I-Ships International

09/09/2026

Dear Customer,

Please be informed that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has introduced a mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) requirement for all containerized cargo destined for Kenyan ports, effective August 3, 2026.
As part of this new requirement, an ACD Reference Number must be obtained before the cargo is loaded and the reference must be included on the applicable Bill of Lading (B/L). We therefore request all shippers, exporters, and freight forwarders to ensure that the ACD process is completed in advance of vessel loading. Failure to meet this requirement may lead to cargo holds, delays in customs clearance, non-discharge of cargo, additional inspections, or other compliance-related issues at destination.

ACD Registration and Application Process

The ACD Reference Number can be obtained through the KRA ACD platform by following these steps:

Register on the ACD Portal
Access the official KRA ACD platform, complete the registration process, and log in.
Submit Shipment Documents
Upload the required shipping documentation to initiate the ACD application and obtain the draft declaration.
Complete Validation
Pay any applicable fees and proceed with validation of the declaration.
Obtain the ACD Reference Number
Once approved, the final ACD certificate will be issued together with the 15-digit ACD Reference Number.
Update the Bill of Lading
The 15-digit ACD Reference Number must be accurately reflected on the final Bill of Lading.

Documents Required

The following documents are required for submission through the ACD platform:

Draft Bill of Lading
Commercial Invoice
Freight Invoice
Export Declaration

KRA ACD Portal: https://acd.kra.go.ke/home

Important Compliance Notice

The ACD Reference Number must be secured prior to cargo loading and correctly reflected on the final Bill of Lading. Please note that missing, incorrect, or incomplete ACD information may result in delays to customs clearance, additional inspections, non-discharge of cargo, financial penalties, fines, or other legal/compliance consequences at destination. Any costs or penalties arising from ACD non-compliance may be for the customer's account.

We strongly recommend that the ACD application and validation process be initiated well in advance of the planned loading date to avoid any potential operational disruption. For further details, please refer to the official KRA ACD portal: https://acd.kra.go.ke/home

Should you require any operational clarification or assistance regarding these requirements, please contact your usual representative.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this important regulatory requirement.

Official platform for the Advance Cargo Declaration — KRA ACD

09/08/2026

USA to Africa
Effective October 1, 2026
Dear Valued Customer,

This is to inform you that the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has issued a new
Public Notice establishing the administrative implementation framework for the enforcement of Ghana's National Vehicle Standards from October 1, 2026.
The aim is to improve quality and safety of vehicles entering the country.

Key highlights:
Under the new framework, used vehicles older than 15 years are prohibited from entering Ghana.

Used vehicles must be inspected in their country of origin by a GSA-approved third-party inspection body before shipment to Ghana, with a Certificate of Conformance (CoC) issued to confirm that each vehicle meets the applicable Ghana Standards.

The GSA has clarified that vehicles shipped before October 1, 2026 will not be affected by the new import requirements, even if they arrive in Ghana after the implementation date. Vehicles already in Ghana before the implementation date are similarly exempt.

We expect importers to familiarize themselves with the additional requirement to obtain certificate of conformity.

08/19/2026

CBP To Begin Verifying Form 5106
Importer of Record Information

August 18, 2026

In a Federal Register notice scheduled to be published August 19, 2026, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be announcing that it will begin implementing enhanced enforcement procedures to verify the accuracy of the importer of record information from form 5106. These new procedures are in response to Executive Order 14411 “Strengthening Customs Enforcement” and are scheduled to go into effect 30 days after CBP publishes this change in the Federal Register (September 18, 2026, provided the notice is published as scheduled).

IOR Required Information

Anyone importing goods into the U.S. must register as an importer of record using CBP Form 5106, providing accurate information including:

Importer name
Tax ID (EIN, SSN, or CBP-assigned number)
Mailing address
Physical location address
Phone number
Email address
What's Changing

Starting 30 days (projected to be September 18, 2026) after this notice is published in the Federal Register, CBP will begin immediately voiding IOR numbers if it finds the information on file is inaccurate or incomplete. This means the importer can't legally bring goods into the U.S. until the number is reinstated.

Information CBP Will Be Emphasizing

The physical address must be the importer's real location — not a customs broker's office, freight forwarder, registered agent, or P.O. box (a home address is acceptable for individuals).
The email and phone number must actually belong to the importer — brokers or third parties can't substitute their own contact info.
Customs brokers filing on behalf of importers must have a valid, direct Power of Attorney with that importer (not routed through a freight forwarder).
Consequences If CBP Finds the IOR Information is Incorrect

Importers who provided false or incorrect information on form 5106 face potential criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 for knowingly false statements and potential liability under the False Claims Act, since inaccurate IOR data ties to duty payment obligations. Brokers who submit false or inaccurate data risk penalties under 19 U.S.C. § 1641.

Process for Reinstatement of IOR

After determining that inaccurate information was provided on form 5106 and voiding the IOR, CBP will email a notice explaining why the IOR number was voided (copying the broker if applicable) and how to request reinstatement by verifying identity.

Questions or reinstatement requests should be emailed to [email protected].
For further information about this and other Customs matters, contact George Tuttle III at [email protected] or 415-986-8780.



