26-0811: Tuesday'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 Announces Stakeholders for Reimbursable Services Program 2026-1

(Source: CBP Trade Relations, [email protected])

     U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is pleased to announce the selection of 27 stakeholders to participate in the Reimbursable Services Program (RSP), as provided for under Section 481 of the Homeland Security Act, 2002. The list of stakeholders can be viewed HERE.
     The Reimbursable Services Program is a key component of CBP's public-private partnerships and is an opportunity for us to proactively work with stakeholders and communities to identify business solutions for a variety of border management needs.
     The application period opened on February 1, 2017 and will remain open indefinitely, with evaluations beginning in March, July and November of each year. After a rigorous, multi-layered evaluation process for each application, 27 stakeholders were selected to partner with CBP under the RSP, as detailed in the chart attached.
     As background, the Section 481 authority allows CBP to support requests for expanded services through reimbursable service agreements. Reimbursable services under Section 481 include customs, immigration, and agricultural processing; salaries for additional staff; and overtime expenses at airports.
     Learn more about CBP's Reimbursable Services Program at https://www.cbp.gov/RSP. Questions at: [email protected].

5. CBP Events in August 2026

(Source: OTR Webinars)

6. Commerce/BIS (Nothing new.)

(Source: Commerce/BIS)

7. State/DDTC: Data Collection Modernization (DCM) Coming September 14 to Modernize DDTC's Licensing Experience

(Source: State/DDTC)

     DDTC is pleased to announce the initial production release of the Data Collection Modernization (DCM) initiative, deploying to the DECCS Production environment on September 14, 2026.
     The Data Collection Modernization initiative is a multi-phase effort to modernize how DDTC collects, manages, and uses data across its digital services. This initial release focuses on enhancements to the licensing experience that improve data quality, streamline application submission, and deliver a more modern, user-friendly experience for industry users.
     This release affects:

     Organizations that submit applications through batch processes should ensure their systems are prepared for the September 14, 2026, production deployment.
     Updated user guides will be published before the release.
     Questions: Contact the DECCS Help Desk at 202-663-2838 | [email protected]. . . .

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

(Source: The White House)

9. AP: "Pentagon Pushes Defense Companies to Boost Weapons Production After Concerns of Depleted Stocks"

(Source: AP News, 8 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

     The Pentagon is pressing the U.S. defense industry to accelerate production of weapons to help replenish its diminished stockpile of munitions, including those depleted in the ongoing war with Iran.
     Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Saturday that the department was actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to provide "the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands."
     He confirmed department efforts in the last week to significantly speed the process but insisted it was part of a broader modernization effort that predated the five-month-old conflict.
     Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg wrote to industry leaders on Wednesday, giving them no more than 21 days to submit plans to "drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities," according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. . . .
     [Full article]

10. Expeditors News: "White House Announces Section 232 Tariffs on Polysilicon and Derivative Products"

(Source: Expeditors News, 10 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

     In a Presidential Proclamation published on August 6, 2026, the White House announced Section 232 measures establishing minimum import prices (MIPs) for polysilicon and certain downstream products, along with a 15% ad valorem duty on specified polysilicon derivatives.
     The proclamation establishes the following MIPs:

     The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to adjust MIPs as market conditions warrant. Imports valued below the applicable MIP may be subject to a tariff equal to the shortfall between the entered value and the MIP.
     These measures apply to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. ET on December 4, 2026.
     The "Adjusting Imports of Polysilicon and its Derivatives into the United States" Presidential Proclamation can be found HERE.

11. FedEx News: "Regulatory Alert: US Customs User Fees to Increase"

(Source: FedEx Regulatory News, 6 Aug 2026)

     What is changing? On October 1, 2026, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will increase certain user fees in accordance with 19 CFR 24.22. Included among the adjusted fees are the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) minimum and maximum limitations for formal entries:

     CBP announced the updated fees in a general notice published on July 30, 2026, which identifies the customs user fee increases for fiscal year (fy) 2027 as required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).
     The FAST Act mandates that various customs fees be increased for inflation each fiscal year based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.
     Q 1 -- At what value thresholds do the MPF minimum and maximum fees for formal entries apply?
     A 1 -- The new minimum MPF fee of $34.58 will apply to all formal entry shipments valued $9,984.00 or less. The new maximum MPF fee of $670.86 will apply to all shipments valued $193,665 or higher.
     Q 2 -- Does this MPF increase apply for values between the minimum and maximum?
     A 2 -- No, the increase is applied only for the minimum and maximum fee assessment.
     All other MPF fees for shipments between those two values are calculated at the established ad valorem rate of 0.3464% (e.g., a shipment valued at $20,000 USD requires an MPF fee of $69.28 USD).
     Q 3 -- Are there any exemptions to the MPF assessment?
     A 3 -- Yes: CBP regulations in 19 CFR 24.23(c) provide a list of exemptions from the MPF. Examples include, but are not limited to:
     . . . [Full article]

