White House Issues New Executive Order to Strengthen Customs Enforcement, Protecting U.S. Consumers and Businesses - USCBP
WASHINGTON — Today (6/3/26), President Donald Trump signed Executive Order “Strengthening Customs Enforcement,” empowering U.S. Customs and Border Protection with a comprehensive set of tools to safeguard American consumers, businesses, and revenue while increasing transparency and compliance across international supply chains.
“CBP stands ready to enforce this Executive Order,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “Importing into the U.S. has for too long been treated as a right and not a privilege. CBP will execute the priorities in this Executive Order and by doing so we will fortify our trading border just as we have done with our physical border.”
“This Executive Order helps CBP better detect when bad trade actors try to break the rules,” said CBP Office of Trade Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan S. Thomas. “These are major advances in protecting our revenue and increasing supply chain transparency—both critical to ensuring fairness for everyone and safeguarding our nation’s economic and national security.”
Among its key provisions, the Executive Order requires importers, whether domestic or foreign, to meet the same standards for transparency and accountability. As directed by the Order, importers are required to provide more detailed information about their ownership, business operations, and supply chain, and must maintain good standing with CBP to continue importing. Customs brokers will also be held to higher standards and be required to conduct greater due diligence of their importers.
“The Executive Order provides CBP with critical new tools and authorities to combat nefarious actors attempting to exploit our trade and cargo systems,” said CBP Office of Field Operations Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino. “Our officers and import specialists are now better equipped to identify, interdict, and penalize those who threaten our economic security and national interests through illicit trade practices." In addition, foreign importers are now subject to heightened import restrictions to protect the American public and revenue owed to the U.S. To further strengthen enforcement, bond rules are also being updated to set new minimums and leverage against risk. This ensures all importers are financially responsible for their activities, supports CBP’s ability to collect penalties for violations, and prevents companies from exploiting outdated requirements. Importers must also maintain good standing with CBP and risk losing their importing privileges if they fail to comply with U.S. customs and trade laws.
These changes advance the America First Trade Policy and strengthen customs enforcement by enhancing supply chain security, creating a level playing field for businesses that follow the rules, and protecting American consumers.
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USTR Makes Findings and Proposes Action in 60 Section 301 Investigations Relating to Failures to Take Action on Trade in Forced Labor Goods - US Trade Representative
WASHINGTON — Today, (6/2/26) the United States Trade Representative determined under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 that the acts, policies, and practices of 60 economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor is unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and are thus actionable under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has prepared a comprehensive report, Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure to Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, that supports the findings in each investigation.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “We will no longer tolerate this disparity. Some trading partners have taken initial steps to prevent the importation of forced labor goods, including through USMCA and commitments in Agreements on Reciprocal Trade. However, each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labor globally.”
As a result of these determinations in the investigations, the U.S. Trade Representative has proposed responsive action for public comment.
Specifically, the U.S. Trade Representative proposes additional duties on all products of the investigated economies, except as provided in Annex A to the Federal Register notice. For economies that impose a forced labor import prohibition, that have committed to impose and enforce such a prohibition through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, or economies that have imposed a partial regime with the effect of preventing the importation of certain forced labor goods, the U.S. Trade Representative proposes 10% as the rate of additional duties. For all other economies, the U.S. Trade Representative proposes 12.5% as the rate of additional duty. The U.S. Trade Representative also proposes a textile mechanism that would allow for a certain volume of apparel and textile imports from certain economies to enter the United States at a reduced Section 301 tariff rate.
To be assured of consideration, interested persons should submit requests to appear at the hearings, along with a summary of testimony by June 22, 2026.
Written comments are due by July 6, 2026.
USTR will hold hearings about the proposed actions in these investigations on July 7, 2026.
A copy of the Report is available here.
A copy of the Federal Register notice setting out the U.S. Trade Representative’s actionability determination and proposed actions is available here.
A docket for comments regarding the investigations will be available here.
A docket for requests to appear at the public hearings to be held in connection with these investigations will be available here.
