26-0716: Thursday's "Export/Import Daily Bugle"

1. Today's Federal Register (No items of interest.)

(Source: Today's Federal Register)

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

(Source: Future Federal Register)

3. CBP Cargo Systems Messages

(Source: DHS/CBP/CSMS)

4. CBP Events in July and August 2026

(Source: OTR Webinars)

5. CBP is Hiring Veterans and Military Spouses

(Source: CBP Newsroom, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is recruiting to fill mission-critical roles in law enforcement and mission operations support positions at locations throughout the United States, and will host a live virtual event at 2 pm ET, July 23, 2026, to highlight career opportunities available for veterans and military spouses.

Register HERE.

6. Commerce/BIS (Nothing new.)

(Source: Commerce/BIS)

7. State/DDTC (Nothing new.)

(Source: State/DDTC)

8. UK Strategic Export Controls 2025 Annual Report

(Source: UK ECJU, 15 Jul 2026)

This report gives a detailed overview of the UK's strategic export controls policy and export licensing decisions for the period January to December 2025.

9. US Trade Representative: "USTR Section 301 Action on Brazil's Unreasonable Acts, Policies, and Practices"

(Source: USTR Press Office, 15 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

Ambassador Jamieson Greer is taking final action, at President Trump's direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing a 25% tariff on certain goods of Brazil.
     This follows a yearlong investigation by USTR that determined that certain Brazilian measures related to digital trade and electronic payment services; unfair, preferential tariffs; anti-corruption interference; intellectual property protection; ethanol market access; and illegal deforestation are unreasonable and burden or restrict the commerce of American farmers, workers, innovators, and exporters.
     This action comes after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) convened two public hearings, received over 360 public comments, and negotiated intensively with the Government of Brazil to seek resolution of U.S. concerns. . . .
     To view the Federal Register Notice, click here.

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

(Source: The White House)

11. Breaking Defense: "Saronic to Start Construction of New Shipyard in Texas"

(Source: Breaking Defense News, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

Maritime defense tech firm Saronic unveiled plans today for a new shipyard in Brownville, Texas dubbed Port Alpha to bolster its shipbuilding capacity.
     The firm will start out building out roughly 800 acres — with the potential to expand to a total of 4,000 acres — as it constructs an entirely new shipyard from the ground up for the project, according to Saronic co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas. . . .
     The shipyard will focus on both defense and commercial ships, and will initially support construction of up to 850-foot ships, with the goal of eventually building 1,200-foot vessels. Likewise, the shipyard will support construction of both manned and unmanned vessels. . . .
     Ultimately, Saronic aims to employ 10,000 workers at Port Alpha over the course of the next decade for jobs including welding, machining, as well as positions for robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. Saronic said that it will partner with the state, county, and local education systems to establish workforce training pipelines for the yard. The firm is prepared to start construction on Port Alpha later this year, and start operations in 2028.

12. Expeditors News: "BIS Changes Export Controls for UAE"

(Source: Expeditors News, 15 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

On July 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule in the Federal Register announcing enhanced favorable treatment for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This rule removes the UAE from Country Groups D:3 and D:4 and adds it to Country Group A:5.
     This change makes additional license exceptions available and provides the UAE Government and certain approved commercial entities with "license-free access to advanced computing items".
     The rule became effective on July 10, 2026. The final rule is HERE.

13. Shapiro: "U.S. Announces 25% Section 301 Tariff on Most Brazilian Imports"

(Source: Shap Flash, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced a new 25% Section 301 tariff on most products of Brazil, effective July 22, 2026.
     The additional duty applies to covered goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on July 22. Importers must report new Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) heading 9903.05.01 for merchandise subject to the tariff.
     Goods loaded onto the final vessel and already in transit before the effective time may qualify for an exception if they are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, before 12:01 a.m. ET on July 29. This exemption does not apply to air or border crossings.
     USTR has established several exemptions, including: . . .
     [Full article]

14. Space News: "Trump's Pick to Lead Space Force Defends Plan to Double Budget"

(Source: Space News Archives, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts of subscription publication]

