Port of Oakland Customs Attorney

Federal customs representation for importers and exporters at the Port of Oakland — drawback, tariff refunds, seizures, and classification.

International Trade & Customs Law Services

Comprehensive customs and tariff defense for California importers at the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, and all U.S. ports of entry. Services include CBP audit defense, tariff classification, customs valuation, Section 301/232/IEEPA tariff strategy, UFLPA forced labor compliance, duty drawback recovery, and Court of International Trade litigation.

Current Tariff Landscape

With effective tariff rates at historic highs, California businesses need experienced trade counsel. We handle Section 301 China tariffs, Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs, IEEPA tariff refund claims, and reciprocal tariff compliance.

Free consultation for importers: (818) 514-7680.

Filed Court of International Trade Actions

Trembach Law Firm is not only admitted to the U.S. Court of International Trade — it files its own IEEPA refund complaints there under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(i), with new complaints filed as importers sign. CBP deployed CAPE Phase 3 — which covers finally liquidated entries for plaintiffs holding a court reliquidation order — on October 6, 2026. As of October 28, 2026 the firm is counsel in 35 actions at the Court of International Trade, docket numbers 1:26-cv-04095, 1:26-cv-04154, 1:26-cv-04156, 1:26-cv-04164, 1:26-cv-04185, 1:26-cv-04248, 1:26-cv-04271, 1:26-cv-04277, 1:26-cv-04300, 1:26-cv-04327, 1:26-cv-04328, 1:26-cv-04335, 1:26-cv-04342, 26-04390, 26-04392, 26-04393, 26-04394, 26-04395, 26-04396, 26-04418, 26-04421, 26-04488, 26-04556, 26-04559, 26-04563, 26-04568, 26-04569, 26-04616, 26-04617, 26-04618, 26-04643, 26-04668, 26-04745, 26-04766, 26-04797 (list and verification: Court of International Trade filings). Anatolii Trembach is admitted to practice before the Court of International Trade and is licensed in California, State Bar #349304, verifiable at apps.calbar.ca.gov.

This matters for IEEPA refunds specifically. The Court of International Trade has ordered CBP to reliquidate and refund on plaintiffs’ entries, and CBP’s CAPE Phase 3 for finally liquidated entries is likewise available only to importers who are plaintiffs at the Court. An importer who never filed has no confirmed, self-executing mechanism. Choosing counsel who has actually filed at that court, rather than counsel who only describes the process, is therefore a practical question and not a marketing one.

Jurisdiction over these actions rests on 28 U.S.C. § 1581, and the window to sue runs under 28 U.S.C. § 2636(i). No particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Fees, Costs and Case Results

Representation in these matters is offered on a contingency basis covering attorney fees only: there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and clients remain responsible for case costs, such as court filing and service fees. The specific terms that apply to a matter are set out in the written fee agreement for that matter.