Background
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act), is designed to address unfair foreign acts, policies, or practices affecting U.S. commerce. Section 301 may be used to respond to unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign government acts, policies, or practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Under Section 302(b) of the Trade Act, the Trade Representative may self-initiate an investigation under Section 301.
On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Trade Representative initiated 60 investigations related to the failure of various economies to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
Pursuant to Section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Trade Act, USTR provided the public and interested persons with opportunities to present their views through a public comment process and through a public hearing. USTR received testimony of nearly 60 witnesses and 500 comments and rebuttal comments.
The U.S. Trade Representative today has determined that the failure of each of the 60 investigated economies to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition is unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce, and thus is actionable under Section 301(b)(1) of the Trade Act. In particular, the U.S. Trade Representative determined:
• The following 54 economies have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor:
o Algeria; Angola; Argentina; Australia; the Bahamas; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Brazil; Cambodia; Chile; China, People’s Republic of; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Egypt; El Salvador; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; India; Iraq; Israel; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Libya; Malaysia; Morocco; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Oman; Peru; the Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Switzerland; Taiwan; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Türkiye; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; Uruguay; Venezuela; and Vietnam.
• The following six economies have failed to effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor: Canada; Ecuador, the European Union; Indonesia; Mexico; and Pakistan.
• Therefore, all of the investigated economies have failed both to impose a forced labor import prohibition and to effectively enforce such a prohibition.
• The failure of each of the investigated economies to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition is unreasonable because it: (1) undermines the universal aim of eliminating forced labor; (2) permits firms that avail themselves of forced labor to produce goods at lower cost and thereby distort market conditions for firms that do not use forced labor; (3) undermines the profitability of firms that do not use forced labor; and (4) contributes to the circumvention of existing forced labor import prohibitions.
• The failure of each of the above-listed economies to impose and effectively enforce a forced labor import prohibition burdens or restricts U.S. commerce by subjecting U.S. producers to unfair competition from forced labor goods both in export markets and the U.S. market, and by displacing foreign goods produced without forced labor or forced labor inputs into the United States and other markets.
The U.S. Trade Representative has also determined to propose responsive actions in these investigations. As set out in the Federal Register notice, the public is invited to provide written comments by July 6, 2026, on the proposed actions.
USTR will hold hearings about the proposed actions on July 7, 2026. As set out in the Federal Register notice, interested persons are invited to submit requests to appear at the hearing by June 22.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires From India: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
• Diffusion-Annealed, Nickel-Plated Flat-Rolled Steel Products From Japan: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results
• Utility Scale Wind Towers From the Republic of Korea: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Melamine From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Methionine From France, Japan, and Spain; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Potassium Phosphate Salts From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Certain Activated Carbon From the People's Republic of China: Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List; Note Regarding Format of Review Requests
• N-Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-Sulfenamide from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From Malaysia: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Large Vertical Shaft Engines Between 225cc and 999cc, and Parts Thereof from The People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order
• Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe From the United Arab Emirates: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Uncoated Paper From Portugal: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
• Raw Honey From Brazil: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 2023-2024
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Aluminum Wire and Cable From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From Brazil, India, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand: Continuation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Türkiye: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2024
• Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof From Mexico: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Chlorinated Isocyanurates From Spain: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
• Certain Corrosion Inhibitors From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
• Aluminum Wire and Cable From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From Austria: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Hand Trucks and Certain Parts Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited Fourth Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order
• Certain Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From Mexico: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From Canada: Termination of Countervailing Duty Investigation
• Monosodium Glutamate From the Republic of Indonesia and the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders
• Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
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In the News:
• Trump Targets Brazil With 25% Tariff, Citing Unfair Trade Practices [The New York Times]
• Trump plans to appeal ruling letting importers seek refunds of paid struck-down tariffs [PBS]
• USA Adjust Section 232 Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper – Stainless Espresso [Steel News]
• Trump admin. floats tariffs on 60 trading partners after forced labor probe [CBS News}
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USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Energy Drinks and Labeling and Packaging Thereof - USITC
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain energy drinks and labeling and packaging thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.