The information in this article is general in nature and is not intended to constitute legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship with respect to any event or occurrence and may not be considered as such.

Copyright © 2026 by Tuttle Law
All rights reserved.

03/05/2026

Advisory: Gulf War Risk Surcharge on Middle East Shipments


Dear customers and partners,
The security situation in the Middle East continues to evolve and the recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz and around regional ports continue to impact shipping operations in the region.
As we work towards minimizing potential disruptions by implementing precautionary measures, we have introduced Gulf War Risk Surcharge on shipments to and from the Middle East.
Cargo: Applies to all types of cargo.
Timing: Effective March 2nd, until further notice.
The above increase is subject to further adjustments should carriers implement additional rate increases, surcharges, storages or operational changes (including rerouting), detention and demurrage fees.
During these uncertain times, the safety of our team and your cargo remain our top priority.
Should you have any inquiries regarding the impact of this surcharge on your shipments or require further assistance, please reach out to your local Vanguard representative. We truly appreciate your understanding and support.

03/05/2026

TAWB PSS Europe/West Mediterranean to/via USA, Canada & Mexico
Effective 4th April 2026
Dear Valued Customer,
Carriers on the TAWB trade lane have advised that an additional Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) will come into effect for cargo sailing from all countries within North Europe and the West Mediterranean to/via the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The PSS will apply for cargo received gate-in from April 4th, 2026, and is valid until further notice.

03/04/2026

Suspension of bookings to and from the Upper Gulf
Due to the current operational and security constraints in the Upper Gulf region, a decision has been made to maintain cargo safety, ensure secure equipment positioning, and uphold operational standards. Accordingly, most shipping line has decided to implement a booking stop with immediate effect and until further notice for all cargo types to the following countries (both from and to):

United Arab Emirates
Iraq
Kuwait
Qatar
Bahrain
Oman (Sohar)
Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail)
Yemen
Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to assess developments closely. We will provide timely updates on any important changes.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this period.

03/03/2026

Dear Valued Partner,

Following the recent developments in the Middle East and subsequent actions taken by ocean carriers, we are writing to inform you of an important operational update.

With immediate effect, we are temporarily suspending our LCL service to and via the Middle East. This measure has been taken as the two main consolidation carrier alliances we utilize have stopped accepting new bookings to the region until further notice.

We are in close communication with the respective vessel operators to assess the impact on shipments currently on the water. Based on initial guidance, it is expected that certain shipments may be re-routed to alternative hub ports within the region. At this stage, full details and operational implications remain under review, and further adjustments may occur depending on how the situation evolves.

Please note that we are still accepting bookings for delivery to the CFS; however, consolidations will not be loaded for the time being. Cargo received into our warehouse may be subject to storage charges depending on the duration of stay until services resume. Additionally, any delays, additional costs, diversions, storage, or other operational consequences arising from these circumstances are beyond our control. As such, we cannot accept responsibility for disruptions or charges resulting directly or indirectly from these developments.

We are monitoring the situation closely and maintaining active dialogue with carriers and partners. We will provide further updates as soon as more concrete information becomes available and will communicate directly regarding specific shipment impacts where applicable.

We appreciate your understanding and continued cooperation during this time. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local representative.

02/23/2026

Hong Kong to USA XLERATE Service

11/11/2025

Happy customer Happy life 🥰

08/28/2025

The subject of import tariffs has been on everyone's mind this year, especially when importing classic cars. We now have clear guidance from the US customs office clarifying that reciprocal duties do apply to classic cars 25 years and older. While it is not the news any collector or business wants to hear, the import process is much more predictable now and importers should budget for the reciprocal duties when importing classic cars in to the US.
Current structure for vehicles manufactured in these countries arriving in August 2025
EU
15% duty as the baseline minimum on all imports
15%
Japan
2.5% base + 15% reciprocal
17.5%
UK
2.5% base + 10% reciprocal
12.5%
Brazil (A)
2.5% base + 40% reciprocal
42.5%
Brazil (B)
2.5% base + 25% Section 232
27.5%
Notes: Brazil shows two possible paths; confirm which applies with your broker at booking. Totals may vary by HS code/vehicle type.
How Import Duties Have Changed in 2025
April 9, 2025: The U.S. introduced reciprocal duties:
10% on UK- and EU-made vehicles
15% on Japanese vehicles (took effect later)
Previously, importers could avoid reciprocal duties using special customs codes:
Code 232 → added a 25% tariff on top of the 2.5% base duty
Code 9903.94.04 → reduced Section 232 tariff to 0%
Code 9903.01.33 → exempted Section 232 vehicles from reciprocal duties
This system allowed many importers to bring in classic cars at just 2.5% duty.
July 2025: U.S. Customs clarified that Section 232 exemptions no longer waive reciprocal duties.
One officer summarized it as: “It’s either one or the other.”
The Impact on Car Importers
A few importers have received retroactive Duty Advance Notices, including interest and fines, on vehicles they have already cleared and even sold.
Customs remains firm and reciprocal duties must be paid on all vehicles, including classics.
If you plan to import a car, please budget for reciprocal duties. Classic vehicles are no longer exempt, and past shipments may be audited by US customs.