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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

  • CBP issued a withhold release order against imports manufactured in Mauritius by Firemount Group. Effective November 18, CBP will immediately detain all garments, apparel, and textiles coming from Firemount factories in Mauritius. 
  • CBP is accepting applications through December 19 for members of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC).  
  • CBP completed a training with True Pedigree, a software provider specializing in detecting counterfeits and gray market diversions. True Pedigree’s AGMA One Device aims to help CBP officers with authenticating products entering the U.S. The tool could be rolled out at U.S. ports early next year. 
  • Management of CBP’s drawback program, as well as its drawback specialists, has been moved to the Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Mineral Center of Excellence and Expertise in Houston.  
  • CBP is urging customs brokers who filed entries after tariff exemptions on agricultural products retroactively took effect to file corrections as soon as possible.  
  • CBP published a Federal Register notice amending its regulations for the Air Cargo Advanced Screening program (ACAS). The new regulations require additional data on flights carrying cargo to the U.S. The rule is effective November 21. 
  • DHS and CBP announced a pilot program enabling third-party logistics partners (3PLs) to join the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program. 

Administration 

  • On November 20, President Trump issued an Executive Order lowering tariffs on Brazilian goods. The Order removes the 40% tariff on a large swath of agricultural products including coffee and beef. 
  • Speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, President Trump said that if the Supreme Court rules against the use of IEEPA to impose reciprocal tariffs, the administration will find another way to impose tariffs. 

Department of Justice 

  • The owner of an Indonesian jewelry company and two employees were charged with taking part in a scheme to evade over $86 million in duties on jewelry imports. According to the release, the scheme involved routing shipments through a foreign intermediary and returning them to the United States under the guise of ‘U.S. goods returned,’ significantly reducing the duties owed.  

Court of International Trade (CIT) 

  • Several companies filed new lawsuits in the CIT challenging President Trump’s authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA: 
  • Mazak Corporation 
  • Proterial America Ricoh USA Inc., and its affiliates Ricoh Printing Systems America LLC, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corp.. 
  • PFU Americas Inc., Etria Manufacturing USA, Inc., and Ricoh Electronics, Inc..  
  • Standex International Corporation 
  • Yokohama Tire Corporation 
  • AGS Company Automotive Solutions 
  • Pulse Wire & Cable LLC 
  • Gadot America, Inc. 
  • Imaginings 3, Inc., d/b/a Flix Candy 
  • NGK Automotive Ceramics USA, Inc. 
  • Sumitomo Chemical America Inc.; Valent U.S.A. LLC; Valent Biosciences LLC; Sumika Polymers North America LLC; Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies LLC; Sumika Semiconductor Materials Texas Inc.; and McLaughlin Gormley King Company 
  • Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corporation 
  • Zak Designs, Inc. 
  • SAM HPRP Chemicals Inc. d/b/a SAM Nutrition 
  • Revlon Consumer Products LLC, Elizabeth Arden Inc., and Roux Laboratories Inc. 
  • Ferguson Enterprises, LLC; Clawfoot Supply, LLC; Minka Lighting, LLC; Jones Stephens Corp.; James Martin Signature Vanities, LLC; Millenium Lighting Inc.; Royal Pacific Limited; and FE Products, Inc.,  
  • Wiesner Products Inc. and Mystic Apparel LLC 
  • Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC; Dana Sealing Products, LLC; Dana Sealing Manufacturing, LLC; Dana Thermal Products, LLC; Dana Driveshaft Products, LLC; Dana Driveshaft Manufacturing, LLC; Dana Light Axle Products, LLC; Dana Light Axle Manufacturing, LLC; Dana Commercial Vehicles Products, LLC; Dana Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing, LLC; Dana Off Highway Products, LLC; Dana Global Products, Inc.; Dana SAC USA Inc.; Warren Manufacturing LLC; Dana TM4 USA, LLC; PI Innovo LLC; Dana Automotive Manufacturing Inc.; Dana Italia SRL; Dana Belgium N.V.; and Dana Canada Corporation 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

  • The Commerce Department announced it would delay all AD/CVD enforcement and compliance deadlines for 47 days, the length of the government shutdown.  

United States Trade Representative (USTR) 

  • USTR, in partnership with the Department of Commerce, Small Business Administration, and Governments of Canada and Mexico, convened the 4th United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Dialogue in Phoenix. 

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The Senate Commerce Committee voted to approve the nomination of Laura DiBella to fill a vacancy on the FMC. Her nomination now heads to the full Senate for consideration.  

Congress 

  • Russia sanctions bill gains momentum in Congress. Several Senators have called for a vote on the Sanctioning Russia Act, which would impose new sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it fails to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine. 
  • The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released its 2025 annual report. The report recommends that de minimis be terminated, and that Congress ban the import of energy storage systems that have remote monitoring capabilities made in China. 

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