Importers have the opportunity to weigh in on potential changes U.S. Customs and Border Protection is exploring to crack down on illegal imports, from collecting foreign export documentation to tapping supply chain tracing technologies.
A Sept. 2 rulemaking proposal from the agency is designed to support the implementation of an executive order signed in June by President Donald Trump, which features plans for new restrictions for foreign importers and higher penalty floors for noncompliance. The ultimate goal is to help CBP better detect, stop and prevent illicit imports from entering the country, according to a news release from the agency Wednesday.
“By strengthening visibility into the supply chains behind goods entering the United States, CBP can better identify high-risk shipments, stop illicit trade, and ensure that American businesses are not undercut by those who evade our customs laws," CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in the release.
Per the proposal, CBP is weighing whether foreign export documentation could help the agency verify import entry information and detect discrepancies that may indicate a violation of law. The documentation could include export declarations made to the foreign customs authority, commercial invoices and packing lists verifying the contents, weight and packaging of each shipment.
CBP poses various questions for commenters related to foreign export documentation throughout its proposal, including if the importer of record should be required to submit that information for all goods entering the U.S. Additionally, CBP asks what challenges importers would face if certain import categories could be deemed a grave risk to national security and require foreign export documentation as a result.
The agency said it is also interested in proposals that would redefine or replace the manufacturer identification code, a data element derived from the name and address of the manufacturer or shipper.
"Although use of the MID is longstanding, it provides limited identifying information and does not always identify the actual party that may be of interest to CBP for enforcement purposes and is not always available to CBP early enough in the entry process to be useful," the proposal said.
Related to potential MID changes, one of CBP's questions asks if the agency should collect alternative information instead. Another asks if CBP should require the identification of the end recipient of the goods.
Additionally, CBP is fielding responses related to supply chain traceability solutions. The agency said it is looking to crack down on importers routing goods through a third country to cloud their true country of origin. Questions include what technologies private sector members use for supply chain visibility and if technology could properly certify required information such as country of origin.
Comments from interested parties can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal under docket number USCBP-2026-1058. They must be received on or before Dec. 1.
