This Week in Tariff Madness™: Spider Mites & War Risk Surcharges

This weekend started with a different kind of investigation.

Not tariffs.

Spider mites.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been nursing several of my houseplants back to health after discovering what can only be described as a spite mite situation.

If you’ve ever dealt with spider mites before, you know they are tiny, persistent, and incredibly good at quietly creating chaos.

The primary victim in my home has been my cordyline plant; it took the brunt of the infestation. That one required the full intervention; wiping down leaves, rinsing, treatment sprays, and a little patience.

During the process I inspected the rest of the plant family.

My bird of paradise showed signs of a past spider mite infestation; the telltale stippling on the leaves; but thankfully nothing active.

And my fiddle leaf figs?

Looking strong. Completely unaffected. Standing tall like they knew better than to get involved in that mess.

From left to right; two cordylines recovering from a spider mite situation, a bird of paradise caught in the crossfire and an unwitting fiddle leaf fig that remains blissfully resilient. 

But the whole experience reminded me of something we’re seeing right now in global trade.

Sometimes disruption starts quietly.

You don’t always notice the issue right away; until suddenly everyone realizes something has been spreading in the background.

Which brings us to tariffs.

A Quick Flashback to ICPA

Two weeks ago I was in San Antonio for the International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) conference; which is essentially where the people who read the Federal Register for fun gather to compare notes.

Importers. Brokers. Trade attorneys. Compliance leaders. Consultants. Government officials.

In other words; the people who end up explaining trade policy to the rest of the business.

The final afternoon session had one of the most memorable visuals of the entire conference.

The session was titled “Managing Supply Chain Risk: Lessons from Playing with Fire,” presented by Kelsey Moraski; Director, Global Warehousing, Logistics and Compliance at IMI Plc.

Trade Compliance in 2026; essentially professional fire management! 

And yes; the session included an actual fire eater demonstration.

Because apparently the best way to illustrate supply chain risk is to literally show someone playing with fire.

The metaphor landed perfectly.

Because if there’s one thing the trade compliance community has gotten very good at lately; it’s standing very close to something that could burn us while calmly managing the risk.

CPA San Antonios 2026, where the coffee is strong, the conversations are stronger, and someone literally breathes fire to explain supply chain risk.

The IEEPA Refund Conversation

One of the biggest topics circulating through the conference; and continuing in the weeks since; is the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling striking down the IEEPA tariffs.

On paper, the decision was clear.

In practice?

The refund process is still developing.

Right now companies across industries are trying to determine several things:

• How refunds will actually be processed through CBP systems

• Whether refunds will be automatic or require importer action

• Whether protests, PSCs, or other claims will be necessary

• How long refunds may take to move through the pipeline

In other words;

The legal decision came quickly.

The operational mechanics are still catching up.

The Refund Positioning Game

While the refund process is still evolving; companies are already positioning themselves strategically.

Because refund eligibility may ultimately depend on documentation and timing.

Which means smart trade teams right now are:

• Preserving entry data tied to IEEPA tariffs

• Confirming who ultimately bore the duty burden

• Monitoring CBP guidance and litigation developments

• Evaluating whether protective claims may make sense

The companies that benefit the most from refunds likely won’t be the ones reacting later.

They’ll be the ones who started preparing early.

Meanwhile… Shipping Just Got More Interesting

As if tariff volatility wasn’t enough; another issue is starting to ripple through global supply chains.

The security situation around the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns across the shipping and insurance industries.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical maritime chokepoints in the world; with a large portion of global energy shipments moving through that corridor.

When instability rises in that region; carriers and insurers reassess risk very quickly.

And we’re already seeing the operational impact.

Several carriers are now adding war risk surcharges or adjusting pricing structures to reflect heightened security concerns in the region.

For importers and exporters; that means yet another variable entering the landed cost equation.

Tariffs are only one part of the story.

Freight risk can shift just as quickly.

The Spider Mite Lesson

Spider mites rarely announce themselves.

They start small. Quiet. Hard to detect.

And if you don’t catch them early; they spread.

Trade disruption works in a similar way.

It might begin with a tariff action.

Or a court ruling.

Or geopolitical tensions affecting a key shipping route.

But over time those developments compound into very real operational challenges.

The companies navigating this environment successfully are the ones who are:

• Monitoring policy signals early

• Maintaining strong compliance documentation

• Modeling tariff and logistics scenarios

• Preparing for multiple regulatory outcomes

Because in this environment; waiting for certainty isn’t realistic.

Preparation is.

And On That Note…

Two weeks later; I’m still thinking about that “playing with fire” session in San Antonio.

Because honestly; it may be the most accurate metaphor for supply chain management right now.

A lot of us are operating in environments where the flames are real; but the work still has to get done.

Meanwhile at home; the cordyline is recovering, the bird of paradise seems stable, and the fiddle leaf figs remain blissfully unbothered.

If only tariff policy could stabilize that quickly.

The spider mites are under control.

The tariffs?

Still very much a work in progress.

✍🏽 Follow me for weekly, snark-infused global trade insights. Got USMCA, customs, or tariff questions? DM or email: beuloria@thetradewhisperer.com

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