CBP publishes advance traveler information rule for rail

USTR invokes USMCA Rapid Response Mechanism for review of alleged workers' rights denial at GLM Components Mexico

USTR has invoked the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and asked Mexico to review whether workers at GLM Components Mexico, S.A. de C.V., an auto parts facility in Puebla, Mexico, are being denied freedom of association and collective bargaining. The action follows a September 8, 2026 RRM petition from the Sindicato Regeneración Nacional de Trabajadores y Empleados de la República Mexicana "Morenas" and an Interagency Labor Committee determination of sufficient, credible evidence. The Trade Representative has directed the Secretary of the Treasury to suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the GLM Components facility.

CBP seeks comments on court-ordered refunds worksheet under IEEPA

CBP will submit an information collection request to OMB for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 covering the Court-Ordered Refunds Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act Worksheet. Comments must be submitted no later than November 4, 2026, through www.reginfo.gov by selecting "Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments" or using the search function. The notice does not state the worksheet's contents, the refund process it supports or any change to entry or refund procedures.

CBP seeks comments on new Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal information collection

CBP is submitting a new information collection, the Client Representative Technical Assistance Portal (CR-TAP), to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments must be submitted no later than November 2, 2026, through www.reginfo.gov by selecting "Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments." The notice does not state what information the collection requires or who must report it.

CBP seizes 200 counterfeit Cartier watches worth $28 million in Chicago

CBP's Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at Chicago O'Hare International Airport seized two shipments containing 200 counterfeit Cartier watches on September 18; the shipment from Hong Kong was headed for California. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed the watches inauthentic, and they were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks. CBP valued the shipment at a combined manufacturer's suggested retail price of $28 million had the items been genuine.

CBP accredits Laboratory Services, Inc. (Kemah, TX) as a commercial gauger and laboratory

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Laboratory Services, Inc. (Kemah, TX) has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of July 22, 2025. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for July 2028.

CBP accredits Intertek USA in Carteret, NJ, as commercial gauger and laboratory

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Intertek USA, Inc. (Carteret, NJ), has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of August 28, 2025. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for August 2028.

CBP accredits Intertek USA (Chelsea, MA) as commercial gauger and laboratory

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Intertek USA, Inc. (Chelsea, MA), has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of August 28, 2024. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for August 2027.

CBP issues Withhold Release Orders on palm oil from Indonesia's Mitra Aneka Rezeki and Hardaya Inti Plantation

CBP issued two Withhold Release Orders against palm oil and its derivative products produced in Indonesia by Mitra Aneka Rezeki and Hardaya Inti Plantation, effective immediately, and personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain those shipments. CBP found violations of 19 U.S.C. § 1307, which prohibits goods made with forced labor from entering the United States, after a review citing nine International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor at MAR and seven at HIP. CBP now oversees and enforces 60 WROs and eight Findings under 19 U.S.C. § 1307.

CBP seizes five shipments in Virginia over counterfeit, unsafe and fraudulently imported goods

CBP officers in Norfolk, Virginia seized five shipments of imported consumer goods — including dry-fit t-shirts from Morocco, rugs from Turkey, ceramic tiles and Land Rover parts from China, ceramic sinks from China and carpet rolls from China — for counterfeit certification marks, violations of the Flammable Fabrics Act and importation using stolen identities, with a combined value of nearly $856,000. The most recent seizure, on Tuesday, covered 697 cartons of t-shirts valued at $61,240; the largest, 1,176 rolls of carpet bearing counterfeit OEKO-TEX labels, was valued at $686,000 had it been authentic. The shipments were destined to Albany, N.Y., Tustin, Calif., San Francisco and Atlanta.

CBP intercepts first-in-nation plant pathogen Davisoniella eucalypti at Houston airport

CBP states that its agriculture specialists at George Bush Intercontinental Airport intercepted eucalyptus leaves carrying the plant pathogen Davisoniella eucalypti in the baggage of a traveler from New Zealand, and that USDA plant pathologists confirmed the identification. CBP says this is the first time this pathogen has been intercepted at a U.S. port of entry. The intercepted leaves were destroyed in accordance with USDA protocols.

