On June 3, 2026, the White House issued an Executive Order (“Strengthening Customs Enforcement”) that directs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) to take a series of actions intended to combat customs fraud, transshipment, forced labor imports, duty evasion, and other trade-related violations. While many of the directives will require future rulemaking or policy changes before becoming effective, the Order signals a significant increase in customs enforcement and scrutiny of foreign importers.
Key directives include:
1. Increased scrutiny of foreign importers of record
The Order identifies foreign importers of record as an enforcement concern and directs CBP to develop enhanced requirements for foreign entities importing goods into the United States. These requirements may include: