Port of San Diego Customs Attorney

Federal customs representation at the Port of San Diego and the Otay Mesa border — auto/Ro-Ro, USMCA, 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 San Diego?
Maritime and land cargo in the San Diego district is processed under U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Code 2501 (San Diego). The district is unusual in combining a working seaport — the Tenth Avenue and National City Marine Terminals — with the busiest commercial land-border crossings on the southern border at Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico. That mix creates both maritime and cross-border (USMCA) customs issues.
San Diego handles a lot of auto and Ro/Ro imports — what tariff issues come up?
National City Marine Terminal is a major automobile and roll-on/roll-off gateway. Auto and auto-parts imports raise Section 232 tariff exposure, HTSUS classification questions (vehicles, parts, and accessories), valuation issues on related-party transactions, and origin questions under USMCA. We help importers classify correctly, claim USMCA preference where it applies, and contest improper rate advances.
My refrigerated or produce shipment was held at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal — what now?
San Diego is a significant refrigerated and produce gateway, and perishable holds are time-critical — they often involve CBP plus FDA or USDA/APHIS. We move quickly to identify the agency and basis for the hold, supply the right documentation (FDA prior notice, phytosanitary certificates, classification/value support), and seek release before product is lost.
I move goods across the Otay Mesa border — how does USMCA affect my duties?
Cross-border manufacturing between San Diego and Baja California is heavily integrated. Under the USMCA, qualifying goods can enter duty-free, but you must meet rules of origin, certification, and recordkeeping requirements — and CBP audits these closely. We help importers document USMCA origin, respond to verifications, and defend against duty assessments and penalties on cross-border shipments.
Can you recover Section 301 or IEEPA tariffs I paid on San Diego imports?
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 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 San Diego entries to capture every deadline.
What happens if CBP seizes my cargo at Otay Mesa or the San Diego seaport?
CBP issues a detention and then a seizure notice with strict deadlines. You can petition for relief under 19 U.S.C. § 1618, seek release under bond, or defend forfeiture. At the San Diego border, common bases include suspected misdescription, IP/counterfeiting, undeclared value, and admissibility issues; penalties may follow under 19 U.S.C. § 1592. Contact a customs attorney before responding to CBP.
Do I need a San Diego-based lawyer for a customs or border matter?
No. Customs and international trade law is federal and is handled before CBP and the U.S. Court of International Trade, not state courts. An attorney admitted to the Court of International Trade can represent importers at the Port of San Diego and the Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico crossings regardless of the firm's location. We serve San Diego and cross-border importers 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 San Diego?
For ocean cargo arriving at the Port of San Diego, 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 San Diego?
Yes. A commercial importer bringing goods through the Port of San Diego 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 San Diego entry?
Usually, yes. As the importer of record, you bear ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of every entry filed at the Port of San Diego, 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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