26-1019: Monday's "Export/Import Daily Bugle"

1. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(Source: 91 FR 66281, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

2. President Continues National Emergency With Respect to Sudan
(Source: 91 FR 66279, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

3. Future Federal Register (No relevant items.)
(Source: Future Federal Register)

4. CBP Cargo Systems Messages
(Source: DHS/CBP/CSMS)

5. CBP Reminder: Licensed Customs Brokers Must Complete Continuing Education by 31 Jan 2027
(Source: CBP Continuing Education, 1 Oct 2026)

     “Dear Licensed Customs Broker: To maintain your license, you are required to complete 20 hours of Continuing Education (CE) no later than January 31, 2027. Don’t wait until the last minute. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the revocation of your customs broker’s license.
     If you have not yet done so, start your CE training today. Visit the Customs Broker Triennial Status Report (TSR) and Continuing Education (CE) Requirements | U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Customs Broker Continuing Education | U.S. Customs and Border Protection webpages.
     CE Requirements: Individual brokers are required to complete 20 hours of CE credits to maintain their license for the current triennial period.

     TSR Requirements: Filing the TSR requires individual brokers with active licenses to certify CE compliance, provide CBP with current contact information, and pay the triennial fee.

     CBP recommends that brokers file their TSR as soon as their CE credits are complete. The deadline to complete the 20 hours of CE credits is January 31, 2027.”

6. CBP to Host UFLPA Webinar 28 Oct 2026
(Source: OTR Webinars)

7. Commerce/BIS (Nothing new.)
(Source: Commerce/BIS)

8. Office of Congressman McGovern: Lawmakers Question India’s Eligibility for US Arms Sales
(Source: Office of Congressman McGovern, 16 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

     Seven House members sent a letter on October 16, 2026, to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to prioritize human rights in his discussions this weekend with Indian officials.
     The lawmakers emphasized that the U.S.-India relationship is grounded in shared democratic values and a commitment to freedom of expression and assembly.
     The letter cites reports of mass detentions, excessive force, internet shutdowns, and restrictions on peaceful protests in India related to examination controversies, unemployment, and changes to voter rolls that reportedly removed more than 130 million voters.
     Lawmakers also expressed concern over allegations that individuals linked to Indian diplomatic missions photographed and monitored protesters in Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco.
     The members urged Rubio to press India to conduct independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses, advocate for the release of individuals detained for peaceful protest activity, and investigate reports of surveillance or intimidation of protesters within the United States.
     They also called on the State Department, pursuant to Section 6 of the Arms Export Control Act, to determine whether India has engaged in a consistent pattern of intimidation or harassment of individuals in the United States that could affect its eligibility for U.S. arms sales. [Full article]

9. State/DDTC (Nothing new.)
(Source: Defense Directorate of Trade Controls)

10. Treasury/OFAC: “PAIPA Designations; Issuance of Associated General Licenses; Changes to NS-MBS List”
(Source: Treasury/OFAC, 19 Oct 2026)

     The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2022 (PAIPA) General License 1, "Transactions Authorized Pursuant to the Cyber-Related Sanctions Regulations;" and Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2022 (PAIPA) General License 2, "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Entities Blocked on October 19, 2026."
     OFAC has also made the following changes to its Non-SDN Menu Based Sanctions List (NS-MBS List): [Continue]

11. US Trade Representative (No relevant items.)
(Source: USTR.gov)

12. White House Actions (No new items of Ex/Im interest.)
(Source: The White House)

13. ABA Banking Journal: “Recent news from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of State”
(Source: ABA Banking Journal, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

     The Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of State announced the following sanctions actions in the last two weeks.

14. Breaking Defense: “Ukrainian Defense Firms Get Creative to Try and Break Through Export Restrictions”
(Source: Breaking Defense News, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts] [Editor’s summary]

