Hello ,
Welcome to another edition of Customs Manager ESSENTIALS. We are the "little sister" of our weekly strategic intelligence PRO briefings.
We bring you
- Four carefully selected updates from our PRO briefings.
- One highlighted risk alert
- One financial recovery opportunity.
- A fresh new VIDEO OF THE WEEK from our own YouTube channel
- A rare government asset that we found, and you may have missed.
- A list of upcoming training to keep you up to date. With Customs Manager ESSENTIALS, we only scratch the surface. Email us to activate your free 30-day trial of Customs Manager: PRO. No commitment. No credit card.
I. WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
- USA: Temporary Section 122 Import Surcharge & IEEPA refunds. A Supreme Court ruling has created a window for potential duty recovery on Section 122 surcharges, but strict liquidation and protest windows apply. The Customs Watch USA, Edition 9, Week 10-2026
- EU: CBAM Common Central Platform tender. The tender for the CBAM operational platform closes on 20 March, signaling a shift in carbon pricing from policy to operational machinery. The Customs Watch EU, Edition 09, Week 10/2026
- UK: CDS 5.1.0 Implementation The CDS 5.1.0 system goes live on 28 March, acting as a "digital bouncer" that will bar cargo if validation logic is even slightly incorrect. The Customs Watch UK, Edition 9, Week 10/2026
- Export Control: Teledyne FLIR Dual-Use Settlement. The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has settled a case against a major defense firm for unauthorized transfers of thermal imaging technology to foreign affiliates, signaling a crackdown on "internal" corporate technology sharing. This enforcement action marks a shift toward tighter oversight of dual-use electronics and advanced sensing equipment within global supply chains. The Export Control & Sanctions Watch, Edition 09-2026, Week 10-2025.
II. HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK
CDS 5.1.0 "Hard Stop" Validation
- What It Means: Incorrect validation logic in customs filings will cause immediate system rejections and cargo stoppages at the border.
- Who Is Impacted: Logistics Managers and Brokers who must ensure their software and filing logic are perfectly aligned with the 28 March update.
- What You Can Do: Audit your current CDS validation logic immediately and test declarations to ensure perfect compliance before the deadline.
- What to Watch Out For: Expect zero leniency from HMRC; "near enough" data will no longer pass the system's automated validation checks.
- Link To Find Out More: The Customs Watch UK, Week 10/2026, Edition 9
III. HOW TO KEEP MORE OF YOUR MONEY
U.S. Section 122 & IEEPA Duty Recovery
- What It Means: A Supreme Court ruling has invalidated certain IEEPA-based tariffs, creating a "liquidity test" to recover millions in paid duties.
- Who Is Impacted: CFOs and Finance teams who must act before strict liquidation and protest windows permanently close on past entries.
- What You Can Do: Run an ACE Entry Summary review immediately to tag recoverable IEEPA-paid lines by liquidation status to secure refund eligibility.
- What to Watch Out For: Refund "portals" do not yet exist; recovery requires proactive legal protests of liquidating entries to avoid statute-of-limitations risk.
· Link To Find Out More: The Customs Watch USA, Week 10/2026, Edition 9
IV. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Global Trade Intelligence Briefing for CEOs: Compliance, Sanctions & Customs Updates Made Simple.
This video xplains how curated intelligence identifies critical updates across the UK, EU, and U.S., helping CEOs transform complex regulatory data into clear, actionable insights. It comes from our "Ask The Customs Manager Ltd." YouTube Channel. We post new videos every week based on questions from our community of over 10,000 subscribers. Subscribe for free today!
V. TRADE DOCUMENT OF THE WEEK
Every week, we are pulling one high-value asset from your Knowledge Hub, our searchable repository that PRO subscriber’s bookmark and return to for documents that are difficult to find easily elsewhere.
This week we have selected:
"04032026 - Atmus Filtration vs CBP - IEEPA Refunds".
This document is the ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which has ordered Customs and Border Protection to issue refunds to thousands of businesses after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. While the Trump administration plans to implement a new 10% global tariff to replace the lost revenue, this ruling represents a significant legal setback and a "victory" for companies seeking to recoup an estimated $130 billion in levies. Download it now.
VI. UPCOMING TRAINING & PRO CALL TO ACTION
- 09 March: EU CBAM Fundamentals
- 11 March: IACBAM 3004:2025 – CBAM Fundamentals Training
- 11 March: Master USMCA
- 16 March: Export-Import Kickstarter
- 17 March: Navigate Sanctions Like a Pro!
- 18 March: EUDR for Import and Export
- 19 March: Customs Special Procedures
- 19 March: Incoterms®
- 20 March: AI in Action For Customs & Trade
- ·23 March: The DEFINITE Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
- 23 March: U.S. Tariffs Update 2026
- 23 March: Inward & Outward Processing (IP&OP)
- 24 March: Customs Warehousing
- 24 March: Lodging a Successful CBAM Report
- 25 March: EU Sanctions Against Russia (and Belarus)
- 25 March: Customs Valuation
- 25 March: Export Controls: Dual-Use
If you wish to join any of the training, please get in touch with us.
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