CBP keeps quarterly IRS interest rates for customs duty underpayments and refunds unchanged from October 1, 2026

CBP states in a general notice that the quarterly IRS interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties will remain the same from the previous quarter. For the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2026, the underpayment rate is 7 percent for both corporations and non-corporations, and the overpayment rate is 7 percent for non-corporations and 6 percent for corporations. The rates are applicable as of October 1, 2026.

CBP begins removing importers of record in regulatory crackdown

CBP has begun purging importers of record as part of a regulatory crackdown, according to JOC. The report does not state which importers, products or HTS codes are affected, the legal basis for the removals, or an effective date.

CBP intercepts first-in-nation giant scale insects at Detroit airport

CBP states that its agriculture specialists at Detroit Metropolitan Airport intercepted a first-in-nation batch of giant scale insects, tentatively identified in February and confirmed by the USDA on Aug. 7 as belonging to the Aspidoproctus species. The roughly 5-mm insects were found feeding on fresh pine bark brought in for medicinal purposes during a baggage examination of a passenger in transit from Cameroon to Illinois. The scales and bark were seized for further analysis, and the traveler, a citizen of Cameroon, was advised of applicable regulations and released. Records indicate this was the first time the species had been encountered at a U.S. port of entry.

CBP seeks comments on revised information collection for exportation of used self-propelled vehicles

CBP is submitting a revised information collection on the exportation of used self-propelled vehicles, OMB Control Number 1651-0054, to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Comments must be submitted no later than November 16, 2026, to CBP_PRA@cbp.dhs.gov, with the OMB Control Number 1651-0054 in the subject line. The notice does not state what changes the revision makes to the collection.

CBP hosts 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit in Dallas

U.S. Customs and Border Protection hosted the 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit in Dallas, Texas from Sept. 8-10, with 1,300 in-person and 3,000 virtual participants, under the theme "Knowing Your Supply Chain to Remain Compliant and Mitigate Risk." CBP Deputy Commissioner Ron Vitiello's opening remarks covered the Strengthening Customs Enforcement Executive Order, illegal transshipment, forced labor enforcement, ACE modernization, Enforce and Protect Act investigations and supply chain security. CBP encouraged attendees to file formal comments on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled "Heightened Import Disclosures for Supply Chain Visibility."

CBP accredits Bennett Testing Service as a commercial gauger and laboratory

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Bennett Testing Service, Inc. (Rahway, NJ), has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of August 28, 2025. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for August 2028.

CBP approves Saybolt LP (Pittsburgh, PA) as a commercial gauger

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Saybolt LP (Pittsburgh, PA) has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of September 3, 2025. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for September 2028.

CBP accredits Saybolt LP in Deer Park, TX, as commercial gauger and laboratory

CBP states in a Federal Register notice that Saybolt LP (Deer Park, TX) has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years, as of October 29, 2025. The approval and accreditation cover gauging and testing of petroleum and certain petroleum products. The next triennial inspection date will be scheduled for October 2028.

CBP seeks comments on advance rule for heightened import supply chain disclosures

CBP issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking stating it is considering amending its regulations to require greater visibility into the supply chains of goods imported into the United States, including information on the parties involved in importation, technical solutions for tracing supply chains, and foreign export documentation that foreign exporters must submit to their customs authority before export to the United States. CBP says the proposals aim to detect and interdict illicit importations, especially goods illegally transshipped to evade U.S. customs and trade laws. Comments are due on or before December 1, 2026, under docket number USCBP-2026-1058.

CBP seizes 875 counterfeit jewelry pieces from Hong Kong shipment in Indianapolis

CBP officers at Indianapolis' express consignment facility seized a shipment from Hong Kong containing 875 pieces of jewelry and five designer handbags bearing suspected Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Versace, Gucci, Tiffany & Company, Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels trademarks, deemed inauthentic by CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise. The shipment, headed to a residence in Georgia, was seized on August 18 for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks; CBP states the items would have had a combined manufacturer's suggested retail price of over $3.7 million had they been genuine.

CBP seizes 300 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches in Louisville

CBP states that on July 31 its officers at the Port of Louisville, Kentucky intercepted a shipment from Hong Kong containing 300 Audemars Piguet watches, which CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed inauthentic; the watches were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks. CBP says the shipment was headed for a residence in Houston and would have had a combined manufacturer's suggested retail price of over $43 million had the watches been genuine.