     Ukraine made its strongest showing ever at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference, with 14 companies participating in a dedicated Ukrainian defense pavilion. It was the country’s first appearance since 2017, before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
     Despite growing international interest in Ukrainian defense technology, exporting weapons remains difficult. Ukrainian firms say they face a complex regulatory environment that limits access to foreign markets.
     In April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to ease wartime export restrictions that have largely prohibited military exports since 2022. Under the revised approach, companies would be allowed to export certain domestically produced weapons to allied countries, but only after Ukraine’s armed forces receive the quantities they need. Exports would be limited to production beyond government orders.
     However, six months later, defense companies report that the promised opportunities have not yet translated into a straightforward export process. Industry representatives say a gap remains between the government’s policy changes and their practical implementation.
     According to a spokesperson for Phantom Defense, companies are still learning how to navigate the new export licensing system. While the framework for exports now exists, the licensing process can become a bottleneck, slowing efforts to enter international markets.
     As a result, Ukrainian defense manufacturers attending AUSA expressed optimism about future export opportunities but said regulatory and licensing challenges continue to hinder their ability to sell weapons abroad. [Full article]

15. Diaz: “CBP Informal Entry Deadline Extended, 60-Month Prison Sentence for Export Violations”
(Source: Customs & International Trade Law Blog, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

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

     Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade law news:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Department of Justice (DOJ)

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

U.S. Department of State

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Congress

16. Expeditors News: “CBP Extends ET13 Mandatory Implementation Date”
(Source: Expeditors News, 16 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]

     In a press release published on October 14, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a 90-day extension of the compliance date for informal Entry Type 13 (ET13) procedures to January 20, 2027.
     The original compliance date was October 22, 2026. Under the ET13 requirements, all international postal shipments subject to duties under Section 201, 232, or 301, or subject to the jurisdiction of a Partner Government Agency (PGA), must be electronically filed through the ET13 process in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
     Despite the extension, CBP “encourages filers to begin using the optional Entry Type 13 process for the informal entry of international mail shipments during this transition period to ensure readiness in advance of the new mandatory deadline.”
     CBP’s press release is HERE. More information on ET13 procedures is HERE.

17. ST&R Trade Report: “CBP Bumps Up Export Enhancements in ACE”
(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 19 Oct 2026) [Editor’s summary]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has revised its timeline for several Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) enhancements.
     ACE tools and reporting capabilities can support importer compliance and duty-saving efforts.
     Key updates include:

18. WTTL: “OFAC Rolls Out Trade Secret Sanctions on Chinese Fund”
(Source: Washington Tariff & Trade Letter, 19 Oct 2026) [Editor’s summary of subscription publication article.]

     The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned MiraclePlus and three affiliated Chinese investment entities under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2022 (PAIPA).
     The sanctions target entities connected to the investment network surrounding former Google engineer Linwei Ding, who was prosecuted for stealing AI trade secrets.
     The designated entities include MiraclePlus and three related venture-capital funds. OFAC also issued a general license permitting certain wind-down transactions through January 19, 2027.
     Court records show MiraclePlus invested about $700,000 for a 7% stake in Zhisuan, Ding’s AI startup. However, public records do not establish that MiraclePlus knowingly participated in the trade-secret theft, and OFAC has not publicly detailed the basis for the sanctions designation.
     The sanctions impose blocking restrictions and limit certain financing, banking, foreign-exchange, and investment transactions involving the designated entities. Companies with investment or business ties to the sanctioned parties should review ownership structures, payment flows, and potential exposure.
     The case highlights the growing use of sanctions authorities to address theft of U.S. intellectual property and related financing networks.

19. Baker McKenzie: “Canada Issues New Guidance on Deemed Ownership Under Its Economic Sanctions Regime”
(Source: Global Sanctions and Export Controls Blog, 19 Oct 2026) [Editor’s summary]

• Principal Author: Julia Webster, Baker McKenzie

     Global Affairs Canada (GAC) issued new guidance on October 13, 2026, explaining how Canadian sanctions laws determine whether an entity is controlled by a sanctioned person.
     The guidance interprets provisions added in 2023 to the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (JVCFOA).
     Under the rules, an entity may be treated as owned by a designated person, and therefore subject to sanctions restrictions, even if the entity itself is not listed.
     The guidance highlights three key control tests:
     (1) Aggregated Ownership: Ownership interests held by multiple sanctioned persons are combined when assessing the 50% ownership or voting-rights threshold. For example, two designated persons holding 25% each could trigger the rule.
     (2) Board Control: Control may exist if a designated person can appoint or remove a majority of directors, control a majority of shareholder voting rights through agreements, or otherwise determine the board’s composition.
     (3) De Facto Control: Regulators may find control where a sanctioned person can effectively direct an entity’s activities through influence rather than formal ownership. Indicators include dominant shareholder status, special contractual rights, buyback clauses, transfers to family members or associates, and the use of trusts, shell companies, or other structures that conceal influence.
     The guidance also provides examples involving indirect ownership and proxy arrangements, emphasizing that authorities will examine the substance of ownership and governance arrangements, not just legal form.
     For businesses, the message is clear: sanctions due diligence must extend beyond share ownership to include governance rights, contractual arrangements, and other signs of control. An entity's absence from Canadian sanctions lists does not necessarily mean transactions with it are permitted. [Full article]

