The NCBFAA Customs Committee is monitoring the potential imposition of the reciprocal tariffs on countries which have disproportionately higher tariffs on U.S. goods as early as April 2 and what that will mean to customs brokers. In addition, the White House intends to impose 25% tariffs on imported cars and light trucks and certain vehicle parts as early as April 3, and some countries may be subject to additional tariffs of 25%, starting April 2, for importing oil from Venezuela. In addition, President Trump indicated that he will soon announce tariffs on lumber, pharmaceuticals, and possibly on computer chips, among other products.

The National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) reached a settlement with three wildlife advocacy groups in a Court of International Trade (CIT) case. In return for dismissal of the case, NMFS promised to adhere to a timeline for implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which requires the government to ban fish from fisheries that do not meet U.S. standards for protecting marine mammals.

The trade associations that comprise the North American Customs Brokers Alliance (NACBA) expressed their endorsement for the continuation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which entered into force on July 1, 2020, and is currently undergoing review by the three countries to extend the agreement for another 16 years.

The sold out 52nd NCBFAA Annual Conference at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Arizona, to be held on April 6-9 is now just around the corner. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

The USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will expand the Risk-Based Sampling at Ports of Entry (RBS POE) program to include new varieties of lettuce arriving at select U.S. ports of entry starting the week of March 31.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee’s AD/CVD Working Group has developed the AD/CVD Certification Toolkit which provides important information to NCBFAA Regular Members about the requirements for AD/CVD certifications.

A March 25 Executive Order from the White House called for the Treasury Department to cease issuing paper checks for all federal disbursements, including tax refunds, effective Sept. 30, 2025.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled a major restructuring plan for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that calls for 10,000 additional personnel cuts, centralization of functions and a consolidation of 28 divisions into 15, resulting in budget savings of $1.8 billion annually for the sprawling agency.

NCBFAA mourns the passing of Lynn Carol Van Ek, wife of retired Regular Member Edwin Van EK of Comstock & Theakston. Lynn, who was an active participant at NCBFAA Annual Conferences, died on March 21 at her home in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. She was 77.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminded the trade that the data available through ACE Reports will not be updated between the morning update on Friday, March 28, and the morning update on Wednesday, April 2.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., to assist our customs brokers members to navigate the IEEPA tariffs, has provided the following educational and informational documents, including the IEEPA Reciprocal Tariffs In-Transit Duty Exemption Clause, Reciprocal Tariffs CSMS Guide, and Guidance on 232 Duty Exceptions from CBP's Base Metals Center. In addition, the latest information pertinent to customs brokers regarding de minimis for China and Hong Kong is provided.

According to news reports, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Executive Director for the Office of Trade Relations George Bogden has departed from the agency, effective April 24. CBP is working hard to fill the position as soon as possible.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted an updated version of the Ocean Export Manifest Email Technical Requirements document is now available and the link can be found in the “Update on CBP Form 1302A Submission via the Document Image System” section.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on April 22 initiated investigations to determine the effects on the national security of imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products and various size trucks and their parts.

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

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., to assist our customs brokers members to navigate the IEEPA tariffs, has provided the following educational and informational documents, including the IEEPA Reciprocal Tariffs In-Transit Duty Exemption Clause, Reciprocal Tariffs CSMS Guide, and Guidance on 232 Duty Exceptions from CBP's Base Metals Center. In addition, the latest information pertinent to customs brokers regarding de minimis for China and Hong Kong is provided.

According to news reports, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Executive Director for the Office of Trade Relations George Bogden has departed from the agency, effective April 24. CBP is working hard to fill the position as soon as possible.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted an updated version of the Ocean Export Manifest Email Technical Requirements document is now available and the link can be found in the “Update on CBP Form 1302A Submission via the Document Image System” section.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on April 22 initiated investigations to determine the effects on the national security of imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products and various size trucks and their parts.

The Commerce Department on April 22 announced its final affirmative determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The NCBFAA Customs Committee and Counsel of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., to assist our customs brokers members to navigate the IEEPA tariffs, has provided the following educational and informational documents, including the IEEPA Reciprocal Tariffs In-Transit Duty Exemption Clause, Reciprocal Tariffs CSMS Guide, and Guidance on 232 Duty Exceptions from CBP's Base Metals Center. In addition, the latest information pertinent to customs brokers regarding de minimis for China and Hong Kong is provided.

According to news reports, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Executive Director for the Office of Trade Relations George Bogden has departed from the agency, effective April 24. CBP is working hard to fill the position as soon as possible.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted an updated version of the Ocean Export Manifest Email Technical Requirements document is now available and the link can be found in the “Update on CBP Form 1302A Submission via the Document Image System” section.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on April 22 initiated investigations to determine the effects on the national security of imports of processed critical minerals and derivative products and various size trucks and their parts.

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