CBP seizes nearly $4 million in counterfeit MLB, Nike, Louis Vuitton and Jaguar goods at Houston airport

CBP states that officers from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Trade Enforcement Team seized nearly $4 million in counterfeit goods, including fake MLB and Nike apparel, Louis Vuitton bags, Cartier sunglasses and Jaguar Land Rover computer systems, with a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price of $3.7 million. Most shipments originated from China and were destined for locations both within and outside the United States. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed the items inauthentic, and they were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks.

CBP Office of Field Operations launches OFO Strategy 2026-2030

CBP's Office of Field Operations unveiled the "OFO Strategy 2026-2030," a roadmap setting four goals for its ports-of-entry operations: national security, economic security, integration and workforce cultivation. The strategy covers intelligence-based targeting, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, modernization of port infrastructure and technology, and industry awareness. CBP states that in Fiscal Year 2025 OFO processed approximately 380 million travelers and $3.6 trillion in import cargo.

CBP reports record $1 billion in additional duties owed under EAPA

CBP announced that it has uncovered more than $1 billion in additional duties owed under the Enforce and Protect Act, a first in the program's 10-year history and 300% above the program's annual average. CBP issued 14 notices of determination in 2026 covering products including solar cells, tow-behind lawn groomers, lumber, pipes, xanthan gum, metal lockers and wooden furniture imported from countries across the globe, and investigators traveled to Mexico, Thailand, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to inspect production facilities. The agency says EAPA investigations are required by statute to conclude within one year.

CBP reports 14 straight months of zero border releases and June enforcement statistics

CBP announced 14 consecutive months of zero releases at the border, with nationwide encounters in June at 31,626, 4% lower than May, and southwest border apprehensions 94% below the monthly average of the Biden administration. In trade enforcement, CBP processed $330 billion in imports in June 2026 and identified $22.9 billion in duties for collection. CBP also stopped 372 shipments valued at more than $38 million for potential forced labor violations and seized nearly 2 million counterfeit goods valued at over $1.4 billion.

CBP officers in Cincinnati seize 111 counterfeit watches and fashion accessories from Colombia

CBP officers at the port of Cincinnati stopped a shipment on June 3 containing 111 pieces of counterfeit items, including 44 Rolex watch models, 4 Richard Mille watches, 10 Cartier watches, 20 hats from Prada, ALO, Gucci and Coach, and 62 pairs of designer branded sunglasses and glasses. The shipment from Colombia was headed for a residence in Puerto Rico; CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed the items inauthentic and seized them for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks. Had the items been genuine, CBP states the shipment would have had a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of over $19.26 million.

CBP prepares World Cup security and counterfeit merchandise enforcement

U.S. Customs and Border Protection states it has established a CBP World Cup Task Force to coordinate security operations across all FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities, and that its Office of Field Operations has increased officer numbers, expanded hours and added screening technology at key ports. CBP says officers and import specialists will inspect goods entering for the tournament, working with the USDA, CDC and FDA on agricultural and biological materials, and that it has expanded intellectual property rights enforcement training on counterfeit FIFA merchandise.

Louisville CBP seizes 1,622 pieces of counterfeit Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry

CBP officers in Louisville seized 1,622 pieces of counterfeit designer jewelry on May 1 from a single express consignment shipment that arrived from Hong Kong and was headed to Chicago. The shipment contained 1,227 bracelets and 395 necklaces bearing marks identical to Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef and Arpels trademarks, and would have had a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of over $14.1 million had the goods been genuine. CBP's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise confirmed with the trademark holders that the pieces were not authentic, and the goods were subject to seizure.

CBP seizes over 8,500 counterfeit designer brand perfumes at Port Everglades

CBP officers at Port Everglades, Florida, seized 8,500 units of counterfeit designer brand perfumes, including Gucci, Burberry, Armani and Lancome, that arrived from Singapore and were destined for Miami. Officers inspected the shipment on Feb. 10 and, with CBP Headquarters Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch, determined on April 2 that the goods were counterfeit and seized them. The perfumes were appraised at $1,010,940 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price had they been genuine.

