NMFS: Upcoming Import Prohibitions and Industry Webinars

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that, effective January 1, 2026, imports of specific fish and fish products from countries whose fisheries have not received comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) will be restricted from entering…

CBP: Settlement Reached in Aluminum Extrusions Duty Evasion Case

Harman International Industries, parent company of Harman Kardon®, JBL®, and Mark Levinson®—has agreed to pay $11,809,628 to settle allegations that it evaded antidumping and countervailing duties (ADCVD) on aluminum-extrusion heatsinks imported from China. According to the allegations, the company failed…

Year-End Insights Webinar 3: How to Prepare for 2026

Strategies, Tools & Talent for What’s Next! During the session Star USA’s president, Michael D. Easton, opened with key takeaways from our previous webinar. Licensed Customs Broker DeAndra Ballard then walked through the fundamentals of tariffs. The webinar concluded with…

USTR: U.S. and U.K. Reach Agreement on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technology

On December 1, 2025, the United States and United Kingdom announced a new agreement on pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and medical technology. Under this arrangement, the U.S. would remove Section 232 tariffs on U.K.-sourced medical goods, pause any Section 301 investigations…

FDA: Agency Deploys Agentic AI Capabilities for Staff Use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the rollout of agency-wide agentic AI tools designed to support employees with complex, multi-step tasks. These systems build on the FDA’s earlier deployment of its LLM-based tool, Elsa—currently used voluntarily by a majority…

CBP: Agency Opens CTPAT Pilot Program to Both Asset- and Non-Asset-Based 3PLs as December 2025 Launch Nears

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is moving forward with the start of its updated CTPAT pilot program for third-party logistics providers (3PLs), issuing a new notice as the launch date approaches. Since 2008, the agency has allowed 3PLs to participate…

FMC: Maritime Regulator Collects $1.35 Million in Penalties Over Tariff Violations

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has collected a total of $1.35 million in civil penalties from two ocean transportation intermediaries for alleged violations of tariff and service requirements under U.S. shipping law. The enforcement action involved one vessel-operating common carrier…

Year-End Insights Webinar 2: What’s Changing & What to Watch

Trade Trends & Hot Topics for 2026! In this webinar Star USA’s Michael D. Easton talks about how to use strategic thinking to navigate today’s challenges. He identifies several of the problems he’s faced this year and describes how he…

USTR: Expanded Reciprocal Tariff Exclusions for Agricultural Products

Effective November 13, additional exclusions from reciprocal tariffs are now in force for a broader range of agricultural products. Newly excluded items include coffee and tea; tropical fruits and fruit juices; cocoa and spices; bananas, oranges, and tomatoes; beef; and…

CBP: Upcoming Discontinuation of DIS for Outbound Cargo Declarations

On December 1, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will retire the Document Image System (DIS) as a method for submitting outbound cargo documentation. After this date, CBP will no longer accept CBP Form 1302A (Cargo Declaration), CBP Form…

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

Several countervailing duty cases in Mexico are approaching expiration. Domestic manufacturers, however, have the option to petition for their continuation, potentially extending protections for U.S. industries. 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…