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IHA’s blog features informative posts written to keep the housewares industry educated and informed about key strategic issues and IHA member services.

IEEPA Tariff Refunds and New Sec. 301 Tariffs

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs aren’t legal, Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) carried out orders from the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and quickly set up a system to process IEEPA refunds. Thus, on April 20, CBP launched its…

Navigating the 2026 Contract Finish Line

by Dave Akers, IHSA Stephen Hawking said "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Based on our industry, we must be the founding members of Mensa. As we reach the final days of the 2026 contract season, the landscape has been fundamentally reshaped. Transpacific ocean carriers have responded to the soaring fuel prices caused by the ongoing Middle East crisis by…

Navigating the Bunker Crisis

by Dave Akers, IHSA "A recession is when a neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours." — Ronald Reagan The ocean shipping industry is currently navigating a significant crisis as of March 2026, primarily driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These disruptions have forced carriers to implement Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) to offset…

Liquidation and IEEPA Tariff Refunds

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — Now that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has struck down President Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs, the issue of refunds is back in the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) where one of its three judges, Judge Richard Eaton, is presiding over the refund process. On March 4, 2026,…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – April

March 31 – Numerator: Most Consumers Planning At-Home Easter Celebrations The top intended purchases for Easter are food (75%), candy (63%), and decorations (28%), yet 11% of Easter celebrants plan to purchase gifts ranging from toys to plants. From: HomePage News March 31 – JCPenney Rebuilds Home Business with Expanded Brands, Sharper Merchandising Upgrading the…

SCOTUS IEEPA Decision Alters Tariff Paradigm

by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group — On Feb 20, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 decision that tariffs imposed by President Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not legal. As such, SCOTUS struck down the “fentanyl” tariffs that went into effect on March 4, 2025, for Mexico, Canada, and China, and the…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – March

February 26 – Conference Board: Consumer Confidence Improves in February After January Slide Consumer intentions to purchase big-ticket items over the next six months rose in February as those who said they would and those who said maybe in the Conference Board Consumer Confidence survey increased, while the number of those saying they wouldn’t declined. From: HomePage…

Navigating U.S. Port Modernization Part I

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there." — Will Rogers As of early 2026, U.S. ports are engaged in an aggressive modernization push driven by the need to handle larger vessels ("megaships"), reduce congestion, and meet strict new environmental standards. The modernization efforts generally fall into four main…

Navigating AI Security in Ports & Intermodal Shipping

by Dave Akers, IHSA "Ignore AI, and you’ll own the next Blockbuster card.” — Arianna Huffington AI is significantly enhancing the security and safety of maritime shipping containers in 2026. This transformation has moved from experimental pilots to practical, real-time applications that protect against both physical and digital threats. These are some of the uses developed…