26-0709: Thursday's "Export/Import Daily Bugle"

1. State Dept. Rescinds Sec. 22 CFR 141.3(b) of Title VI Regulations to Implement Executive Order 14281

(Source: 91 FR 42339, 9 Jul 2026)

2. Future Federal Register (No items of interest.)

(Source: Future Federal Register)

3. CBP Cargo Systems Messages

(Source: DHS/CBP/CSMS)

* CSMS # 69191069 - ACE Production Standard Invasive Maintenance from 10:00 p.m. ET Saturday, July 11, to 4:00 a.m. ET Sunday, July 12, 2026

* CSMS # 69183472 - Updated Global Guidance for International Mail

* CSMS # 69177694 - Information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Related to CPSC's PGA Message Set (eFiling) Beginning July 8, 2026

4. CBP Event: DATE CORRECTION: Agriculture Permits Overview Webinar July 22, 2026

(Source: OTR Webinars)

* WHAT: Agriculture Permits Overview

* WHEN: 22 July (Wednesday); 1:00 p.m. ET. This webinar was rescheduled from its original date in February.

* WHERE: Webinar. Registrants will receive the access link for the webinar the day before the event.

* COMMENTS: This webinar will have USDA presenters deliver an overview of permits, while CBP personnel will provide a focused presentation on the procedures for processing transit permits. This and other previously recorded webinars will be available for replay HERE. If you have previously registered, you will not need to re-register for this event.

* COST: Free

* REGISTER: HERE

* QUESTIONS: [email protected]

5. Commerce/BIS (Nothing new.)

(Source: Commerce/BIS)

6. State/DDTC: DECCS System Maintenance 5-7 pm ET Today

(Source: State/DDTC, 9 Jul 2026)

The Defense Export Control and Compliance System (DECCS) will undergo system maintenance from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (ET) Thursday, July 9th, 2026. Industry users may experience service degradation, interruptions, or limited application functionality within DECCS during this maintenance window. If you experience any issues, please log back in after the maintenance window.

7. Treasury/OFAC Issues Amended Russia-related General License and FAQs

(Source: Treasury/OFAC, 8 Jul 2026)

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Russia-related General License 13R, "Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024."

OFAC is also amending two associated, Russia-related Frequently Asked Questions, FAQs 999 and 1118. For more information visit our Recent Actions page.

8. White House Executive Actions (No items of interest.)

(Source: The White House)

9. Breaking Defense: "Army Selects Four Companies for New Autonomous Breaching Program"

(Source: Breaking Defense News, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

The Army has selected four vendors to participate in its Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability (EABC) program aimed at finding unmanned systems that can "rapidly" breach obstacles and minefields on future battlefields.

The Army revealed Wednesday that the four companies are Caterpillar, Forterra, IDV USA and Overland AI. The awards from the service of an undisclosed amount are expected to be finalized in the "coming weeks," the release from Capability Program Executive (CPE) Mission Autonomy read.

Systems developed from the program will be responsible for "minimizing personnel exposure and ensuring the safe passage of follow-on forces," according to the service. "The selected contractors will provide advanced robotic systems designed for beyond-line-of-sight autonomous control, directly enhancing the Army's ability to conduct multi-domain operations."

Once the contracts are officially awarded, vendors selected for the EABC program will participate in a string of demos and tests that will conclude in a Transformation in Contact unit assessment early next year, according to the service. . . . [Full article]

10. Chosun Daily: "China Tightens AI Model Export Controls in Tech Battle"

(Source: The Chosun Daily (China), 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

The U.S.-China technology supremacy battle has expanded beyond advanced semiconductors for artificial intelligence (AI) to AI models (AI services) themselves. After the U.S. recently restricted foreign access to Anthropic's high-performance AI, China has moved to tighten controls on overseas leaks of its latest AI models.

According to Reuters and other foreign media on the 7th, the Chinese government has held consecutive meetings with major AI companies, including Alibaba, ByteDance, and Zhipu AI, to discuss restrictions on overseas access to advanced AI models.

Reuters reported, "Not only AI models already on the market but also next-generation models yet to be released were discussed. The scope included both closed models provided to enterprises and open-source models that general users can directly operate and modify." . . . [Full article]

11. Courthouse News: "Sanctioned ICC judges sue Trump in New York"

(Source: Courthouse News Service, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (CN) — Frozen bank accounts, canceled credit cards and blocked travel led three International Criminal Court judges to sue the Trump administration Wednesday, arguing they were punished simply for the cases they decided.

