no longer routinely issued unless a waiver is approved.

To prepare for potential refunds, we strongly advise that clients:

  1. Confirm an active ACE Portal account — you must have ACE access to receive electronic refunds.

  2. Verify ACH enrollment in ACE — CBP will issue refunds only via ACH through ACE, and correct U.S. banking information must be on file.

  3. Ensure banking information is up to date in the ACE Portal’s ACH Refund Authorization tab.

CBP’s official guidance on this transition can be reviewed here:

Failure to have valid ACE and ACH setup could delay or prevent receipt of refunds once issued.


When Will These Tariffs Stop Being Implemented?

While the Supreme Court has ruled on the legality of IEEPA-based tariffs, we have not yet received formal guidance from CBP confirming:

  • The effective date that IEEPA tariff collections will cease

  • Operational instructions to ports and data systems

  • Any transitional procedures related to ongoing entries

Until CBP publishes official implementation instructions, the precise timeline for cessation of these tariffs remains unclear.


What Remains in Effect

Other tariff authorities, such as Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, and other trade remedies, continue as legally valid programs. These tariffs are not impacted by the Supreme Court’s IEEPA ruling and remain in force absent separate changes by law or administrative action.


Our Ongoing Monitoring

The J.O. Alvarez, Inc. Compliance Team is actively tracking developments and monitoring for:

  • Official CBP guidance on tariff collections stopping

  • Any announcements regarding refund procedures

  • Updates in litigation or administrative policy

  • Changes to related trade programs

We will continue to update this blog as new information becomes available.

If you need assistance confirming your ACE/ACH setup or reviewing entries where IEEPA tariffs were paid, please contact our Compliance Team at [email protected].


Disclaimer: This communication is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Decisions regarding compliance actions should be made based on official agency guidance once published.


JOA Compliance Team
J.O. Alvarez, Inc.

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