Canada 25% IEEPA Tariff Refund

Canadian imports faced a flat 25% IEEPA tariff from February 2025. The Supreme Court invalidated it. Here's what you need to know about USMCA exceptions and filing your claim.

Calculate My Canada Refund

Canada IEEPA Tariff Details

Simple rate structure but critical USMCA exception to understand.

Period Rate Applies To Status
Feb 4 - Mar 6, 2025 25% All Canadian imports Refundable
Mar 7, 2025 - Feb 24, 2026 25% Non-USMCA Canadian imports only Refundable
Mar 7, 2025 onward 0% USMCA-qualifying Canadian imports Exempt (no refund needed)
Critical: USMCA Exception

After March 7, 2025, USMCA-qualifying goods from Canada were exempt from the 25% IEEPA tariff. If your Canadian imports had a valid USMCA certificate of origin and met rules-of-origin requirements, they were not charged the 25% — and thus have nothing to refund. Only non-USMCA entries are refundable for the post-March 7 period.

USMCA Exception Explained

The biggest factor in Canada-specific refund eligibility.

What qualifies as USMCA-compliant?

  • Goods must meet USMCA rules of origin (sufficient North American content/processing)
  • A valid USMCA certificate of origin must have been on file at time of import
  • The importer or exporter must have claimed USMCA preferential treatment on the entry
  • Common qualifying goods: automotive parts, agricultural products, energy products with Canadian origin

What does NOT qualify under USMCA?

  • Goods merely transshipped through Canada from a third country
  • Products that don't meet the specific product rules of origin in USMCA annex
  • Imports where USMCA treatment was not claimed on the entry summary
  • Goods from Canadian companies using primarily non-North-American inputs

If you're unsure whether your Canadian entries qualified under USMCA, check with your customs broker. They will have the certificate of origin records and can confirm which entries claimed preferential treatment.

How to File for Your Canada Refund

Step-by-step for Canadian import refund claims.

Step 1: Pull your Canadian entry data

In ACE, run the ES-003 report and filter for entries with Canadian country of origin. Identify entries that were charged the 25% IEEPA tariff. Exclude any entries where USMCA preferential treatment was applied (post-March 7).

Step 2: Calculate your refund amount

For Canadian imports, the calculation is straightforward: 25% of declared import value for each qualifying entry. No need to separate tariff layers like with China — Canada only had one IEEPA rate.

Step 3: File through CAPE or CIT

For unliquidated entries, file through CAPE Phase 1 (opening April 20). For liquidated entries, consult a customs attorney about filing a CIT action. The broad CIT order covers all importers, but a protective filing is recommended given the expected DOJ appeal.

Pre-March 7 entries are simplest

Canadian imports between Feb 4 and Mar 6, 2025 are the most straightforward refund claims — all Canadian goods were subject to 25% IEEPA during this period, regardless of USMCA status.

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Legal Disclaimer This website provides general informational content only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects data as of April 13, 2026. Consult a licensed customs attorney before taking legal action.