12. ST&R Trade Report: "$5.15 Million Penalty for Import Duty Evasion"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 11 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     The Department of Justice reports that a Taiwanese company [Everlight Electronics] and its U.S.-based subsidiary have agreed to pay $5.15 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, common law, and the Tariff Act of 1930 by knowingly failing to pay duties owed on imports from China.
     According to an agency press release, the DOJ alleged that for more than three years the companies knowingly misrepresented that products originated in Taiwan, when in fact they were manufactured in China, to avoid paying applicable Section 301 tariffs.
     DOJ also alleged that for nearly four years the companies continued to import goods from Taiwan, some of which were manufactured in China based on the country of origin of one component, without segregating the Chinese-made components from the Taiwanese-made components during manufacturing of the final product.
     DOJ notes that this settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the FCA by a former company employee. . . . [Full article]

13. Zamin: "Confidential Boeing Aircraft Drawings Leaked to the Darknet"

(Source: Zamin News (Uzbekistan), 9 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

     Important technical documents and engineering drawings belonging to Boeing, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers, have been put up for sale on the darknet. The incident could pose a serious threat not only to corporate security but also to export controls at the international level. This was reported by Ixbt.com.
     According to ixbt.com, an unidentified hacker has put up for sale a large archive with a total size of 70 gigabytes. The documents are directly related to the production processes of Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 airliners and are being offered for 200,000 US dollars. At the same time, the seller says they are willing to negotiate the price.
     According to expert analysis, the likely source of the data is believed to be SEKISUI Aerospace, a company operating in the United States and owned by Japan's Sekisui Chemical Corporation. The company manufactures aviation components from composite and thermoplastic materials and is considered one of the key suppliers for Boeing programs.
     The seller claims that the acquired archive contains the following important technical materials:

     Security and Export Control Issues. Experts specifically note that the data includes documents bearing special markings regulated by US export controls. If these files are indeed authentic and accurate, their sale to third parties could constitute a violation of strict US restrictions on the transfer and export of technical data. . . .
     [Full article with links]

14. CMS: "China Expands Reporting Regime for Export Control and Adds 14 EU Entities to Control List"

(Source: CMS Law, 10 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

* Principal Author: Dr. Falk Lichtenstein, CMS Law, Beijing

     China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has intensified export control measures by introducing new export control rules and adding new entities into China's Export Control Entity List. The following is a summary of recent key regulatory developments.
     Enhancement of reporting regime for violations of export control regulations. On 24 June 2026, MOFCOM published Notice No.26 Announcement on Matters Concerning the Further Improvement of the Handling of Reports of Illegal and Non-Compliant Conduct in Relation to Export Controls on Dual-Use Items of Strategic Minerals, which enhances the reporting regime for violations of export control regulations concerning strategic minerals, specifically, rare earth materials.
     This Notice encourages individuals and organisations to report violations of export control regulations, including companies engaged in the following:

     Legal implications: Entities involved in export activities from China should review their operations and transactions to ensure that they are not engaging in prohibited conduct. They should also implement robust export control compliance programmes and internal controls to mitigate the risk of violations.
     Addition of 14 EU entities to China's Export Control Entity List: On 24 July 2026, MOFCOM announced the addition of 14 EU entities to China's Export Control Entity List. According to MOFCOM, this measure was introduced in response to the EU's decision to add 14 Chinese and Hong Kong entities to its sanctions list and constitutes a reciprocal action by China. The 14 designated EU entities include defence companies, advanced technology companies engaged in the semiconductor, photovoltaic, and drone industries, as well as universities and research institutions. . . . [Full article]

15. Fried Frank: "CFIUS Releases 2025 Annual Report"

(Source: Int'l Trade and Investment Alert, 11 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

* Principal Author: Michael T. Gershberg, Esq., Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

