OPERATORS Your $175B Tariff Refund Checklist With Ryan Petersen, Flexport CEO
20 snips
Mar 13, 2026 
Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO of Flexport, a leader in global freight and trade tech. He walks through checking and claiming tariff refunds, setting up ACE and ACH to receive money, and the emerging secondary market for refund claims. They then tackle how Iran-related disruptions reshape shipping and airfreight, and how AI is speeding customs audits and even generating a children’s book in an afternoon.
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Tariffs Come From Multiple Legal Paths
- Different statutes power different tariffs so legal outcomes vary by authority.
- Ryan breaks down Section 232 (national security steel/aluminum), Section 301 (China) and Section 122 (temporary 15% max) as distinct legal paths.
Expect Refunds With Interest But Plan For Delay
- Monitor guidance and expect refunds with interest but plan for timing uncertainty.
- Ryan notes $175B may be refunded and imports may receive ~6% interest, but process and timing remain unsettled.
Create ACE Account And Enable Electronic Refunds
- If you haven't, create an ACE importer account and enable ACH refunds now.
- Ryan stresses customs moved from paper checks to ACH in January, so refunds will be electronic and require ACE setup.