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

The NCBFAA Officers, Board of Directors, and Committee Leaders held productive quarterly meetings in Atlanta on Jan. 24-26, during which they reviewed recent regulatory and legislative actions by the association, as well as considered strategies for potential tariffs and other trade disruptions anticipated with the Trump Administration.

The Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (LACBFFA) now offers customs brokers and freight forwarders who meet certain criteria for regular membership a subscription to its industry notifications, including information regarding LACBFFA workshops, classes, conferences, and other activities.

The U.S. Senate on Saturday, Jan. 25, approved the nomination of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by a vote of 59-34. She was then immediately sworn into the position by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

NCBFAA is proud to acknowledge the recent formation of Mid-South Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (MSCBFA). The affiliate association, which is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, will represent industry members in the states of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

The industry-leading 52nd NCBFAA Annual Conference at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass on April 6-9 would not be possible without the generous support of our numerous sponsors. Their contributions ensure that our Annual Conferences are always a most pleasant experience for attendees.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin collecting additional required data elements in ACE for merchandise subject to sanctions on Russian diamonds and seafood. Submission of the new data elements will become mandatory in April.

An NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) member reached out to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to ask about shipments on the water when APHIS regulations change, particularly regarding the Jan. 13 notice about the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions on certain agricultural products from Germany.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Jan. 28 deployed the following ACE Cargo Release Certification (CERT) environment: Cargo Sanctions, Updated Requirements for GBI Enrollment, and GBI Party Type Description. ACE Entry Summary will deploy GBI Party Type Description and Cargo Sanctions.

Customs and Border Protection on Jan. 23 announced that the retirement of the Trade Export data universe in ACE Reports originally scheduled for Jan. 23 is postponed. A new date for the retirement has not yet been provided by the agency.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abruptly rescinded its policy allowing de minimis for five product categories — a policy dating back to 1994. This means all shipments of these previously exempt products will now require a PGA Message Set.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., is monitoring on behalf of our customs broker members the recent letters sent to more than 20 countries by the Trump administration calling for the implementation of varying amounts of tariffs to be imposed by 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 1, as well as the imposition of 50% tariffs on copper imports. This memo also provides key tariff-related guidance provided to the trade by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 15 will deploy a new drawback claim error message in the ACE production environment.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has recently released enhancements and new features on the agency’s website bis.gov.

The U.S. Supreme Court on July 9 lifted a lower court that blocked nearly a dozen federal government agencies from implementing layoffs and reorganizations involving hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The decision paves the way for these agencies to move forward with the reorganization and reduction-in-force plans, as required by Executive Order 14210 issued in March. The reorganization plans have been on hold since the May 2 injunction.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 9 announced an immediate shutdown of livestock imports from Mexico after a new world screwworm (NWS) case was reported north of the previous infestations. The announcement came just days after a risk-based phased port reopening strategy for cattle, bison and equine began.