News Articles

Canada Carney

Goodbye USA – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s MiddlePowers Playbook is Officially in Play, Part 2

Bob Brewer March 20, 2026

One of my recently published articles covered the World Economic Forum Davos speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he summoned the middle powers of the earth to unite against the US forces who are demanding that they take a knee and capitulate, per Governor Newsom who was in attendance handing out knee pads. (Really) Well, to say the least, that’s not happening by even the longest stretch of anyone’s imagination.

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CTPAT Investigation

Keeping the Chain Secure: A Deep Dive into the Latest CTPAT Investigation

Judy Davis March 20, 2026

The global supply chain is the backbone of the U.S. economy, moving millions of tons of cargo daily. To keep things running smoothly and safely, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) place a significant reliance on the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT). This voluntary program trades “gold star” benefits—like fewer inspections, business resumption priority, and faster border crossings—for a company’s commitment to high-level security.


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Statute of Limitations

CBP Statute of Limitations Waivers – Overview of Issues and Operation

Paul Fudacz March 13, 2026

Many trade practitioners that have had experience with a CBP prior disclosure or penalty action have encountered a request by CBP to execute a Statute of Limitations (SOL) waiver. These are usually accompanied by a request for the importer to provide a corporate resolution or the equivalent evidencing the authority of the SOL waiver signatory to sign the waiver on behalf of the importer / company.

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Mexico

Contratos Celebrados por Importadores Mexicanos (Su Relevancia en la Materialidad de las Operaciones Aduaneras y de Comercio Exterior)

BCG February 25, 2026

El marco jurídico mexicano en materia aduanera y de comercio exterior ha evolucionado hacia un modelo de cumplimiento más estricto y controlado.  Las autoridades ya no solo exigen que los importadores identifiquen cual es la mercancía objeto de la importación, sino también que acrediten bajo que términos y condiciones se realiza la operación de comercio exterior.

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USMCA

USMCA: Negotiation Preparations

Adrienne Braumiller February 1, 2026

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a trilateral free trade agreement that went into effect on July 1, 2020, as a replacement for its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The three involved governments are preparing to initiate the first formal joint review in July 2026 as part of the sixth anniversary of the agreement entering into effect.

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IEEPA

IEEPA Litigation – Should you be Involved?

Brandon French February 1, 2026

Hundreds of importers have rushed to file lawsuits challenging tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as they await a Supreme Court ruling on the statute’s overall legality.

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AI

Uncertainty Surrounding the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Tax and Customs / Foreign Trade Compliance

Brenda Cordova February 1, 2026

AI is now deeply embedded in the internet and social media, producing everything from humorous content and realistic simulations to advanced automation. These capabilities have expanded beyond entertainment and productivity, reaching into areas of public administration and government oversight. This raises a critical question: if AI is transforming nearly every sector, how will it reshape tax and customs compliance, and how will it be regulated?

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De Minimis

De Minimis An Ever-Growing Problem of De Maximus ProportionDe Minimis

Bob Brewer April 2, 2024

De minimis is a term that refers to a threshold below which certain goods are exempt from import duties or taxes. However, in the landscape of international trade, it has become a contentious issue for the United States. Those “bad actors”, and even some, not so bad, but willing to take advantage of a loophole have found a way around the tariffs. This so-called loophole of allowing goods with a fair retail value of $800 or less to enter the U.S. without paying an import tariff has become a monster that Customs needs to find a way to deal with conclusively.

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IMMEX Customs

The Importance of Pedimento Codes for the IMMEX Customs Regime

Brenda Cordova April 2, 2024

In Mexico, a customs regime is the destination or treatment for goods subject to customs control in accordance with the nature and purposes of a customs operation. Companies with an IMMEX program may perform operations under the so-called customs regime of “temporary importation for elaboration, transformation or repair under a maquila program”. This name by itself implies several facts to consider.

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aluminum extrusions investigation

Aluminum Extrusions II – Scope Modifications Proposed, Dept. of Commerce Questioning Manageability

Paul Fudacz April 2, 2024

Since the last update on the AD / CVD aluminum extrusions investigation (dubbed Extrusions II) in what appears to be a response to strong opposition from trade industry groups, legislators, governments, and other interested parties, as well as dubious signals from the Department of Commerce, (Commerce) the Petitioners in the ongoing Aluminum Extrusions investigation have proposed modifications to the scope of the investigation.

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Legal Norms Artificial Intelligence

Evolving Legal Norms for Artificial Intelligence  in the European Union and the United States

James Holbein April 2, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic for the last 2-3 years for politicians, technologists, and many people in civil societies globally. The use of the technology has obvious benefits for increasing productivity and value produced by businesses and organizations, along with dangers from misuse, such as deep fake propaganda and serious security risks. Two recent efforts to develop legislation addressing AI technology offer an opportunity to compare and contrast the differing approaches in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

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IMMEX Customs

La importancia de los Claves de Pedimentos en el Régimen Aduanero de las IMMEX

Brenda Cordova April 2, 2024

En México, un régimen aduanero es el destino o tratamiento que se da a los bienes objeto de control aduanero de conformidad con la naturaleza y propósitos de una operación aduanera. Las empresas con un programa IMMEX pueden realizar operaciones al amparo del régimen aduanero llamado “importación temporal para elaboración, transformación o reparación en programas de maquila”.

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Trade and Food Security

The Nexus of Trade and Food Security Amid Global Conflicts

Victoria Holmes April 2, 2024

The intricate interplay between trade and food security has emerged as a vital global issue, one that is closely interwoven with the tapestry of international conflicts and political instability. Remember the 2019 pandemic when toilet paper supply chains were interrupted?  Now imagine that on a much larger scale with basic food staples like rice, wheat or corn.

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CTPAT Supply Chain Hero of Trade

The Unsung Hero of Trade: Why CTPAT Matters

Judy Davis April 1, 2024

In the ever-changing world of trade, where predicting the future is a constant challenge, looking back at the past decade offers valuable insights into the evolution of the supply chain and the tools that have developed to contribute to efficiency and security.

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Voluntary Self-Disclosures

BIS Unveils Enhanced Voluntary Self Disclosure Protocols

Adrienne Braumiller February 6, 2024

On January 16, 2024, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Matthew Axelrod, disclosed significant enhancements to the process for Voluntary Self-Disclosures (VSDs) related to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These adjustments are strategically designed to streamline export control compliance for U.S. governmental bodies, the commercial sector, and academic entities.

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Importer Registration

Suspensión del Padron de Importadores

Brenda Cordova February 6, 2024

Uno de los requisitos más importantes para importar mercancías a México es estar registrado como importador en el registro de importadores mexicanos. Hay 2 tipos de registros para importadores, uno es para importadores generales (Padrón de Importadores) y el otro es para importadores de sectores industriales específicos (Padrón de Importadores de Sectores Específicos) que pueden importar mercancías identificadas por el código arancelario MX (es decir, productos químicos, armas de fuego, puros, calzado, textiles, alcohol, hidrocarburos, siderurgia, automoción, etc.). Generalmente, estos 2 registros son listados con información de personas y entidades autorizadas para importar mercancías a México.

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