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

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)   

  • The first reciprocal tariff refunds will be issued on or around May 11, according to a summary of a closed CIT conference between CBP and Judge Eaton.  
  • CBP officers in Chicago intercepted a monkey carcass and 125 pounds of prohibited ruminant meat. 
  • CBP issued an extension of emergency import restrictions on some archaeological and ethnological material from Afghanistan, effective April 28, 2026.  

Department of Commerce 

  • Commerce published a Federal Register notice adding a duty-free code in the HTSUS to cover goods subject to the Section 232 aluminum, steel, or copper tariff regimes that do not, in fact, contain these metals.  This new provision applies retroactively to April 6, 2026, 

United States Trade Representative (USTR)   

  • USTR held a Section 301 review hearing to determine what burden on U.S. commerce resulted from other countries failing to keep goods made with forced labor out of their markets. 
  • USTR is seeking public comments on recommendations to modernize the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Recommendations will focus on ensuring the program meets the needs of American workers and businesses, advances U.S. national security and economic security goals, optimizes balanced bilateral trade flows with beneficiary countries, and provides a path for reciprocal trade agreements with the more advanced countries. 

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)   

  • OFAC issued new guidance advising companies that any direct or indirect payments to the Iranian government for tolls to pass the Strait of Hormuz are not authorized and subject to sanctions. 

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 

  • The FMC ordered Hong Kong-based carrier Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. to pay $45.6 million in reparations to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. for Shipping Act violations. 

Department of Justice (DOJ) 

  • An importer of fitness equipment agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve allegations that settle claims it violated the False Claims Act by undervaluing fitness equipment imports to avoid tariffs.  
  • Two Chinese nationals were charged with importing a methamphetamine precursor chemical with the intent to manufacture narcotics, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. 
  • An importer pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $6.3M for a felony violation of the Lacey Act for its role in a timber trafficking scheme to evade AD/CVD duties. countervailing and anti-dumping duties.  

Congress 

  • A group of 67 U.S. House Representatives wrote a letter to President Trump urging him to prohibit Chinese companies from building cars in the U.S. 
  • Senator Masto of Nevada wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer asking him to exclude petroleum products from tariffs resulting from the 301 investigations. 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  

  • The FCC updated its FAQ page to include portable Wi-Fi or hotspot devices made for consumer use in the FCC’s foreign-made router ban.  

Industry News 

  • Amazon announced a new product offering under Amazon Connect that uses agentic AI to forecast and provide insights into supply chains. The tool can look at cost-saving opportunities and factors that might affect regional demand, among other capabilities. 

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