US Customs Launches CAPE Portal to Process $166 Billion in Fashion Tariff Refunds

Story Summary
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s new CAPE portal is successfully processing claims for $166 billion in invalidated IEEPA duties, with initial refunds expected by May 12. While the system shows a 15% rejection rate, structural barriers—including reconciliation complexities and a backlog for essential ACE accounts—disproportionately disadvantage smaller brands, favoring larger firms with the infrastructure to navigate intricate customs compliance requirements.





