Monday Morning eBriefing

David Cummins on Friday, Aug. 7, was sworn in as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), following his recent confirmation by the U.S. Senate. In May 2026, President Trump nominated Cummins to head TSA and lead a workforce of approximately 60,000 employees and the security operations at more than 430 airports across the U.S.

The Treasury Department on Aug. 10 published a current list of countries which require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott, including Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on Aug. 6 published a temporary final rule to restrict the export of black mass and tungsten waste and scrap without a Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) license. This rule is being issued in response to a Presidential Determination from July 30 that determined that the U.S. has an inadequate supply of critical minerals and materials (CMMs) which poses a risk to national defense and security.

It is with profound sadness that NCBFAA notifies our membership of the passing of Don H. Brown, Co-founder and Chairman of Charleston, South Carolina-based Rogers & Brown Customs Brokers, on Aug. 3 at the age of 87. He learned the customs brokerage industry in the 1960s, obtained his customs broker license, and together with Andy Rogers formed Rogers & Brown Customs Brokers in 1968. The company has been an active member of NCBFAA since 1975.

Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations on Aug. 6 launched its “OFO Strategy 2026-2030,” a new roadmap which outlines how OFO will continue to safeguard U.S. travel, trade, and agriculture for national and economic security. “To support our key priority of strengthening security and enforcing laws, this strategy will guide our expansion of technology innovation that not only benefits CBP but also our law enforcement partners, the traveling public and our trade and travel industry partners,” said Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino, Office of Field Operations, in a statement.

President Trump signed a proclamation on Aug. 6 to impose a 15% tariff under Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act on imports of polysilicon and related derivatives and includes the establishment of minimum import prices (MIP) for these products. Both actions are due to take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Dec. 4, 2026.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is updating its listing and certificate procedures for seafood products exported to the European Union (EU). The FDA updates were prompted by recently published new “simplified” export certificates from the EU that will be required for seafood exported to the EU starting on Sept. 3, 2026. These simplified export certificates will be required in addition to the new EU catch certificates currently being implemented by the EU.

A summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable.

NCBFAA is excited to announce that Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Laura DiBella and Commissioner Robert Harvey are scheduled to speak at the Government Affairs Conference (GAC) in Washington, D.C., as the Breakfast Keynote Speakers on Tuesday, Sept. 29. They will be introduced by NCBFAA Transportation Counsel Ashley Craig of Venable LLP. FMC Chairman DiBella and FMC Commissioner Harvey will share their insights on the evolving maritime and transportation landscape, current regulatory priorities, and the FMC’s role in promoting a fair, efficient, and competitive international supply chain.

A summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome Green Light Customs Broker, NavLogic AI, OceanAir Logistics, and Oulution Holdings, which have recently joined our association. We're so excited to have these firms join our organization and we are happy to assist in any way we can!

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 1 created Harmonized System Update (HSU) 2619 which contains six harmonized tariff records and 25 ABI records. HSU 2619 contains the Section 232 Pharmaceutical U.K. duty reduction from 10% to 0% for HTS 9903.04.63.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program released its fiscal year 2025 Annual Report, which highlights achievements and program outcomes during the year. APHIS described its mission as serving "as the Nation’s frontline defense by detecting emerging plant health risks early, responding rapidly, and managing invasive species to safeguard U.S. production, trade, and the broader economy." In fiscal year (FY) 2025, APHIS leaders said, "PPQ achieved significant success, celebrated key accomplishments, and addressed new challenges."

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published a Federal Register notice in which it has proposed to increase Section 232 duties on 14 additional articles made with steel, aluminum, and copper. Commerce proposes that all these aluminum, steel, and copper derivative products would generally be subject to a Section 232 tariff of 25%, except for cranes, mobile lifting frames and various trailers which would be subject to a Section 232 tariff of 15%.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in an Aug. 4 update to the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) reported that as of 3 p.m. ET on Friday, July 31, approximately 25.1 million entries with IEEPA duties were processed through the agency’s Consolidated Administration and Process of Entries (CAPE) since the ACE program’s launch on April 20, accounting for $128.68 billion in both potential and certified refunds.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 3 provided the trade with this announcement regarding modifications to the processing of Post Summary Corrections (PSCs). CBP said the filer must electronically remit payment for increases in duties, taxes, and fees resulting from a PSC via Automated Clearinghouse (ACH). Effective August 5, filers will no longer be able to pay these increases via check or cash.

President Trump on Friday, July 31, announced a proclamation to impose a tariff-rate quota on imports of quartz surface products (QSP) for a period of four years, with annual increases in the within-quota quantities and reductions in the rates of duty applicable to goods entered within and in excess of those quantities in the second, third, and fourth years, as provided in the Annex to this proclamation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), July 31 added 43 companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, as well as technical updates to two existing entities. According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), these newly added entities include companies in high-priority sectors for enforcement, including aluminum, apparel, copper, cotton, as well as tomatoes and downstream products.

The Census Bureau on July 28 deleted the following Schedule K port codes from the Automated Export System (AES). In addition, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 29 made changes to the HTS numbers that cannot be reported in AES.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has adjusted certain customs user fees as required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for fiscal year 2027, effective Oct. 1.