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Space Force backed the administration's proposal to more than double the service's budget, telling senators on Thursday that a $71.1 billion request was "exactly what we need" to counter China's rapidly expanding military capabilities in space.
     Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess said most of the proposed increase would pay for weapons, facilities, training and other equipment rather than personnel. The request would add about 2,800 uniformed Guardians and 2,000 civilian employees, a major expansion for a service created in 2019 with a deliberately small workforce.
     Schiess, appearing July 16 before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing, said China was fielding counterspace weapons and military satellite networks at a "breathtakingly fast" pace. . . .
     Limits on commercial weapons. Schiess drew a boundary around the Pentagon's growing reliance on commercial space companies, saying the military could lease services such as satellite communications and orbital tracking but should retain ownership and control of systems designed to damage other spacecraft. . . . [Full article]

15. ST&R Trade Report: "In the News: Tariffs and Trade Agreements"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

Why isn't the world retaliating against U.S. tariffs? "One important reason why most of them have not retaliated is that they persist in trying to preserve the global benefits, hard-won through the decades, of the rule-based multilateral system overseen by the WTO and so prefer not to take unilateral actions outside that system." [The Hill]

An emboldened India holds out for better terms in U.S. trade talks. "There was no consensus because Washington did not offer assurances on New Delhi's key demands: a tariff advantage over competitors such as China and no new U.S. levies after the deal, said an Indian government official aware of the talks." [Reuters]

After a year of tariffs, automakers are still resistant to moving production to the U.S. "Most automakers would rather pay tariffs than spend billions to build new facilities -- and the product lines that are coming to the US are moving into existing factories." [CNN]

Vietnam concludes free trade agreement negotiations with EFTA. "The agreement covers a wide range of areas, including trade in goods and services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, investment, intellectual property, trade remedies, government procurement, trade and sustainable development, small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as cooperation and capacity building." [Tuoitre News]

16. Frilling: "OFAC, BIS, or ITAR: Understanding the Three U.S. Trade Control Regimes and Why One International Transaction May Trigger All Three"

(Source: Frilling Law, 15 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

* Author: Diana Friling, Friling Law

Companies engaged in international trade often refer broadly to "sanctions compliance" without recognizing that U.S. trade controls are administered through multiple legal frameworks, each serving a distinct purpose. While sanctions screening has become standard practice for many businesses, compliance frequently requires much more than checking a customer against a restricted-party list.
     A single international transaction may simultaneously implicate the regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS"), and the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls ("DDTC"). Each agency regulates different aspects of cross-border commerce, and authorization under one regime does not eliminate obligations under another.
     Understanding the distinctions between these regulatory systems is essential for exporters, manufacturers, technology companies, financial institutions, logistics providers, and multinational corporations. Failure to analyze each applicable regime independently may result in significant civil penalties, criminal liability, shipment delays, contractual disputes, and reputational harm.
     This article provides a practical overview of the three principal U.S. trade-control regimes, explains how they interact, and highlights common compliance pitfalls businesses should avoid. . . . [Full article]

17. Sidley Austin: "Step by Step, Inch by Inch"

(Source: Author, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

* Author: Ted Murphy, Esq., [email protected]; Sidley & Austin LLP

There have been some further developments in the IEEPA tariff refund litigation. To recap, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is refunding IEEPA tariffs paid on unliquidated entries and on entries liquidated 80 days or less through Phase 1 of CAPE.
     Clients who filed in Phase 1 are reporting receiving most, if not all, of what they requested in Phase 1. CBP is also now processing refund requests on entries flagged for reconciliation (CAPE Phase 2) and the expectation is that refunds should start hitting importers' accounts soon.
     As for the tariffs paid on entries that have been liquidated for more than 90 days (*the difference in days is because CBP gave itself 10 days to process the refund request and to reliquidate the entry pursuant to 19 U.S.C. §1501), the government has advised that it will only issue refunds to importers that have filed their own lawsuit at the Court of International Trade (CIT).
     This is CAPE Phase 3. While the court has ordered the government to refund the IEEPA tariffs to all importers, the government is appealing the portion of the court's order requiring it to refund IEEPA tariffs paid on entries liquidated more than 90 days to importers that have not filed suit (i.e., can the court order the government to take action with regard to an entity that is not before the court).
     Today, the court confirmed that it will issue an order in each of the ~3,700 cases pending at the CIT directing CBP to refund the IEEPA tariffs paid on entries liquidated more than 90 days. The court did not specify exactly when it will do so, but we expect it to be soon.
     Once the court issues these orders, CBP has said it would be able to refund the IEEPA tariffs paid on these entries. It is not yet clear whether CBP will require the importer to make another submission in CAPE, or whether the court's order will be sufficient. . . .
     Finally, the court stated that it is still considering the motion for class certification filed on behalf of small importers in a case styled Freestyle World, Inc. v. United States. . . . [Full article]

