This week’s recap of the latest customs and international trade news:  

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)  

  • CBP announced the extension of the compliance date for new informal entry procedures for international mail from Oct. 22, 2026, to Jan. 20, 2027. 
  • CBP officers in Indianapolis intercepted a shipment containing 300 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches. Had these items been genuine, the shipment would have had a combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $12 million.
  • CBP announced email or text message verification will be required for Automated Clearinghouse refund information changes made in ACE starting Oct. 10. 

Department of Justice (DOJ)  

  • DOJ announced that a Bosnian national was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to export and sanctions violations involving an attempted transaction for North Korean anti-aircraft missiles.  

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)  

  • The FMC is proposing fees on all Spanish-flagged vessels after an investigation revealed the government of Spain created unfavorable shipping conditions for U.S.-flagged vessels.  
  • The FMC published its latest Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license applicant update, identifying companies seeking new ocean freight forwarder and NVOCC licenses, as well as changes to existing license applications. 

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)  

  • OFAC announced a settlement with Pegasus Worldwide Logistics, a freight forwarding firm, to settle its potential civil liability for importing a machine supplied by a designated company.  
  • OFAC announced an $11,662,930 settlement with Bank of America to settle its potential civil liability for 475 apparent violations of OFAC sanctions programs targeting Russia, Belarus, Iran, Burma, Somalia, narcotics, and global terrorism. 
  • OFAC announced sanctions against four individuals and 11 entities connected to Cartel del Noreste. 
  • OFAC issued Russia-related General License 135 which authorizes transactions involving Russian-origin diesel fuel, including imports into the U.S., that would otherwise be prohibited under two Russia-related sanctions programs.  

U.S. Department of State 

  • The State Department announced additional sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC), continuing U.S. efforts to oppose certain ICC investigations and actions involving the United States and its allies. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  

  • The FDA issued six warning letters to companies for their failure to implement foreign supplier verification programs. 
  • The FDA’s Office of Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation, & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP) released its annual report summarizing the investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks and certain adverse events in FDA-regulated human foods for the 2025 calendar year. 
  • The FDA issued a final rule that allows the use of salt substitutes in standardized foods to reduce sodium content.  

Congress 

  • U.S. House Representative John James of Michigan introduced a bill to use tariff revenue to compensate businesses that can show they have suffered real economic harm from tariffs on Canadian imports or from Canadian retaliatory tariffs. 

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