Latest News

On Monday, April 13, Christine Boldt participated in a roundtable discussion alongside a group of small business owners with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The conversation focused on the ongoing impact of tariffs on small businesses, with participants sharing firsthand insights on how current policies are affecting operations, costs, and overall business stability. Following the discussion, a press conference was held to further highlight these concerns and bring at

Here is our updated 2026 import volume report, reflecting an expanded list of flower and greenery categories. Notably, if a product has no figures reported for 2025-2026, it reflects a newly tracked HTS code for 2026 .

On Wednesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection held a seminar outlining updates to the Truck Sealing Compliance Agreement, a program that has been in place since approximately 2015. This agreement plays an important role in facilitating the movement of products from airlines to fumigation sites more efficiently, helping reduce delays within the supply chain. Over the past two years, additional updates have been made to the process. These improvements were supported in part

The process for tariff refunds is beginning to take shape. Following recent developments, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will activate Phase 1 of the CAPE (CBP Automated Processing Environment) system on Monday, April 20 at 8:00 AM. This marks the first step for importers seeking refunds related to IEEPA tariffs. What You Need to Know Who can file: Importers of Record or their customs brokers Where to file: Through the ACE portal , using the CAPE tab (This is currently

As the industry continues to navigate the evolving landscape of tariffs and trade enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has introduced a structured approach to refund duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This development represents a significant opportunity for importers and brokers—but also requires careful preparation to ensure eligibility and timely processing. A New System for Processing Refunds CBP is implementing a ne

Friday, officials announced that the United States and Ecuador have signed a new reciprocal trade agreement, marking an important development in the economic relationship between the two countries. The agreement is expected to strengthen trade ties, support business growth, and create new opportunities for both American and Ecuadorian companies. Strengthening Bilateral Trade Trade between the United States and Ecuador already plays a significant role in the economies of both

Here is our updated 2026 import volume report, reflecting an expanded list of flower and greenery categories. Notably, if a product has no figures reported for 2025-2026, it reflects a newly tracked HTS code for 2026 .

In a separate development, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated investigations involving 60 countries under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974. These investigations will examine whether countries are adequately enforcing bans on forced labor in products exported to the United States and the potential impact on U.S. workers and businesses. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the United States to investigate and respond to unfai

Recent developments continue to unfold regarding the refund of tariffs that were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) informed the Court of International Trade (CIT) that it is working to implement a new process within the ACE system to handle potential tariff refunds and estimated that a procedure could be ready within approximately 45 days. Yesterday, the CIT requested a further update on

Here is our updated 2026 import volume report, reflecting an expanded list of flower and greenery categories. Notably, if a product has no figures reported for 2025-2026, it reflects a newly tracked HTS code for 2026 .

Recent updates from federal agencies and trade officials have brought new attention to two key areas affecting importers: potential changes to Section 122 tariffs and the status of IEEPA tariff refunds . While some developments remain pending, importers should stay informed and ensure they are prepared for possible administrative actions in the coming weeks. Section 122 Tariffs: Proposed Increase Not Yet Published Earlier this week, Secretary Bessent indicated that Section 1

Potential Increase in Global Tariffs According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Administration is preparing to implement an increase in global tariffs to 15% , with the change expected to take effect sometime this week. At this time, the exact implementation date has not yet been officially published. Once the policy is formally documented and released, additional details — including the confirmed start date — will be communicated. IEEPA Refund Updates Following the S

The recording of AFIA’s recent webinar on the Supreme Court Tariffs Decision, is now available. We invite industry leaders and stakeholders to view the full webinar here.

Here is our updated 2026 import volume report, reflecting an expanded list of flower and greenery categories. Notably, if a product has no figures reported for 2025-2026, it reflects a newly tracked HTS code for 2026 .

Here is a summary of the latest developments regarding U.S. tariffs and what they mean for importers and the trade community. Supreme Court Ruling on IEEPA Tariffs On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unauthorized and therefore must stop being collected. At this time: Collection of IEEPA tariffs will cease. There is no clarity yet on whether previously collected IEEPA tariffs wi

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant ruling regarding tariffs previously imposed by President Trump. According to the Court’s decision, the majority of the tariffs implemented under executive authority have been invalidated. As a result, the collection of these tariffs is expected to stop. Key Points from the Ruling The Supreme Court determined that under the U.S. Constitution, the authority to impose tariffs rests with Congress — not with the President a

The United States and the Republic of Ecuador have substantially concluded negotiations for an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), with both countries expecting to sign the agreement in the coming weeks. The announcement was made on February 13, 2026, marking an important development for bilateral trade relations. In recent weeks, AFIA leadership has been in communication with Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart’s office regarding the importance of advancing a trade agreement with

Local and national media outlets covered the Valentine’s shipping season and the inspection process at Miami International Airport, highlighting both the scale of flower imports and the work required to ensure safe and timely delivery. Coverage included reporting from Local 10 News on increased flower imports through Miami despite tariffs and higher costs: https://www.local10.com/news/florida/2026/02/06/valentine-flower-imports-increase-at-miami-airport-despite-tariffs-and-hi

Here is our updated 2026 import volume report, reflecting an expanded list of flower and greenery categories. Notably, if a product has no figures reported for 2025-2026, it reflects a newly tracked HTS code for 2026 .

AFIA Executive Vice President Christine Boldt participated in a Valentine’s shipping media day last Friday at Miami International Airport in partnership with the airport, Avianca Cargo, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The event brought together multiple media outlets to highlight the Valentine’s shipping season and the coordination required across the floral import supply chain. Miami International Airport (MIA) reported that import volumes were 13% higher than