18. ST&R Trade Report: "Trade Enforcement Efforts Increased as Penalties Soar"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

The Department of Justice this week rolled out additional trade enforcement tools amid news that intensified efforts over the past year have already brought in more than $1 billion.
     Importers are well-advised to ensure they have strong compliance measures in place so as to withstand this increased federal scrutiny and avoid the financial and reputational costs that violations and resulting penalties could incur. . . .
     Trade Fraud Task Force. In early 2025 the DOJ announced that its Criminal Division's enforcement priorities for prosecuting corporate and white-collar crimes would include "trade and customs fraudsters, including those who commit tariff evasion." To reflect that effort the division expanded its corporate whistleblower awards pilot program to add "trade, tariff, and customs fraud by corporations" as a priority area. . . . [Full article]
     New Measures. The DOJ is looking to build on these results by establishing a new Global Trade and Commerce Enforcement Section within its National Fraud Enforcement Division. . . . The DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security have released "A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement," which they called "a roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities." This guide addresses topics such as who and what is covered by customs regulations and laws against trade fraud as well as the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement.

19. Volkov: "Foreign Bribery Has No Borders"

(Source: Volkov Law, 16 Jul 2026) [Excerpts]

* Principal Author: Michael Volkov, Volkov Law Group LLC

When it comes to foreign bribery, borders provide no protection. The European Union just approved one of the most significant anti-corruption initiatives in decades, and multinational companies have to pay attention.
     The EU's Anti-Corruption Directive is designed to harmonize anti-corruption enforcement across the member states. It expands corruption offenses, strengthens enforcement tools, and increases accountability for both individuals and organizations.
     Companies operating in Europe can expect greater scrutiny of gifts, hospitality, conflicts of interest, influence peddling, and bribery schemes. The overall message is clear. Europe is moving toward a more aggressive and coordinated anti-corruption enforcement system.
     [Listen to podcast on this subject HERE.]

20. Export Compliance Solutions Presents: "9th Annual ITAR/EAR Symposium" Seminar, 15-16 Sep 2026 in Annapolis

(Source: Marie Nicolo)

21. List of Export/Import Job Openings

(Source: Editor)

23. Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations

(Source: Brainy Quotes)

Orville Redenbacher (Orville Clarence Redenbacher; 16 Jul 1907 – 19 Sep 1995; was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name. The New York Times described him as "the agricultural visionary who all but single-handedly revolutionized the American popcorn industry.")

Mary Baker Eddy (16 Jul 1821 – 3 Dec 1910; was an American religious leader and author who founded The Church of Christ, Scientist, in New England in 1879. She also founded The Christian Science Monitor, a Pulitzer Prize-winning secular newspaper, in 1908. She wrote numerous books and articles, the most notable of which was Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Adherents of Christian Science claim that sickness is just a belief, not a property of matter.)

Will Ferrell (John William Ferrell; born July 16, 1967; is an American actor, comedian, producer, and writer. He first established himself as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in comedy films such as Elf, Kicking & Screaming, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Semi-Pro, and Land of the Lost.)

Shoeless Joe Jackson (Joseph Jefferson Jackson; 16 Jul 1887 – 5 Dec 1951; was an American outfielder who played Major League Baseball (MLB) in the early 1900s. Although his .356 career batting average is the fourth highest in the history of Major League Baseball, he is often remembered for his association with the Black Sox Scandal, in which members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox participated in a conspiracy to fix the World Series. As a result, Jackson was banned from baseball after the 1920 season. During the World Series in question, Jackson led both teams in several statistical categories and set a World Series record with 12 base hits.)

24. Today in History (Source: History Channel)

622: The Hijra (Hegira) began as the Prophet Muhammad started the migration from Mecca to Medina. This event marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

1918: On July 16, 1918, Russian Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks, bringing an end to the three century Romanov dynasty.

1935: On July 16, 1935, the world's first coin parking meter, known as Park-O-Meter No. 1, was installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

1945: On July 16, 1945, at 5:29 a.m., the first atomic bomb was successfully exploded in a test at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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

(Source: Editor)

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26. 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.