On December 15th, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that importers do not need to immediately file lawsuits to preserve potential refunds of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court confirmed it retains authority to order reliquidation and refunds, even after entries have liquidated, if the tariffs are later ruled unlawful. While litigation is not required at this time, importers are still advised to file protests at liquidation as a protective measure.

Mexico has introduced a significant shift in its trade policy landscape, approving new tariffs of up to 50% on more than 1,400 categories of Chinese and other Asian imports. These measures, covering industries such as automotive, electronics, steel, plastics, and textiles are scheduled to take effect in early 2026 and represent one of the most consequential tariff actions in the region this year.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a high-priority notification to the trade community reporting that newly escalated protests in Mexico are directly impacting commercial cargo operations across multiple U.S. ports of entry within the El Paso, Texas, region. These demonstrations have created operational obstacles affecting both northbound and southbound freight, with impacts already being felt throughout the border network.