In the 66-page complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the trio asks a judge to strike down President Donald Trump's sanctions order, remove Judges Kimberly Prost, Solomy Bossa and Reine Alapini-Gansou from the U.S. sanctions list, unblock any frozen property and bar the government from enforcing the measures against them. The ICC judges argue the sanctions were designed to punish judges for decisions the administration disliked and pressure them to rule differently in the future. . . .

Trump signed Executive Order 14203 on Feb. 6, 2025, after the ICC pursued investigations involving U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and Israeli leaders over the war in Gaza. The order declared a national emergency and authorized sanctions against foreign nationals involved in ICC investigations or prosecutions targeting U.S. citizens or nationals of allied countries that do not recognize the court's jurisdiction. . . . [Full article]

12. Diaz: "Mandatory CPSC eFiling is Here"

(Source: Customs & International Trade Law Blog, 8 Jul 2026) [Excerpts] * Author: Jennifer Diaz, Esq., Diaz Trade Law LLP

Key Takeaways:

13. Expeditors News: "OFAC Revokes Iran General License"

(Source: Expeditors News, 8 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

On July 7, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License (GL) X1 which revokes a previously issued "authorization for the production, deliver and sale of crude oil, petrochemical products, and petroleum products" from Iran.

GL X1 revokes and supersedes General License X, dated June 21, 2026. All transactions that are "ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of transactions previously authorized by General License X are authorized through July 17, 2026."

General License X authorized transactions that are "ordinarily incident and necessary to the production, sale, delivery, or offloading of crude oil, petrochemical products, or petroleum products of Iranian origin". General License X1 is effective as of July 7, 2026.

General License X1 can be found HERE. General License X is HERE. More information on OFAC's Iran Sanctions program is HERE.

14. Space News: "Space Force Completes Procurement Reorganization, Creating Nine Acquisition Portfolios"

(Source: Space News, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts of subscription publication]

The U.S. Space Force has completed the biggest overhaul of its acquisition organization since the service was established, creating nine mission-focused Portfolio Acquisition Executives to oversee the buying, integration and modernization of the military's space capabilities. . . .

The new structure replaces an acquisition system centered on individual programs with one organized around operational missions. Instead of overseeing a single satellite constellation or ground system, portfolio executives will manage families of capabilities spanning launch, missile warning, satellite communications, command and control, and space operations. . . .

The portfolios include Space Access; Space-Based Sensing and Targeting; Missile Warning and Tracking; Infrastructure; Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications and Space Intelligence; Satellite Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing; Advanced Capabilities; Electromagnetic Warfare and Cyber; and Space Combat Power.

15. ST&R Trade Report: "Tariffs, Trade Remedies, Export Controls Among Rules on DOC Docket"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

Tariff changes, trade remedy proceedings, and export controls are among the topics of rules appearing on the Department of Commerce's most recent semiannual regulatory agenda, which lists pending agency regulations affecting international trade:

Short-term actions. The following rules are expected to be issued within the next year: . . .

Long-term actions. The following are listed as long-term actions, meaning they are still under development and not expected to see regulatory action within the next 12 months: . . .

Rulemakings Completed: . . .

Rulemakings Withdrawn: . . .

[Full article]

16. Diaz: "FDA Proposes New Rule Requiring Foreign Tobacco Manufacturers to Register with the Agency"

(Source: Customs & International Trade Law Blog, 8 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

* Author: Jennifer Diaz, Esq., Diaz Trade Law LLP

On June 26, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposed rule that would significantly expand its oversight of imported tobacco products. If finalized, the rule would require foreign tobacco product manufacturers to register their establishments with the FDA and submit product listings. These requirements have long applied to domestic manufacturers but not foreign producers.

The proposal is intended to close a regulatory gap, strengthen FDA enforcement, and improve the agency's ability to identify and stop unauthorized tobacco products from entering the United States, particularly e-cigarettes and other youth-appealing products. It also represents another step toward increased scrutiny of imported tobacco products and the companies that manufacture them.

What Would Change? Under the proposed rule, foreign establishments that manufacture, prepare, compound, or process tobacco products for sale in the United States would be required to:

Today, domestic manufacturers are already subject to these requirements, while many foreign manufacturers are not. The FDA believes this proposal would create a more level regulatory playing field while providing the agency with better visibility into global tobacco supply chains.

Why This Matters for Importers. Although the proposal is directed at manufacturers, U.S. importers should pay close attention.

FDA's increased visibility into foreign manufacturing facilities and products will likely enhance its ability to:

Importers that rely on overseas manufacturers may face increased scrutiny if their suppliers are not prepared to comply with any new registration and listing requirements once finalized.

