We are not tax attorneys or customs compliance lawyers. This is based on publicly available legal and regulatory information as of May 2026. Talk to a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before making any filing decisions. This is education, not legal advice.
Something shifted in February 2026 that most ecommerce sellers have not noticed yet.
A massive wave of overseas competitors just got priced out of the market overnight. Their costs jumped. Their margins collapsed. Many of them are gone.
That empty space? It belongs to whoever moves first.
This Is One of the Best Times to Start Selling or Grow via Wholesale in the US
You do not need a warehouse. You do not need a big budget. You do not need years of experience.
What just happened in the import market actually favors smaller sellers who buy from US based brands and suppliers. Here is why.
The sellers who were undercutting everyone on price were mostly buying cheap goods from overseas factories. That model just got a lot more expensive. Those sellers raised their prices, lost customers, or left the market entirely.
The listings they abandoned still have buyers.
Wholesale works differently. When you partner with an established brand and sell their products, you are not caught in the middle of every supply chain shake up. You buy from a supplier who already handles all of that. Your job is to find the right products, build the relationship, and sell.
Right now, that is easier than it has been in years because:
- Less competition on listings that were previously impossible to crack
- Brands are actively looking for new selling partners they can trust
- Prices are stabilizing for sellers who source domestically
You do not need to be a big seller to take advantage of this. You just need to move before everyone else figures it out.
The Refund Part (Real Money, Simple Steps)
Here is something most sellers do not know yet.
The court ruling in February also opened a refund window for anyone who paid certain import duties between 2025 and February 20, 2026. If that includes you, you may be owed money back from the government.
The problem is that CBP, the agency handling these refunds, is rejecting 1 in 7 claims due to simple filing mistakes. They will not contact you to try again.
3 Steps to Claim What You Are Owed
- Find out what you paid.
Log into the ACE Secure Data Portal. Look up your import records from 2025 through February 20, 2026. Add up the duties paid. That is your potential refund.
- Check for the 4 errors CBP keeps rejecting.
- Wrong entry numbers on the filing
- Incorrect product codes from the original import
- Missing protest documents
- Filing submitted outside the allowed time window
Ask your customs broker to check your filing against all four. One hour of their time could save you thousands.
- Know the date: July 24, 2026.
The current import surcharge expires that day. If you are planning a big inventory order, it is worth knowing whether timing it after July 24 improves your numbers.
What to Do This Month
- This week: Log into the ACE Secure Data Portal and pull your 2025 through February 20 import records.
- By May 15: Call your customs broker and confirm whether a refund protest has been filed.
- Before June 1: Look at your next inventory order and check whether July 24 changes your timing.
- Right now: Reach out to your brands, suppliers, and distributors to make sure they are aware as well.
The sellers undercutting you on price are pulling back. The brands you want to work with are looking for reliable partners. You do not need to be a big operation to win in this window.
You just need to start.
If you want to learn how to build a wholesale business from scratch, that is exactly what we cover inside The Wholesale Formula. Take a look here if it feels like the right time.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and is based on publicly available information current as of May 2026. We are not licensed tax advisors, customs attorneys, or trade compliance professionals. Nothing here should be taken as legal, financial, or compliance advice. Please consult a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before making any filing decisions.