     The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS") recently delivered its unclassified Annual Report to Congress for the calendar year 2025 ("Annual Report"). CFIUS continued to be very active in 2025, with an increase in the number of CFIUS filings for the first time in several years. On average, the CFIUS process was slightly more protracted for parties in 2025.
     Although CFIUS cleared 67% of all filings at the initial review or assessment stage, there was an increase in both the percentage of declarations that required a subsequent notice filing and the number of notices that were withdrawn and refiled.
     CFIUS was also responsible for scuttling seven deals in 2025. At the same time, CFIUS was active in enforcement and monitoring, requesting filings for nine non-notified transactions and issuing notices of noncompliance for failure to make mandatory filings.
     In contrast, CFIUS did not impose any monetary penalties for violations of material provisions in mitigation agreements. There were also two presidential orders blocking transactions that were reviewed in 2025. . . .
     [Full article]

16. Insider: "A Farewell to (American) Arms: Europe is Pushing the U.S. Out of Its Military-Industrial Complex"

(Source: The Insider (Latvia), 10 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

     A quiet revolution is underway in Europe: import substitution in the defense sector. The EU intends to free itself from American technology so it can develop and sell weapons without having to seek Washington's approval.
     The shift has been driven by growing disagreements with the U.S. over a range of issues — aid to Ukraine, trade tariffs, and repeated American threats to withdraw from NATO. As a result, Europe has concluded that it must invest in its own security and strategic autonomy.
     But money alone will not be enough. The continent also needs to bring order to its fragmented defense industry, and that will not be easy, given the wide range of weapons systems in use by its various national armies and the risk that populist politicians pose to long-term planning.
     Meanwhile, Poland and the Baltic states have demonstrated little faith in Europe's defense-industrial independence and continue to buy American weapons. However, Brussels' new rules will require them to give preference to European manufacturers. . . . [Full article]

17. ST&R Trade Report: "CAFTA-DR Apparel Claims Remain Under Scrutiny; What Importers Can Do"

(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 11 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to devote significant enforcement resources to reviewing apparel imports claiming preferential tariff treatment under the Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
     As discussed in STR's April 2024 advisory regarding the Department of Homeland Security's strategy to combat customs fraud in textile and apparel supply chains, importers should continue to exercise heightened diligence when reviewing origin documentation and maintaining compliance procedures. Current enforcement trends suggest that CBP's efforts may be affecting a substantial number of apparel entries claiming CAFTA-DR benefits.
     Extended Liquidation Periods May Signal CBP Review. Importers should regularly monitor their Automated Commercial Environment data and identify entries for which liquidation has been extended. While an extension of liquidation does not necessarily indicate a violation or enforcement action, it may signal that CBP is conducting additional review of the entry and its supporting claims.
     Companies that identify CAFTA-DR apparel entries with extended liquidation should therefore consider proactively reviewing the records associated with those entries, particularly documentation supporting compliance with the agreement's sewing thread requirements. . . . [Full article]

18. Volkov: "Are You Looking for DOJ Enforcement in the Wrong Place?"

(Source: Volkov Law, 11 Aug 2026) [Excerpts]

* Principal Author: Michael Volkov, Volkov Law Group LLC

     If you're looking at the Justice Department and only at FCPA cases, you're looking in the wrong place. Everyone's talking about the DOJ going soft on corporate crime. I want to push back on that narrative because I think it's incomplete and, honestly, a little dangerous if compliance officers believe it.
     Yes, traditional FCPA and bribery prosecutions have slowed. But look at where the resources are actually going. Trade enforcement is exploding. Sanctions enforcement is aggressive and getting more aggressive by the month.
     And here's the one that should really get your attention: the False Claims Act is now being used against companies for tariff circumvention and customs fraud, with qui tam relators and lawyers lining up to bring those cases.
     This isn't a retreat. It's a reallocation. DOJ has simply moved its firepower to where the current priorities sit: national security, trade, tariffs, sanctions, and export controls. If your compliance program is still built around FCPA risk and you haven't retooled for trade and sanctions exposure, you are exposed right now, today. Update your risk assessment. This is not the moment to stand down. . . .
     [Listen to podcast HERE.]

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

(Source: Marie Nicolo)

20. Global Training Center Presents: "Due Diligence Course" 22 September Online

(Source: Global Training Center)

21. List of Export/Import Job Openings

(Source: Editor)

23. Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations

(Source: Brainy Quotes)

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

(Source: Editor)

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25. 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.