Iran: US Announces Blockade of Iranian Ports After Failed Peace Talks
Following the breakdown of US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan on April 12, 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports, effective April 13. The announcement said the blockade would “be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.” In addition, the announcement stated that “CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
On April 14, Reuters reported that multiple vessels, including Iran-linked tankers not destined for Iranian ports, had transited the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the US blockade.
USA: Tariff Refund System to Launch April 20
The US government is set to roll out the system it will use to issue refunds to American importers for the payment of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which were declared unlawful by the US Supreme Court in February.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has said that it will launch the first phase of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool on April 20. CAPE is designed to consolidate refunds of IEEPA duties including interest rather than processing refunds on an entry-by-entry basis. CBP plans to implement CAPE through a phased development approach, adding more functionality in subsequent phases for more complicated scenarios. The first phase of CAPE is limited to certain unliquidated entries and certain entries within 80 days of liquidation.
USA: Trump Announces 50% Tariff on Nations Supplying Weapons to Iran
On April 8, 2026, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that any country supplying military weapons to Iran would be subject to a 50% tariff on all goods exported to the US, “effective immediately,” with no exemptions. At the time of this report, no formal policy announcement or legal instrument has been issued to implement the measure.
USA: Federal Trade Court Hears Arguments on Trump’s 10% Global Tariff
On April 10, 2026, the US Court of International Trade heard oral arguments in an attempt to overturn the temporary global 10% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump in February after the US Supreme Court struck down higher and even more sweeping tariffs that Trump had implemented in 2025.
The hearing was part of a legal challenge brought by several US states and businesses against the current global baseline tariff. Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, the tariff is set to expire on July 24, at the end of the 150-day period envisaged by section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Colombia-Ecuador: Tit-for-Tat Tariff Hikes Reach 100%
Colombia’s trade ministry announced on April 10, 2026 that it would raise tariffs on goods from Ecuador from 30% to 100%, according to Reuters. The move came after Ecuador in recent months increased tariffs on Colombian goods first to 30%, later to 50%, and finally to 100%, effective May 1, 2026, as reported by El Comercio.