What Importers Should Do Now: . . . [Full article]

17. Forbes: "Foreign-Made Products Trigger U.S. Criminal Liability"

(Source: Forbes, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts of subscription publication]

As recent enforcement activity demonstrates, a company does not need an American factory, American employees, or American exports to be subject to American export controls. If a company manufactures items abroad using technology originating from the U.S. and exports those items to U.S.-restricted entities, the company can be subject to American criminal jurisdiction.

The risk calculus for multinational companies to avoid U.S. prosecution has changed sharply in recent months. Expanded regulatory provisions and heightened national security priorities have combined to extend U.S. export control enforcement far beyond companies operating on American soil.

At the center of this shift is the Foreign-Direct Product Rules ("FDPR"). Once an obscure regulatory provision, the FDPR now extends the scope of U.S. export controls to certain foreign-made items. Willful violations of the FDPR bring criminal consequences under the Export Control Reform Act ("ECRA"), including up to 20 years' imprisonment and $1 million in criminal fines. FDPR prosecutions align with the Justice Department's commitment to strong enforcement of export controls to protect against national security threats.

Companies that recognize internal FDPR violations may find a safe harbor -- if they are willing to self-disclose, cooperate, and remediate. The June 2026 resolution involving Robert Bosch GmbH ("Bosch") can help companies to evaluate their export enforcement risk. . . .

[Full article]

18. ST&R Trade Report: "Companies Get Warning, Not Penalties, for False "Made in USA" Claims"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

The Federal Trade Commission recently issued warning letters to seven companies that it said appear to have misrepresented certain products as "Made in USA" despite indications that the products were imported in whole or in significant part.

FTC rules prohibit marketers from labeling products as "Made in USA" unless (1) the final assembly or processing, and all significant processing that goes into the products, occur in the U.S. and (2) all or virtually all ingredients or components of the products are made and sourced in the U.S. The rule also requires all "Made in USA" labels appearing in mail order catalogs to be truthful and non-misleading.

In March 2026 President Trump issued an executive order directing the FTC to prioritize enforcement of this rule, and a month later the FTC announced three related penalty actions. The FTC did not indicate why it issued warning letters instead of penalties in the most recent case.

The EO also directed other actions regarding "Made in USA" claims that do not appear to have been taken yet, including: . .

19. Volkov: "Regulators Want Proof It Works"

(Source: Volkov Law, 9 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

* Principal Author: Michael Volkov, Volkov Law Group LLC

The third-party risk environment has fundamentally changed.

It used to focus on financial stability, insurance, and basic due diligence. Today, your vendors create exposures to AI risks, cybersecurity threats, sanctions violations, privacy failures, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory enforcement.

Regulators are no longer asking whether you have a third-party risk program. They're asking whether your program actually works. Annual reviews are no longer enough. Risks change daily. Vendors deploy new AI tools. Ownership changes. Sanctions risks emerge overnight. The future belongs to those companies that embrace continuous monitoring, automated screening, and dynamic risk management. [Listen to podcast on this subject.]

20. List of Export/Import Job Openings

(Source: Editor)

21. Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations

(Source: Brainy Quotes)

* Don Herold (9 Jul 1889 – 1 Jun 1966; was an American humorist, writer, illustrator, and cartoonist who wrote and illustrated many books and was a contributor to national magazines.)

- "There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have."

- "It takes a lot of things to prove you are smart, but only one thing to prove you are ignorant."

- "Don't ever slam a door, you might want to go back."

* Donald Rumsfeld (Donald Henry Rumsfeld; 9 Jul 1932 – 29 June 2021; was an American politician, government official, and businessman who served twice as Secretary of Defense. He was both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defense. Rumsfeld was also a three-term U.S. Congressman and White House Chief of Staff. Between his terms as secretary of defense, he served as the CEO and chairman of several companies.)

- "There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."

* Tom Hanks (Thomas Jeffrey Hanks; born 9 Jul 1956; is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. His top-grossing live-action films are The Da Vinci Code, Forrest Gump, Angels & Demons, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. Hanks was recently ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing American film actor of all time.)

- "If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great."

- "Never give up because you never know what the tide will bring in the next day."

- "You learn more from getting your butt kicked than getting it kissed."

22. Today in History (Source: History Channel)

1868: The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law.

23. Do You Need to Update Your Daily Bugle Profile?

(Source: Editor)

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24. Are Your Copies of Export/Import Regulations Current?

(Source: Editor)

The official versions of the following regulations are published annually in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) but are updated as amended in the Federal Register. The latest amendments are listed below.