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AFIA has been working with representatives from Juan Valdez Café locations throughout South Florida, and we’re excited to explore opportunities to partner on upcoming events that bring together two things we all enjoy—flowers and coffee! As part of this relationship, AFIA members and their employees can receive a 15% discount on coffee and snacks at participating Juan Valdez Café locations in South Florida. Whether you’re stopping in for your morning coffee, meeting someone a

At midnight last night, the Section 122 tariffs imposed earlier this year will officially expire. The 10% Section 122 tariffs were implemented in February after the courts determined that the Administration's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful. Under U.S. law, Section 122 tariffs are temporary and may only remain in effect for up to 150 days. Section 301 Tariffs Begin July 24 Knowing that the Section 122 tariffs were temporary,

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.

Christine Boldt, Executive Vice President of the Association of Floral Importers of America (AFIA), attended the International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing in Washington, DC, held July 7–9, 2026. Over the course of the three-day hearing, representatives from numerous industries and countries testified about how the proposed Section 301 tariffs could impact their businesses, products, and trade with the United States. On behalf of AFIA and the floral import industry, Christi

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.

Public hearings on the proposed Section 301 tariffs are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., from July 7 through July 9. We are pleased to share that AFIA Executive Vice President Christine Boldt has been invited to testify on behalf of the fresh cut flower importing industry. Christine will speak directly to the impact these proposed tariffs would have on floral importers and the broader supply chain, ensuring that the voice of our industry is heard during this criti

I hope all of the dads in our floral community had a wonderful Father’s Day. As we move into the final weeks of June, we wanted to share an important update on tariff developments affecting floral importers, including the progress of IEEPA refunds, the Administration’s proposed Section 301 tariff actions, and AFIA’s upcoming participation in Washington hearings on behalf of the fresh cut flower industry. IEEPA Tariff Refunds: Phase 2 Expected to Begin June 29 When the IEEPA t

Today, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) determined under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that the acts, policies, and practices of 60 economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. As a result, USTR has determined that these actions are actionable under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act. This determination begins the p

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, was invited to a meeting with Susan S. Thomas, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). During the meeting, Commissioner Thomas provided an update on the priorities of the Office of Trade and discussed the progress of the CAPE system that is currently being used to process IEEPA tariff refunds.

Effective the week of Monday, July 13, 2026, the routine Saturday fumigation will be discontinued. Fumigations will continue to be available by reimbursable overtime for anyone who needs to use the service. The resources previously assigned to Saturday fumigation operations will be used to help meet the additional staffing needs on Mondays and Fridays. Regular pest identifications on Saturdays will not change and will continue to be available on Saturdays during regular opera

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.

Airport Operations: During the Mother’s Day season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) added additional inspectors, helping achieve an average response time of 1 hour and 49 minutes, exceeding the operational goal of 2 hours. This year there was a slight decrease in total flower stem volume compared to last year: 9.6 million stems this year 9.87 million stems last year Overall decrease of approximately 2% Inspection activity remained significant throughout the season: 1

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that the Trump Administration unlawfully used Section 122 authority to impose the across-the-board 10% tariffs on nearly all imports. This decision comes just hours after the Administration also lost its Supreme Court battle regarding tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Section 122 tariffs, which were announced as an alternative mechanism following earlier legal setbacks, are curr

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