China Imposes Tariffs on U.S. Goods as EU Plans Retaliatory Measures

China has responded to the U.S. with an 84% tariff, while the European Union has announced plans to impose its own tariffs on select American goods starting April 15, 2025, though the specific items have yet to be finalized. These…

Incoterms®

What they mean and how to pick one? In this insightful webinar, Michael D. Easton from Star USA explored the crucial role Incoterms® play in global trade. He covered the different Incoterms® rules, what they mean for both buyers and…

CSMS: Registration Open for 2025 TFCS Summit

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will host the 2025 Trade Facilitation and Cargo Security (TFCS) Summit on May 6-8. This year’s theme, “Trade for Strength,” focuses on securing supply chains and reshoring prosperity. A networking session on May…

CSMS: CBP’s Approved Customs Brokers List

CBP has a list of permitted customs brokers available on their site. They update it from the ACE National Permit record. If it’s wrong, make sure that brokers update their data there (also that’s the law under 19 CFR 111.30(a)!…

Justice: U.S. Seizes Smuggled Dassault Falcon Tied to Venezuela

The US filed a civil forfeiture complaint in Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft that was smuggled from the US and operated by a Venezuelan blocked party. Read More

CSMS: Verify Your Customs Broker’s Listing on CBP’s Official Site

CBP has a list of permitted customs brokers available on their site. They update it from the ACE National Permit record. If it’s wrong, make sure that brokers update their data there (also that’s the law under 19 CFR 111.30(a)!…

Canada’s Dairy Protections Spark Trade Debate Amid U.S. Export Surplus

Trump has criticized Canada’s supply management system, which limits dairy imports and maintains stable prices for Canadian farmers, arguing that it unfairly disadvantages American dairy producers. Meanwhile, Canada defends the system as essential for protecting its agricultural sector and ensuring…

House Committee Seeks Briefing on National Security Risks in University Supercomputers

U.S. lawmakers are seeking a briefing from the Bureau of Industry and Security on the risk of PRC nationals accessing university supercomputers powered by export-controlled chips. Concerns center on PRC-linked entities bypassing restrictions to advance China’s military and technological capabilities,…

Digging into the GRIs

Taking apart the brain of the HTS! The General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs) are the way we apply the Harmonized System (HS) to classify goods in international trade. This webinar delves into each GRI, providing a thorough understanding of each rule…

DOJ: Federal Register Notice Outlines DOGE Workforce Cuts, Hiring Limits, and Potential Slowdowns

Here’s the Federal Register notice about how the DOGE Workforce Optimization Initiative is supposed to be initiated. I expect that most functions we work with will slow down. Each agency is allowed to hire no more than one person per…

DOJ: Ohio Company and Employees Charged for Illegally Exporting Aircraft Parts to Russia

An Ohio company and three of its employees (one Ohio, two Florida) are being charged with violations of export restrictions on Russia. They are part of an American subsidiary of a Russian aircraft parts supplier. In 2022 the company signed…

CBP: Updated Guidance on China Import Duties and De Minimis Exemptions

CBP has released updated guidance following the amended Executive Order on February 5, 2025, imposing additional duties on Chinese imports. The de minimis exemption remains available for certain articles under heading 9903.01.20 but is not retroactive. CBP will not refund…