Importers are being invited to share their views on a series of potential measures being considered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as the agency seeks to strengthen its ability to detect and prevent illegal imports from entering the United States.
Among the issues under consideration are the possible collection of foreign export documentation and the increased use of supply chain traceability technologies to improve visibility over the movement and origin of imported goods.
A rulemaking proposal issued by CBP on Sept. 2 is intended to support the implementation of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in June. The executive order outlines plans for new restrictions affecting foreign importers and higher minimum penalties for noncompliance.
According to a news release issued by CBP on Wednesday, the broader objective is to give the agency stronger tools to identify, stop and prevent illicit imports from entering the country.
“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.
Under the proposal, CBP is considering whether foreign export documentation could help the agency verify information provided during the import entry process and identify discrepancies that could signal potential violations of the law.
Such documentation could include export declarations submitted to foreign customs authorities, as well as commercial invoices and packing lists used to verify the contents, weight and packaging of individual shipments.
Questions over new documentation requirements
Throughout the proposal, CBP raises several questions for stakeholders regarding the potential use of foreign export documentation.
Among them is whether the importer of record should be required to submit this information for all goods entering the United States.
The agency is also seeking feedback on the challenges importers could face if certain categories of imports were classified as posing a grave risk to national security and were therefore required to provide foreign export documentation.
CBP is additionally exploring possible changes to the manufacturer identification code, commonly known as the MID. The agency said it is interested in proposals that could redefine or replace the existing data element, which is currently 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 stated.
As part of the discussion surrounding potential changes to the MID, CBP is asking stakeholders whether the agency should instead collect alternative information.
Another question under consideration is whether CBP should require the identification of the final recipient of imported goods.
Technology and traceability under consideration
The agency is also collecting feedback on the use of supply chain traceability solutions.
CBP said it is particularly interested in addressing situations in which importers route goods through a third country in an effort to obscure their true country of origin.
Stakeholders are being asked about the technologies currently used by private-sector companies to improve supply chain visibility and whether those technologies could reliably certify required information, including the country of origin of goods.
Interested parties can submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal under docket number USCBP-2026-1058.
Comments must be received no later than Dec. 1.
