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Customer Advisory: U.S. Compliance Update
Mar. 17, 2026
Customer Advisory
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Initiates Section 301 Investigations Targeting Multiple Origins on Excess Capacity
This will determine whether their acts are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. The economies subject to these investigations are China, the European Union (EU), Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, and India. A docket for comments regarding the investigations will soon open. Interested parties may submit written comments and request to appear at the hearing, along with a summary of the testimony, by April 15, 2026. USTR will hold a hearing in connection with these investigations starting May 5, 2026. USTR Representative Greer intends to bring the investigations to conclusion as quickly as possible, before July 24, 2026, the date that Section 122 10% tariffs would expire.
USTR Initiates Section 301 Investigation of 60 Countries on Forced Labor
USTR Releases Ecuador–U.S. Trade Agreement (March 13, 2026)
Click here for the text of the agreement, and here for the tariff schedule.
To Resolve Common Automated Export System (AES) Response Messages (Fatal, Compliance, Verify, Informational, and Warning), see Appendix A – Commodity Filing Response Messages. AES filers need to address and/or correct Response Messages as soon as they are received to comply with the Foreign Trade Regulations.
Bill Introduced Imposing Additional Requirements for Non-Resident Importers
Such as being a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or entity having a physical U.S. business location and at least one owner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; a company from Canada or Australia (additional countries could be added as exceptions if they allow reciprocity); or an affiliate of a U.S. entity that (1) has been in continuous operation for at least three years, maintains at least 1,500 full-time employees in the U.S., and has at least $1 million in U.S. gross receipts or assets, and (2) is designated as the agent for service of process and accepts liability for all duties, taxes, fees, and penalties when acting as the Importer of Record (IOR). It would also require Importers of Record to have a continuous import bond of at least $100,000 in coverage and prevent third-party import duty payments by requiring duties to be paid from U.S. bank accounts verified under anti-money laundering rules.
Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act (S.4038) Introduced to Exempt Small Businesses from Sec. 122 Tariffs. The legislation also requires refunds for the tariffs already paid by small businesses within 90 days.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Animal and Animal Product Imports & Exports
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Plant and Plant Product Imports & Exports
National Customs Systems Division (NCSD) March & April 2026 Webinar Schedules
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