The Census Bureau and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made changes to the Automated Export System (AES) concerning the use of the Other Partnership Agency (OPA) license type. These changes impact how Electronic Export Information (EEI) is filed, particularly regarding the license number field and associated Partner Government Agency (PGA) data requirements.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched a formal Order of Investigation into the impact of transit constraints at major international maritime chokepoints. This move underscores growing concerns about delays, congestion, and potential unfair practices that could negatively affect U.S. foreign trade.

From the Port of Miami, customs brokers report that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is down eight inspectors due to the recent layoffs. The shortage of inspectors is causing delays as the remaining inspectors try to handle the volume of FDA-regulated trade.

At the USDA Animal and Plant health Inspection Service (APHIS), the agency is streamlining stakeholder communications by providing a weekly summary of routine updates to the Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database and PPQ Manuals.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on March 12 deployed entry summary bond validation updates. Before the updates, entry summary bond validations used the effective date and termination date at the bond header level to find the valid continuous bond for the importer of record.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome Bonnie Roberts, DocUnlock, EMD Customs Broker & Logistics Center, Kevin Han, Lizbeth G. Loredo-Moreno, Norvik Trade & Transport, and Trade-IQ, 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!

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

Since the March 6 update on the Mexico/Canada IEEPA tariffs, an advanced copy of the Federal Register notice and CBP CSMS instructions have been circulated to implement the Executive Order providing some relief to certain goods imported from Mexico and Canada. Goods that are the product of Canada or Mexico that do not qualify as originating under the USMCA continue to be subject to the full 25% tariff that started on March 4, except for energy products from Canada which are subject to a 10% duty rate.

Due to a massive influx of registrants during the past week, the NCBFAA 52nd Annual Conference is officially sold out, effective midnight on Friday, March 7. We regret that if you are unable to attend our industry-leading event this year, but we will look forward to seeing at next year's Annual Conference.

NCBFAA is proud to announce the recipients of its two $5,000 scholarships for 2025. These scholarships, which are generously sponsored by Roanoke Insurance Group and Alba Wheels Up, help offset the costs that our Regular Members and their children accrue while learning or further developing the skills they will need to succeed in a career in Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarding, or related field in international trade.

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.

President Trump announced on Friday, Aug. 22, that his administration has initiated an investigation into furniture imports, with the possibility of imposing tariffs on these products later this year.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold its next Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C., from 1-5 p.m. ET on Sept. 17. The meeting will be open to the public via webinar only, the agency said.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Aug. 21 updated its IEEPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the unstacking provisions. Specifically, under “IEEPA Overarching,” see the question, “What are the current unstacking provisions?”

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will continue to track the imposition of additional Section 232 tariffs on U.S. imports aluminum and steel derivatives, watch progress of the U.S. and European Union trade framework agreement announced on Aug. 21, and monitor the Canadian government’s commitment to end certain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by Sept. 1.

Customs and Border Protection said recent unannounced visits at Customs Bonded Facilities (CBF) have yielded numerous cases of violations. The agency reminds CBF operators of authorities that CBP Port Directors may exercise in cases of violations.