CBP details duty evasion cases involving undervaluation, misclassification and transshipment

CBP's Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center described enforcement cases in which importers evaded duties through undervaluation, misclassification and illegal transshipment. In one case, 12 Patek Philippe watches shipped from St. Maarten were undervalued at about $500 each against a value of over $1.9 million, drawing $21,000 in duties, a $108,000 penalty and over $86,740 in unpaid duties from prior shipments. In another, plastic food containers from China classified as household goods at 3.4% instead of the 3% commercial rate left the importer owing $50 million, and four importers of the same product owe nearly $39 million combined.

CBP modifies Withhold Release Order on FGV Holdings Berhad palm oil from Malaysia

CBP modified the Withhold Release Order issued September 30, 2020, against palm oil and palm oil products produced in Malaysia by FGV Holdings Berhad, its subsidiaries and joint ventures. As of January 15, 2026, CBP will no longer detain those goods at ports of entry and, effective immediately, will allow them to enter the United States provided they are otherwise compliant with U.S. laws. CBP states it does not modify a WRO until it has evidence that the producer no longer produces the subject goods using forced labor.

CBP issues Withhold Release Order on Linglong International Europe automobile tires from Serbia

CBP issued a Withhold Release Order against automobile tires manufactured in Serbia by Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin, effective immediately, and CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain shipments of these tires based on evidence reasonably indicating the use of forced labor in their production. The WRO, the fifth in 2025 and the second in Fiscal Year 2026, was issued for violations of 19 U.S.C. § 1307, and CBP cites nine International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor at Linglong. Importers of detained shipments may seek to destroy or export their shipments or seek to demonstrate that the merchandise was not produced with forced labor.

CBP collects $1 billion in duties since de minimis phaseout

CBP states it collected over $1 billion in duties on more than 246 million low-cost shipments since the de minimis phaseout began in May 2025. Low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong lost duty-free eligibility on May 2, 2025, and CBP fully implemented the change worldwide on August 29, 2025 with the elimination of the de minimis exemption. CBP also reports that seizures of unsafe and non-compliant low-value goods rose 82% since de minimis ended for China and Hong Kong.

CBP assists HSI and IRS trade fraud probe; two arrested, $13.36 million in gold seized

CBP states that its officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport worked with Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service in a multiyear trade fraud investigation that led to two arrests, the seizure of $13.36 million in gold, and the identification of a suspected $86.47 million in evaded duties. CBP says examinations revealed a suspected scheme to route gold jewelry shipments through a foreign intermediary and return them to the United States as "U.S. goods returned," reducing duties owed.

CBP seizes counterfeit designer watches worth over $8 million in Chicago

CBP officers at an express consignment facility near Chicago International Airport seized 26 watches and two bracelets arriving from China on Oct. 23 for bearing counterfeit marks: six Richard Mille watches, eight Audemars Piguet watches, four Diesel watches, eight G-Shock watches and two Rolex bracelets. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed the items inauthentic; CBP states the goods, if genuine, would have had a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price over $8.5 million.

Louisville CBP seizes two Hong Kong shipments with 53 counterfeit watches

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville seized two shipments from Hong Kong on the night of Oct. 28 containing 53 counterfeit watches bearing unauthorized versions of Richard Mille, Rolex, Hublot, Cartier, Swarovski, G-Shock and Patek Philippe trademarks. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed the items to bear counterfeit marks, and the shipments, addressed to residences in Union City, Georgia and Doral, Florida, had a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $6.6 million had the goods been genuine. The items have been turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further inspection.

CBP seizes $4.2 million in counterfeit Cartier watches in Indianapolis

CBP officers at the Port of Indianapolis seized a shipment of 30 luxury brand watches bearing unauthorized versions of Cartier's federally protected trademark on August 8. The watches, which came from Hong Kong and were headed to New York, would have had a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $4.2 million had they been genuine. CBP determined the watches were not authentic with input from its Centers of Excellence and Expertise.

CBP seizes five counterfeit jewelry shipments in Louisville worth over $25 million

CBP officers in Louisville seized five shipments containing 2,193 pieces of counterfeit jewelry on June 19 and June 20, bearing unauthorized Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels trademarks. The shipments arrived from China and Hong Kong and were destined for addresses in Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina and Michigan. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise determined the items bore counterfeit marks; the goods would have had a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of over $25.32 million if genuine.