The investigation is based on a complaint filed on behalf of Monter Energy Company, of Corona, California, on April 17, 2026. A supplement to the complaint was filed on May 21, 2026. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain energy drinks and the labeling and packaging thereof that infringe certain claims of the patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a general exclusion order, or in the alternative a limited exclusion order, and cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:
• Gig Wholesale Corp., Spring Valley, New York
• The Elegant Inc., Piliyandala, Sri Lanka
• Hamilton Trading Corp., Bronx, New York
• Pal Global Imports Inc., Elmhurst, Illinois
• Asia Link Inc., Auckland, New Zealand
• Creative Trading, Cedarhurst, New York
• MBCH Solutions LLC, Farmington Hills, Michigan
• Simple Shipping Solutions LLC, Farmington Hills, Michigan
• USJDC Trading Inc., Plaza Panama City, Panama
• Apollo Produce LLC, Houston, Texas
• Barren Springs LLC, Houston, Texas
• Sigmai (Asia) Limited Inc., Miami Lakes, Florida
• Cats Media Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1502), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.
The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.
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USTR Seeks Public Comment on the Scope and Operation of a Mechanism to Promote Balanced and Reciprocal Trade with China - USITC
WASHINGTON – Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced a public comment process regarding the development of a new government-to-government mechanism—a U.S.-China Board of Trade—intended to manage bilateral trade between the United States and China on an ongoing basis. Public comment is also being sought on specific types of non-sensitive products that could potentially benefit from tariff modifications on each side with the objective of achieving balance and reciprocity in our trade relationship.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States and China have established a Board of Trade to ensure that trade with China is more balanced and beneficial for Americans,” said Ambassador Greer. “The Trump Administration will work with stakeholders to identify non-sensitive goods trade that can deliver results for American farmers, ranchers, fishermen, small businesses, manufacturers, and workers. We welcome comments from interested parties on effective ways to facilitate mutually beneficial trade with China while continuing to use tariffs to defend American economic and national security and promote balanced and reciprocal trade.”
The deadline for submission of comments is July 10, 2026. Any rebuttals or responses to those comments may be submitted to a separate public docket by July 27, 2026.
To view a copy of the Federal Register notice, click here.
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337 Hatching Eggs Seized by CBP Agriculture Specialists in Cincinnati - USCBP
CINCINNATI — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Cincinnati’s Port of Entry inspected and seized a shipment arriving from Germany containing 337 hatching eggs placed in foam layers on May 27.
The shipment, headed for Alaska, was manifested as winter jackets. Using intelligence-gathering and their expertise, agriculture specialists detained the shipment for further scrutiny. During the inspection, agriculture specialists found hatching eggs and did not find proper documentation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not allow the importation of hatching eggs from countries positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The eggs were turned over to the local USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
“Our nation’s food supply is constantly at risk from diseases not known to occur in the United States,” said Port Director Eric Zizelman, Port of Cincinnati. “These interceptions highlight the vigilance and dedication our CBP agriculture specialists demonstrate daily. Our specialists mitigate the threat of non-native pests, diseases, and contaminants entering the United States. They ensure the United States is safe from harmful diseases that could affect our food supply.”
Hatching eggs include all avian species, including poultry, game birds, racing pigeons, and other birds. If there is a market for a live bird, there is potential for someone attempting to import hatching eggs. These live eggs are shipped to the United States for hatching or reproductive purposes. Upon arrival, the eggs would be incubated, hatched, and raised. For agricultural purposes, hatching eggs fall under regulations for live animals and are highly regulated because they can carry Newcastle disease and avian influenza.
CBP recommends that people who wish to import plant materials, animal materials, and other agricultural items consult the CBP Information Center section on the CBP website or call (877) 227-5511. Additionally, arriving passengers should always declare all items acquired abroad to CBP officers to avoid civil or criminal penalties and reduce the risk of introducing pests and disease to the United States.
CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States and regularly screens arriving international passengers, mail, and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing our nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.
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