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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted an updated Cargo Release Condition Codes document to the cbp.gov website. Specifically, new codes 228 and 229 have been added for De Minimis.

NCBFAA is keeping our Los Angeles-area member companies and their staff and families in our thoughts and prayers, as they bravely face deadly fires that have devastated area communities. “Words cannot fully express the utter sadness that our association feels for our L.A. members and their families, as well as the community at large, for the terrible loss resulting from these deadly fires,” said NCBFAA President Jose D. (JD) Gonzalez.

The recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) for rail transportation represents a significant development for NCBFAA members.

It's official! The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Jan. 8 published the final rule to implement electronic filing of Certificate information for regulated, imported consumer products. CPSC extended the mandatory deadline to 18 months, or July 8, 2026 (and for entries from an FTZ, the deadline is Jan. 8, 2027.

NCBFAA on Jan. 6 provided comments in a white paper to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the agency’s in-bond process and policy with goal to achieve what the association said is “a path forward that mutually serves the facilitation and enforcement demands upon CBP and customs brokers as well as other in-bond filers.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Business, Industry, and Infrastructure Integration (OB3I) announced the launch of its new National Business Emergency Operations Center (NBEOC) Dashboard.

NCBFAA leaders, led by Legislative Advisor Nicole Bivens-Collinson, canvassed Capitol Hill on Jan. 3 as House and Senate lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., following the end-of-year recess.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Jan. 8 announced that they have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Jan. 7 released “Adapting Trade Policy for Supply Chain Resilience: Responding to Today’s Global Economic Challenges,” a series of six policy papers on trade and investment policy initiatives that promote supply chain resilience.

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.