What changed at the border this week.

We are reviewing the corrected CSMS in detail to confirm how the reauthorization affects active entries filed under AGOA and HOPE/HELP. Importers sourcing from sub-Saharan Africa or Haiti should contact us immediately to verify their Special Program Indicator (SPI) codes are current and that open entries are not at risk of liquidation at the higher MFN rate.

We recommend that any importer with pending or upcoming drawback claims — especially manufacturing drawback or unused merchandise drawback — run a test submission before your next filing window. We will update our internal drawback submission checklist to reflect the new error code mappings and will flag any affected pending claims for client review.

Importers of live animals, hides, and related agricultural commodities should attend or review the NWS webinar materials as soon as they are available. We expect USDA APHIS to coordinate with CBP on any new admissibility requirements; we will monitor for formal rulemaking and alert affected clients proactively.

Importers and carriers using the Port of Gramercy should coordinate with their freight forwarders to confirm no disruption to arrival notices or exam scheduling. We will reach out to the port directly for operational specifics and update routing guidance for affected clients.

We recommend all importer clients log into ACE and review their account settings, user permissions, and POA delegations under the updated interface. If you encounter access issues or unexpected changes to your account structure, contact our ACE team immediately — some automation features may alter existing delegations or subaccount configurations.

Any importer sourcing copper, copper wire, copper rod, or related semi-finished copper products — whether directly from Serbia Zijin or through intermediary countries — must immediately audit their supply chain. We strongly recommend requesting mill certificates and chain-of-custody documentation from suppliers now; goods already in transit may be detained at the port. Contact us to review open purchase orders and assess rebuttal-of-evidence options if you believe your goods are not covered.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, CBP and IPR enforcement will remain elevated at all ports. Importers of promotional goods, apparel, and novelty items bearing any sports or entertainment trademark should ensure they hold valid licensing agreements and that their suppliers' goods are authentic — CBP seizures can result in civil penalties and loss of goods with no compensation.