Thursday Apr 30, 2026

CAPE: How to Actually Do It, with Bonnie Kersch

🎧 Hosts

Andy Shiles
Lalo Solorzano

🎤 Guest

Bonnie Kersch, Founder of Magnolia Global Trade Solutions

📅 Published Date

April 30, 2026

⏱️ Episode Length

~37 minutes

📝 Episode Summary

IEEPA duty refunds are creating a major opportunity—but only for companies that know how to navigate CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) correctly.

In this episode of Simply Trade, Andy and Lalo sit down with Bonnie Kersch to break down what CAPE actually means in practice and how importers should be preparing to take advantage of potential refunds.

This isn’t theoretical.

The conversation focuses on:

What CAPE is designed to do
How it applies in the context of IEEPA refunds
What importers need to have in place before taking action

With guidance tied directly to CBP’s latest direction—including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection IEEPA refund guidance—this episode helps translate policy into real-world execution.

🔑 Key Topics Discussed

What CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) actually is
How CAPE connects to IEEPA duty refund opportunities
Why many companies may not be ready to take advantage of refunds
The importance of having accurate entry data and documentation
Operational challenges in identifying eligible entries
The role of internal processes vs. external partners (brokers, systems)
What importers should be doing now to prepare

🧭 CAPE in Practice (From the Episode)

1. Understand What CAPE Is—and Isn’t

CAPE is not just a filing mechanism—it’s a structured way to manage and process entries in a consolidated manner.

👉 Misunderstanding this leads to missed opportunities or incorrect filings.

2. Identify Potentially Impacted Entries

To take advantage of IEEPA refunds, companies need visibility into:

Historical entries
Duty payments
Relevant classifications and applicability

👉 If your data is fragmented, this becomes a major barrier.

3. Validate Eligibility for Refunds

Not every entry will qualify.

This step requires:

Careful review of CBP guidance
Alignment with IEEPA applicability
Internal validation before submission

📌 Reference:
IEEPA Duty Refund Guidance
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds

4. Coordinate Across Teams and Partners

CAPE execution isn’t done in isolation.

It requires coordination between:

Trade compliance teams
Brokers
Finance
Internal data owners

👉 Misalignment here can delay or derail the process.

5. Ensure Documentation & Audit Readiness

Any refund request will need to stand up to scrutiny.

👉 This means having:

Clear records
Supporting documentation
A defensible position

💡 Key Takeaways

CAPE is an operational process—not just a concept
Execution is what determines success.
Data visibility is critical
If you can’t easily access and analyze your entry data, you’re already behind.
IEEPA refunds present real opportunity—but also risk
Companies need to be deliberate, not reactive.
Preparation matters now
Waiting until deadlines or enforcement increases will limit your options.

🚨 Why This Episode Matters

IEEPA-related refund opportunities are time-sensitive and complex.

Companies that:

Don’t understand CAPE
Don’t have their data organized
Or rely solely on third parties

👉 may miss out entirely—or expose themselves to compliance risk.

This episode gives a practical lens on what needs to happen next.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

U.S. Customs and Border Protection IEEPA Refund Guidance:
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/trade-remedies/ieepa-duty-refunds
Magnolia Global Trade Solutions

👏 Credits

Hosts: Andy Shiles & Lalo Solorzano
Guest: Bonnie Kersch
Produced by Global Training Center

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