Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:     

 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

  • CBP issued guidance on the modifications made to the Section 301 China Tariff Four Year Review, increasing tariff rates on five subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). 
  • CBP issued a proposed rule that would mandate the submission of more detailed electronic export manifest (EEM) data for cargo leaving the U.S. by rail. 
  • CBP officers seized several shipments of counterfeit Tiffany & Co. Pieces. If genuine, the merchandise would have an estimated total Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) value of approximately $29,989. 
  • CBP officers seized 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers that were shipped from Israel to an address in Philadelphia. The fake inspection stickers were assessed at $1,404,700, had they been authentic. 

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 

  • BIS issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comment to inform a potential rule that would impose restrictions on Chinese drones. 
  • BIS published its Export Enforcement 2024 Year in Review Report. 

Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) 

  • Reminder: changes to the three tiers of DDTC registration fees went into effect on January 9, 2025. 

Department of Justice (DoJ) 

  • Canadian national sentenced to 40 months for multimillion-dollar export control scheme. 
  • The DoJ announced the forfeiture of two luxury Miami condominiums that were maintained, transferred, and leased in violation of U.S. sanctions against Russian national Viktor Perevalov.  

U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) 

  • The USITC released the 2025 Basic Edition of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).   

International Trade Administration (ITA) 

  • Reminder: The ITA’s final rule amending its trade remedy regulations for the administration of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws goes into effect on January 15, 2025. 

United States Trade Representative (USTR) 

  • USTR published a series of policy papers titled “Adapting Trade Policy for Supply Chain Resilience: Responding to Today’s Global Economic Challenges.” 

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

  • USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) changes to user fee rates for the costs of providing veterinary diagnostic goods and services and veterinary services for imports and exports of live animals and animal products go into effect January 10. 

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) 

  • The CPSC published a notice announcing that the new eFiling requirements will be effective in stages in 2026 and 2027. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

  • The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report finding that the FDA may need to ramp up the number of food facility inspections abroad to ensure the safety of imported food. 
  • The FDA published final guidance establishing new action levels for lead in processed foods intended for babies and young children.  
  • The FDA updated two import alerts on unauthorized e-cigarettes and tobacco products. 

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)  

  • TTB has amended regulations governing some standards of fill of wine and distilled spirits. The amendments include adding 13 standards of fill for wine and 15 standards of fill for distilled spirits. 

Administration 

  • President Biden issued an executive order taking additional steps against the Western Balkans for their continued efforts to evade U.S. sanctions. 

Congress 

  • Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo said his trade priorities for the next two years are supporting the negotiation of free trade deals that expand market access for American producers, supporting the negotiation of digital trade rules and intellectual property protections, and reauthorizing key trade programs. 
  • Representative Keith Self of Texas introduced a bill that would move CBP headquarters from Washington to Texas. 

Industry News 

  • The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. 
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard oral argument in Section 301 litigation involving how to interpret the term “modify” in the statute and whether the statute allows the U.S. trade representative to impose duties in response to retaliatory measures from China 
  • President-elect Donald Trump is considering putting the U.S. in a state of national emergency to execute his universal tariff plan. 
  • Canada announced a $1.3 billion border security plan amid Trump tariff threats. 

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