Monday Morning eBriefing

The message from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to NCBFAA 2026 Annual Conference attendees on April 13 was direct: Know Your Customer. During the panel presentation moderated by NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) Member Rob Fickeisen, DEA agents highlighted the agency's strategy to target imported precursor chemicals, the raw chemicals that potentially can be used to manufacture meth, fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

During the NCBFAA 2026 Annual Conference on April 14, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) delivered a clear message to trade: eFiling is coming—and the clock is ticking. With full implementation set for July 8, 2026, CPSC officials used the session to walk customs brokers through what to expect, how to prepare, and where the biggest challenges may arise.

NCBFAA Regulatory Agencies Committee (RAC) Vice Chair Adam Lees led a lively panel discussion during the NCBFAA 2026 Annual Conference on April 14. He was joined by Jacob McDowell, who serves as National Policy Manager at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and APHIS Assistant Director Jon Daniels.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 15 advised the trade that certain HTS codes in the AES Trade Interface Requirements (AESTIR) Appendix U are required for used vehicle export reporting.

During the NCBFAA 2026 Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on April 13, the association provided customs broker attendees with an update from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the agency’s ImportShield program. Presenting on behalf of FDA were Consumer Safety Officer Selina Mata in person and ImportShield team leads, Theresa Smedley and Michael Giammanco, who gave a remote overview of FDA's new entry processing program, called ImportShield or FISP.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has a new look and feel for its e-Filing website. The site clearly provides directions on where you should go, depending on your role as importer, customs broker, or software developer, as well as explains if e-filing applies to you and offers frequently asked questions. NCBFAA encourages our customs brokers to check out this CPSC e-Filing website.

NCBFAA on April 13 submitted comments to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the proposed Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) for vessel cargo rule. The comments reflect input from association members and focus on ensuring EEM implementation aligns with real-world ocean shipping operations.

A summary of the latest legislative and regulatory transport, logistics and trade sector updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Transportation Counsel firm Venable.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminded Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) Test participants must submit electronic payment of supplemental duty bills (SDB) for which the SDB resulted from an entry that was originally paid on a monthly statement via the PMS Test. This requirement was first announced via Federal Register Notice 90 FR 48314 on Oct. 16, 2025, with an effective date for the test to become operational as of Dec. 15, 2025.

A summary of the latest customs and cross-border trade regulatory updates brought to you by our NCBFAA Customs Counsel firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg.

NCBFAA during its 53rd Annual Conference at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, on April 12-15, finalized its election of a new slate Officers and Board Members to govern the association for 2026-2028. The Association welcomes President Karen Damon, Vice President Steven Powell, Secretary Laurie Arnold, Treasurer Len James, Chairman Jose D. (JD) Gonzalez, and the newest Board Members.

Past NCBFAA President Amy Magnus received the coveted Centurion Award during the closing ceremony of the 53rd NCBFAA Annual Conference at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in Texas on April 15. NCBFAA presented this award to Magnus, a longtime NCBFAA Member, Committee Chair, Past President, Past Chairman, and Senior Counselor of the association, in appreciation of her outstanding vision, leadership, and dedication to the betterment of the international freight transportation community.

Brandon Lord, Executive Director of Trade Programs Directorate in the Office of Trade for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on April 14 told the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) that the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) in ACE is currently undergoing final testing to process IEEPA tariff refunds. CBP will provide the next report on the progress made with CAPE Phase 1 to CIT on April 28.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 13 issued an update to the trade regarding the deployment of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) Phase 1 on April 20. CAPE is a new ACE functionality that will streamline and consolidate refunds and interest payments for entries subject to the IEEPA duties, rather than issuing entry-by-entry refunds.

On behalf of NCBFAA's Board of Directors, Leadership and Staff, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and welcome 3D Forwarding, Global International, Hunter International Brokerage Services, Madhu Pandey, and Top Shopping Systems Corp., which have recently joined our association. We're so excited to have these firms join our organization and we are happy to assist in any way we can!

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 20 will launch the first phase of the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) tool in the ACE Secure Data Portal. “CAPE will simplify International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duty refund requests made pursuant to court order and in accordance with appropriate statutory authority by providing an electronic pathway to submit valid IEEPA duty refund claims,” CBP said.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) hosted a virtual webinar on April 8 which highlighted the three-month mark to the full implementation date of eFiling for most regulated products. The July 8 eFiling deadline is real. It will not be delayed. If you and your clients are not ready, now is the time to pay attention.

Atmus Filtration voluntarily dismissed its case on April 6. The notice of dismissal does not specify why Atmus has dismissed its case. NCBFAA Customs Counsel and Legislative Adivsor of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., provide an analysis of the action taken by the Court of International Trade (CIT) in response to the case's dismissal and ongoing the work by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to prepare for IEEPA tariff refunds.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the next step in its efforts to implement the President's Executive Orders to achieve American drone dominance. In an April 1 Notice, the FCC is requesting public comment on actions to advance the production, deployment, and export of American unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones.

Although our industry-leading 2026 NCBFAA Annual Conference at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, on April 12-15, 2026, has sold out, we want to take this moment to thank our generous sponsors who help make this event a success.