Where this site refers to a verdict, settlement or court order, that result was dependent on the facts of that case, and results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other matter, and no particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which CBP port code covers the Port of Oakland?
Imports and exports through the Port of Oakland are processed under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Code 2811 (San Francisco-Oakland). Oakland is the eighth-busiest container port in the United States and the principal seaport for Northern California and the Central Valley, handling cargo across terminals including OICT, TraPac, Everport, and the Matson and Ben E. Nutter facilities.
Oakland is an export gateway — how does duty drawback help California exporters?
Oakland is unusual among major U.S. ports in that it handles a very high share of exports, especially California agriculture, wine, almonds, and refrigerated goods. That makes duty drawback particularly valuable: if you imported components, packaging, or merchandise on which you paid duty and later exported finished or unused goods through Oakland, you can recover up to 99% of those duties (manufacturing, unused-merchandise, and substitution drawback). Many Bay Area and Central Valley exporters leave this money unclaimed.
My perishable or agricultural export shipment was held at Oakland — what should I do?
Perishable and ag cargo moving through Oakland's reefer facilities is time-critical, and holds can involve CBP plus USDA/APHIS or FDA. We move quickly to identify the agency and basis for the hold, respond with the correct documentation (phytosanitary certificates, FDA prior notice, classification/value support), and seek prompt release before product is lost. For import holds, the same urgency applies to detention and seizure timelines.
Can you recover Section 301 or IEEPA tariffs I paid on imports through Oakland?
Often, yes. Importers who overpaid Section 301 (China), Section 232, or IEEPA-based duties may recover them by filing a protest under 19 U.S.C. § 1514 (generally within 180 days of liquidation), through applicable refund processes, or by litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade. We review your CBP Form 7501 entry summaries and liquidation dates for Oakland entries to capture every refund deadline.
CBP issued a CF-28 or CF-29 on my Oakland entry — how do you respond?
A CF-28 (Request for Information) seeks documentation on value, classification, origin, or admissibility; a CF-29 (Notice of Action) signals CBP intends to change your entry, usually to raise duties. Oakland's heavy machinery, food, beverage, and consumer-goods volume makes classification and valuation disputes common. We prepare supported, persuasive responses — and protest adverse liquidations — to avoid rate advances and penalties under 19 U.S.C. § 1592.
What happens if CBP detains my Oakland cargo under UFLPA forced-labor rules?
Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, CBP can detain goods it presumes are linked to forced labor. To obtain release you must rebut the presumption with detailed supply-chain tracing and documentation. We help importers assemble UFLPA admissibility packages, respond within CBP's deadlines, and challenge improper detentions of Oakland shipments.
Do I need an Oakland or Bay Area-based lawyer for a customs matter?
No. Customs and international trade law is federal and is handled before CBP and the U.S. Court of International Trade rather than state courts. An attorney admitted to the Court of International Trade can represent importers and exporters at the Port of Oakland regardless of the firm's location. We serve Bay Area and Central Valley clients moving cargo through Oakland nationwide.
How are customs legal fees structured — is it contingency like an injury case?
It depends on the matter. IEEPA tariff refunds are handled on contingency: 2% of the refund where a CAPE declaration suffices, and 7% where a Court of International Trade complaint is required, or a flat $2,000 where the refund is under $29,000. Duty drawback is a 9% contingency fee on the drawback recovered. For those matters there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and the client is responsible for case costs. Other customs work, such as ruling requests, penalty defense, FTZ and compliance matters, is billed hourly or on a flat fee matched to the work, with a written fee estimate after a free initial consultation.
What is an Importer Security Filing (ISF or '10+2') and what happens if it is wrong at the Port of Oakland?
For ocean cargo arriving at the Port of Oakland, the importer must transmit an Importer Security Filing (ISF, commonly called "10+2") to CBP at least 24 hours before the goods are laden aboard the vessel. Late, inaccurate, or missing ISF data can draw liquidated damages of up to $5,000 per violation, cargo holds, and higher examination rates. We help importers correct ISF problems, respond to ISF liquidated-damages claims, and put compliant filing procedures in place to avoid repeat penalties.
Do I need a customs bond to import through the Port of Oakland?
Yes. A commercial importer bringing goods through the Port of Oakland generally needs a CBP customs bond — either a single-entry bond for occasional shipments or a continuous bond for regular importers — to guarantee payment of duties, taxes, and potential penalties. If the bond amount is insufficient, CBP can reject your entries and demand a bond increase, and bond claims (liquidated damages) can follow violations. We advise on bond sufficiency and defend importers against CBP bond and liquidated-damages claims.
If my customs broker made the mistake, am I still liable for a the Port of Oakland entry?
Usually, yes. As the importer of record, you bear ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of every entry filed at the Port of Oakland, even when a licensed customs broker prepared it, under CBP's "reasonable care" standard. You may have a separate claim against a negligent broker, but CBP will look to you for unpaid duties and penalties. We defend importers in penalty actions, untangle broker-related errors, and help establish the reasonable-care procedures that protect you going forward.

Contact Trembach Law Firm

Trembach Law Firm, APC

27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301

Phone: (818) 514-7680

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