The IEEPA refund portal begins today, and shippers could soon see IEEPA refunds impacting trucking. Last year, President Trump imposed levies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as reciprocal tariffs against importers. After an appeals court ruled Trump’s tariffs illegal, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court deemed the levies unlawful. Following the ruling, the Court of International Trade (CIT) ordered the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to issue refunds to importers who paid IEEPA tariffs, prompting CBP to create the CAPE system. While the IEEPA tariffs Refunds will impact international shipping, they will also directly affect domestic goods movement.
How did the IEEPA Tariffs Originally Impact Trucking?
When President Trump announced IEEPA tariffs, importers felt a rise in cost for bringing goods into the US. A major component of many supply chains that import into the US is domestic shipping. For example, drayage services that pick up cargo from ports and transport it to the final destination. As import costs increased, truckers also raised prices to compensate. Fleets also faced higher monthly payments due to the import of goods such as truck parts. As a result, many smaller trucking companies either went bankrupt or kept older, less safe vehicles on the road. Higher costs due to tariffs also led to reduced cross-border freight volume and economic uncertainty for truckers.
How Will Domestic Shipping See IEEPA Refunds Impacting Trucking?
As IEEPA refunds begin in the international shipping industry, US trucking could soon feel a ripple effect. No more levies, combined with refunds for previous duties, could result in more imports into the US. In turn, this may mean a higher volume of goods that truckers will move domestically. The refund could also stabilize freight flows disrupted by the tariffs and increase spot rates for truckers. Despite the refund, other tariffs imposed by Trump remain in effect, including levies under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This is a 25% tariff on imports of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and parts, and it is not included in IEEPA tariffs.
With the IEEPA refund process starting, domestic shipping could soon benefit. While this may be an ideal time to move your cargo domestically, shippers should still be ready when starting. Failure to prepare correctly can lead to delays and monetary loss. An ideal way to prepare when shipping goods by truck is to reach out to a freight broker. Brokers act as middlemen between shippers and carriers, coordinating the movement of goods on behalf of the shipper. They do this by offering solutions such as rate finding, paperwork preparation, consultation services, and more. Contact A1 Freight Solutions at info@a1fsinc.com or 786-375-9420 to speak with our brokers to ensure a successful transport.