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This month, the Biden-Harris administration announced new executive actions to tackle the risks associated with the high volume of low value packages entering the United States each day, and the speed at which they cross the border. It’s no surprise that the Department of Homeland Security and CBP will be at the front lines of executing the White House’s plan to tackle this issue, which has introduced new and unique challenges to trade facilitation and law enforcement – challenges that require new technology, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation on all fronts.
This month I had a chance to talk about all of these things with a wide range of stakeholders, including how we’re leveraging artificial intelligence to support our operations. At the Homeland Security Defense Forum Quarterly Roundtable, I had the pleasure of discussing trade modernization, among other CBP trade priorities, with former CBP Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar. A few days later, I traveled to New Orleans to meet with our colleagues at the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones at their annual conference. Lastly, I spoke at the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce conference to our Latin American stakeholders about how companies can work with CBP to overcome the issues of forced labor.
Read on to see how these challenges impact the trade industry and our path forward.
~ Executive Assistant Commissioner AnnMarie R. Highsmith
Contents
- EAC's Message
- Office of Trade Activity
- CBP and partners announce first recycling program for international flights
- DHS to enforce stricter trade rules on small package imports
- Outreach
- EAC Highsmith addresses Latin American industry leaders on combatting forced labor
- EAC Highsmith talks trade modernization with National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones
- Office of Trade raises awareness of counterfeit pharmaceuticals
- Innovative solutions to trade and security: highlights from the Homeland Security government round table
- Executive Director Brandon Lord champions customs innovation at national brokers conference
- CBP highlights forced labor enforcement at China Forum
- News You Can Use
- Wilmington CBP officers collar counterfeit belt bags
- Delaware CBP officers seize over $100k in unmanifested Apple products destined to China
- US, Uzbekistan sign Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement
- Trade Statistics
- Monthly Trade Statistics
Office of Trade Activity
CBP and partners announce first recycling program for international flights
On September 9, CBP announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the International Air Transport Association to introduce a new program enabling airlines to recycle aluminum, paper, and plastic products used during international flights arriving in the United States. Together, the agencies will work with individual airlines and port authorities at international airports across the United States to evaluate aircrafts and establish local protocols for recycling single-use products.
Prior to this program, recycling was not allowed on international flights, making its launch a significant win for sustainability efforts. This effort also aligns with CBP’s Green Trade Strategy, which aims to combat climate change and promote sustainable trade practices and green innovation.
Learn more about the program in the CBP press release.
DHS to enforce stricter trade rules on small package imports
On September 13, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release regarding the Biden-Harris Administration’s recent Executive Actions, which aim to address the influx of small packages claiming the de minimis exemption into the United States. The actions announced by the Administration include plans to exclude shipments subject to U.S. trade enforcement actions from the de minimis exemption, strengthen data requirements for de minimis shipments, and require Certificates of Compliance for consumer products to prevent unsafe products from entering the United States. The actions are set to take effect through the federal regulatory process in the coming weeks and months, and the DHS workforce – including CBP – will be on the front lines.
Read the DHS press release for more information.
Outreach
EAC Highsmith addresses Latin American industry leaders on combatting forced labor
On September 25, EAC Highsmith spoke on a panel about the threat of forced labor in supply chains to nearly 400 members of industry from Latin America at the Border Alliance for Secure Commerce conference. Industry representatives expressed strong interest in strategies to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labor. EAC Highsmith emphasized the importance of supply chain tracing and due diligence as key strategies for industry to collaborate with CBP and proactively prevent forced labor in their supply chains.
EAC Highsmith talks trade modernization with National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones
On September 10, EAC Highsmith attended the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, providing updates on topics of concern to Association members, including forced labor enforcement, broker continuing education, customs modernization, and the Automated Commercial Environment. She emphasized that CBP is addressing the challenges of the evolving trade ecosystem and supply chain hurdles by modernizing our processes, training our staff, and working with our partners.
Office of Trade raises awareness of counterfeit pharmaceuticals
During the month of September, the Office of Trade posted information and warnings to the public on its X account, @CBPTradeGov, concerning counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Only 3% of online pharmacies follow U.S. regulations, and in 2023 the Drug Enforcement Agency seized more than 80 million fentanyl-laced fake pills. Learn more by visiting the Office of Trade on X.
Innovative solutions to trade and security: highlights from the Homeland Security government round table
On September 6, EAC Highsmith joined the Homeland Security Defense Forum in its Quarterly Round Table. The Defense Forum brings industry together with DHS officials and representatives from other government entities to encourage partnership and innovation in the homeland security space. EAC Highsmith joined former CBP Commissioner David V. Aguilar in a 40-minute question-and-answer session during which they discussed supply chain challenges, artificial intelligence, combatting forced labor, and more.
Executive Director Brandon Lord champions customs innovation at national brokers conference
From September 22-24, Brandon Lord, Office of Trade Executive Director of Trade Policy and Programs, spoke to a full house at the 2024 National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America Government Affairs Conference in Washington, DC. He spoke about the Global Business Identifier Test, continuing education for customs brokers, de minimis, and cybersecurity to an audience of freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transport intermediaries, air cargo agents, and non-vessel operating common carriers.
CBP highlights forced labor enforcement at China Forum
On September 25, David Hampton, Office of Trade Deputy Executive Director (DXD) of Trade Remedy Law Enforcement, spoke on a panel at the China Forum, discussing developments and trends of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) enforcement. DXD Hampton discussed the challenges of implementing the UFLPA, highlighting CBP’s achievements so far. He emphasized how these efforts have shaped best practices for compliance and impacted global trade by setting new standards for ethical sourcing and transparency. Hosted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, the China Forum is one of the major conferences convening scholars, experts and policymakers on China’s trade, economic, foreign policy, security, human rights, and political developments.
News You Can Use
Trade Statistics
Month Trade Statistics
In August 2024, CBP processed more than 2.9 million entry summaries valued at $289 billion, identifying estimated duties of nearly $7.5 billion to be collected by the U.S. government. Trade via the ocean environment accounted for more than 41.8 percent of the total import value, followed by air, truck, and rail. CBP identified 400 entries valued at more than $53 million for further examination based on the suspected use of forced labor, and which may be subject to a Withhold Release Order, Forced Labor Finding, or the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s rebuttable presumption prohibiting importation into the United States.
CBP seized nearly 1,997 shipments that contained counterfeit goods valued at more than $993 million. CBP also completed 53 audits that identified $48.7 million in duties and fees owed to the U.S. government for goods that had been improperly declared. CBP collected over $17.9 million of this identified revenue from previous fiscal years’ assignments.