International Trade Compliance News Articles

News Articles

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.

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. 

Monitoring the Hormuz Strait and the Subsequent Trade Volatility

Victoria Holmes March 17, 2026

On March 9th, 2026, maritime tracking data showed just one outbound vessel, bearing an Iranian flag, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no inbound movements recorded at all. This lone vessel signifies a global conflict in a very important region around global trade.

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.

Mexico’s 2026 Tax Regularization Program – Don’t Miss This Opportunity

Francisco de la Cruz February 27, 2026

Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT) launched the 2026 Fiscal Regularization Program on January 22, offering businesses a strategic opportunity to resolve outstanding tax obligations with unprecedented penalty relief.

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.

Contracts Executed by Mexican Importers (Their Relevance to the Substantiation of Customs and Foreign Trade Operations)

BCG February 25, 2026

The Mexican legal framework governing customs and foreign trade has evolved toward a stricter and more controlled compliance model. Authorities no longer require importers merely to identify the goods being imported; they now also require proof of the terms and conditions under which the foreign trade transaction is conducted.

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.

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.

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?

Joint US-EU Action Plan & MOU for Critical Mineral Supply Chain

James Holbein June 9, 2026

Global reliance on critical minerals for emerging technologies has created a competition between nations to secure reliable supply chains for continued innovation pertinent to national security. This is necessary from a national security perspective for both partners in this agreement.

Agencies Request Comments on GENIUS Act Implementation

James Holbein June 9, 2026

The GENIUS Act has authorized several regulatory agencies to issue regulations to develop the first comprehensive federal regulatory framework governing payment stablecoins in the United States. The statute directs multiple federal financial regulators to implement a coordinated supervisory structure governing issuance, reserve management, redemption rights, anti-money laundering compliance, custody, and market structure.

The Taiwan Question – What are investors thinking after Trump’s Beijing summit?

Victoria Holmes June 9, 2026

United States President Donald Trump met with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China at a summit in Beijing in mid-May. The two leaders spoke for about two hours behind closed doors, discussing the trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and energy cooperation. But it was a pointed comment from Xi about Taiwan that hinted at an unresolved issue that may make or break global relations.

What a “Mess”: IEEPA Refunds and the Emerging Wave of Consumer Litigation

Eiyack-Cacho Ayala June 9, 2026

When the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, it did more than reshape trade policy. The decision triggered a complex series of questions regarding tariff refunds, consumer rights, and corporate liability – questions whose effects continue to be felt far beyond the trade community, reaching businesses and households across the US.

Walmart’s Diversification of Sourcing From China – A Relationship Decades in the Making, So Breaking Up is Really Hard to Do

Bob Brewer May 22, 2026

Walmart has been in China for about 30 years, entering the market in 1996 when it opened its first Walmart hypermarket and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. There are now 342 retail stores, 279 Walmart Supercenters, and 63 Sam’s Clubs in China.

Mexico Extends Deadline for Electronic Value Manifest (EVM)

Brenda Cordova April 2, 2026

Mexico’s tax authority (Servicio de Administración Tributaria – SAT) has postponed the mandatory implementation of the Electronic Value Manifest (Manifestación de Valor Electrónica – EVM). The requirement is now expected to become mandatory on June 1, 2026.

Section 232 and Iron: What CBP’s New Guidance Means for Your Imports – The Difference Between Steel and Iron Has Never Mattered More

Kerry Wang April 1, 2026

We are operating in one of the most volatile trade environments in recent memory. Tariff policy is shifting faster than most compliance programs can absorb. In that context, CBP’s March 15 guidance on Section 232 content value is not just a technical update. It brings meaningful clarity and importers who move quickly may find real money on the table.

Section 301 Tariffs: A New Phase in U.S. Trade Policy

Adrienne Braumiller April 1, 2026

The resurgence of Section 301 tariff investigations marks a pivotal shift in U.S. trade policy. Following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has turned to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a more durable legal pathway to reimpose and potentially expand tariff measures.

AI Legislative Framework Proposed by the White House

James Holbein March 31, 2026

On March 20, 2026, the Trump Administration announced that it, “is committed to winning the AI race to usher in a new era of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people.“ The White House issued a new comprehensive national legislative framework that addresses six key objectives.

Supreme Court Clarifies Separation of Powers in IEEPA Tariffs Decision

James Holbein March 31, 2026

In the final analysis, this case stands as one of the most important separation of powers decisions in the economic domain in U.S. history. It clarifies that tariffs are a form of taxation reserved to Congress, embeds the major questions doctrine in trade law, and reasserts the structural boundary between legislative and executive authority.

The CTPAT Ultimatum: New EO Ties Entry Filing Privileges to CTPAT Validation Status

June 27, 2026

Origin Engineering: How Substantial Transformation Can Reduce Your Tariff Exposure

June 23, 2026

Contracts and Purchase Orders in Mexico – Their Role in Demonstrating Customs Compliance and the Substance of Foreign Trade Transactions