USTR: Expanded Reciprocal Tariff Exclusions for Agricultural Products

Effective November 13th more exclusions were added for reciprocal tariffs came into effect for certain agricultural products including: coffee and tea; tropical fruits and fruit juices; cocoa and spices; bananas, oranges, and tomatoes; beef; and additional fertilizers (some fertilizers have…

CBP: Upcoming Discontinuation of DIS for Outbound Cargo Declarations

On December 1, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will discontinue the use of the Document Image System (DIS) for submitting outbound cargo declarations. This includes the CBP Form 1302A: Cargo Declaration, supplemental form CBP 168, and any associated…

DOC: Mexico’s Countervailing Cases Set to Expire as Continuation Possible

Multiple countervailing cases are set to expire in Mexico. However, they have made it known that domestic manufacturers may petition for the cases to be continued. Read More

DOJ: Australian Contractor Pleads Guilty to Selling U.S. Cyber Tools to Russia

An Australian national, who worked for a US defense contractor sold cyber tools to a Russian broker who then sold them to the Russian government. They were meant solely for the U.S. government and allies. Over 3 years, at least…

BIS: Implements New Rule Automatically Extending Entity List and MEU Restrictions to Affiliates

On September 30, 2025, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim rule regarding “Affiliates.” Under the rule, any entity that is at least 50% owned by one or more entities on the Entity List or the Military…

USTR: Proposes Section 301 Vessel Fees and 100 Percent Tariffs on Port Equipment

The United States Trade Representative announced on October 10, 2025 that they were looking to implement Section 301 vessel fees. The modifications include the following changes: “Changing the basis for calculating service fees on vessel operators of foreign-built vehicle carriers…

Year-End Insights Webinar 1: What We Learned in 2025

Key Changes, Shifts & Surprises in Trade This Year! How have you survived 2025 and how do you plan to weather 2026? In this webinar Star USA’s president, Michael D. Easton, was joined by Lee Mersek, president of Global Resilience…

USTR: New Section 301 Fees Imposed on Chinese-Owned, Operated, and Built Vessels, Plus All Foreign Vehicle Carriers

There are new Section 301 fees for vessels owned, operated, or built in China, and for all foreign-built vehicle carrier vessels. The burden for determining if a vessel owes the fee is on the operator, NOT CBP. Fees must be…

DOJ: Los Angeles Clothing Importer Sentenced for $17 Million Tax Evasion and $8 Million Customs Fraud in Operation Take Back America

A wholesale clothing importer located in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles has been sentenced for avoiding the payment of more than $8 million in customs duties on imported clothing more than $17 million in tax evasion. The scheme…

MOFCOM: China Tightens Grip on Rare Earth Exports, Imposes New Restrictions on Key Tech and Energy Materials

China announced new control and export restriction measures on materials and technologies related to rare earths — key resources for the digital, automotive and energy industries. “Starting from November 8, items related to super-hard materials, equipment and raw materials linked…

Justice: Maine Man Charged Under Lacey Act for Trafficking Bird and Whale Parts Imported from Eastern Europe

A man in Maine was caught trafficking bird and whale parts, which violates the Lacey Act. He imported them from Eastern Europe to sell in the US. He is facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years…

DDTC: Licensing, Registrations, and Public Access Delayed Until Further Notice

Due to a lapse in appropriations, services at the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) are significantly curtailed, including Defense Export Control and Compliance System (DECCS) submissions for registrations, licenses (including batch submissions), speaker requests, customer support, Advisory Opinions, and…