The Foreign-Trade Zine is the eMagazine of the Foreign-Trade Zone community. Each month, we cover local, national, and international news that affects FTZ operators, users, and Grantees. We also catalog Federal Register notices published by the Department of Commerce so you can keep abreast of the activity in the program across the country. Ready to get started? Send an email with the subject line “Subscribe” to FTZine@iscm.co.
September 30, 2026
Ping Ping Is In The House What we wanted: A timeline for improving trade relations between the planet’s two largest economies. What we got: A giant panda named Ping Ping (he/him), and another named Fu Shuang (she/her). The recent summit between Presidents Xi and Trump could have been better, and could have been a lot worse. We’ll take the bears […]
September 1, 2026
FTZB Mic Drop Moment “I am no longer with the Foreign-Trade Zones Board staff.” That brief, blunt email message signaled the end of Elizabeth Whiteman’s tenure with the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board. Grantees, Users, and Operators are trying to figure out what comes next. The silence is uncomfortable as there has been no guidance from Washington. FTZs are feeling the […]
August 3, 2026
Oh Canada Our Northern Neighbors just can’t seem to get any traction in trade negotiations with the United States. An impatient Administration will use an untested provision in trade law to add a 50% tariff to certain Canadian goods later this month. If that special someone has been asking for a hockey stick this coming holiday season, you might want […]
June 25, 2026
To Sue Or Not To Sue That is the question. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has taken the position that a single federal judge cannot mandate IEEPA refunds for everyone. CBP says you will have to sue them and get a Court Order for a refund of IEEPA duties paid on any entry in ‘final’ liquidation status. The U.S. […]
June 2, 2026
Here Comes The Judge And he does not sound happy. The Commissioner of Customs has been ordered to appear before a judge next week to explain why it is taking so long for the government to return the $165B of IEEPA duties paid by importers, including foreign-trade zones. The Trump Administration responded by filing an appeal of the order requiring […]
April 29, 2026
CAPEd Crusaders Many FTZ Administrators took on a new role in April – leading the charge for IEEPA refunds for their organizations. Those CAPEd crusaders were busy uploading lists of entries to the newest system from U.S. Customs. Among the refund roadblocks are some format validations that bounced about half of all submissions, slowing the process. And many refund requests […]
April 1, 2026
Gold Rush. Without the Rush. No Foolin’. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that it’s new IEEPA refund system (called CAPE) is on track to be ready late this month. And it looks like FTZs are included in the first phase of CAPE development. But don’t expect funds to be disbursed quickly. CBP reported yesterday that refunds will only be […]
March 2, 2026
BOOM Just as international traders were starting cocktails to kick off the weekend, the U.S. Supreme Court issued it’s ruling affirming previous decisions that IEEPA does not give the President the power to impose tariffs. The Court left unresolved the issue of refunds for previous payments, and foreign-trade zones are still paying the tariffs on items in inventory. Entries are […]
February 2, 2026
All Quiet On The First Street Front There is surely a reason the Supreme Court was given the address of #1 First Street in Washington, DC, right across the street from the Capitol. It highlights the cornerstone position the Court holds in American government. But international traders don’t need to be reminded of the importance of the Court right now. […]
January 5, 2026
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part Happy New Year! The FTZ’ine staff hopes at least some of our readers were on the right holiday list. Because clearly most of us weren’t.Despite a blizzard of requests to the North Pole for an affirmative Supreme Court decision, international traders will have to wait into the new year to see if hoofbeats on […]
December 1, 2025
Nickel For Your Thoughts Well, it used to be a penny. But we don’t make pennies anymore. The U.S. ended production of the penny in November. When it was first introduced in 1793, a penny could actually buy something: a biscuit, a candle or a piece of candy. Now pennies will transition to treasured collector’s items. The government is back […]
November 11, 2025
Where's The Beef: Argentina, apparently. Finally, the White House sees imports as a solution to the Nation’s problems. The Nation’s rising food prices problem, that is. With costs continuing to climb at the supermarket, consumers are wondering if the President's injection of Argentine imports can bring relief. The U.S. cattle industry has a beef with that. A trade framework negotiated