20. RSWebsols: “Tesla Roadster SpaceX Bundle Sparks Ongoing Regulatory Concerns”
(Source: RSWebsols, 18 Oct 2026) [Editor’s summary]

     Recent attention has focused on Tesla’s proposed Roadster “Rocket” package, which would reportedly use about 10 cold-gas thrusters and roughly 600 liters of compressed air to pursue sub-one-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration.
     Tesla engineering executive Lars Moravy has publicly discussed the concept, but no reviewed sources confirm final production specifications, actual SpaceX flight hardware use, or a commercial rollout plan.
     Tesla’s SEC filings identify SpaceX as a related entity, reflecting shared ownership and management ties. Past transactions have included purchases of Tesla components, engineering support, tooling, energy products, and software licensing. These documented business relationships do not, by themselves, demonstrate shared technology ownership or undisclosed technology transfers.
     The proposal raises export-control considerations. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) govern defense articles, technical data, and services on the U.S. Munitions List, including certain rockets, launch vehicles, and related systems. Whether any Roadster component would be ITAR-controlled depends on the specific item and technical data involved, not merely SpaceX’s participation.
     Likewise, Export Administration Regulations (EAR) concerns could arise if controlled technical data were shared with foreign nationals, creating potential deemed-export issues. No evidence reviewed indicates such violations occurred.
     Shareholders may also question intellectual-property ownership, arm’s-length pricing, liability allocation, disclosure obligations, and whether any ITAR-, EAR-, or contract-controlled technology could limit international manufacturing, servicing, or sales.
     No public evidence confirms a Tesla-SpaceX co-development agreement, technology transfer, royalty arrangement, or transfer of proprietary aerospace technology for automotive use. [Full article]

21. ST&R Trade Report: “A Different Kind of Tariff Relief Envisioned by New Bill”
(Source: Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report, 19 Oct 2026) [Excerpts]. Contact: [email protected], 1-305-894-1035

     Rep. John James, R-Mich., recently introduced the Tariff Relief for American Development and Employment Act of 2026—the TRADE Act.
     In essence, this bill would create a compensation fund for U.S. manufacturers, farmers, and workers harmed by tariffs or foreign retaliation, provided they maintain U.S. jobs.
     The bill would provide four forms of assistance to eligible entities. . . .
     Under this bill, applicants for relief would need records of tariffs paid, retaliation-driven export losses, higher production costs, jobs at risk, delayed domestic investments, and reshoring plans needing support. . . .
     But the TRADE Act arises in a different legal and factual context, so the WTO and U.S. courts could reach different conclusions. It might be something Congress could support in a lame duck session, absent the administration taking a broader approach to providing some tariff relief to U.S. companies first. [Full article]

22. Volkov: “Your Code of Conduct Is Certified, Not Used: What LRN’s 2026 Report Says About the Gap”
(Source: Volkov Law, 18 Oct 2026) [Editor’s summary]

• Principal Author: Michael Volkov, Volkov Law Group LLC

     LRN’s 2026 Code of Conduct Report finds that while codes of conduct are nearly universal, employee engagement with them is declining. Although 95% of employees must acknowledge their company’s code and 68% do so annually, only 63% report using it as a resource, down from 70% the previous year. Just one-third use it regularly outside formal training.
     Employees cite usability challenges: 24% say codes are too long or difficult to navigate, 20% find them lacking practical guidance, and 18% struggle to locate specific information. While most codes include basic features such as policy links and tables of contents, only 39% contain ethical decision-making frameworks and 29% provide scenario-based guidance.
     The report also finds that many codes lag evolving risks. While traditional topics such as conflicts of interest, confidential information, and anti-corruption appear in most codes, only 53% cover international trade issues, 51% address labor laws, and just 9% discuss AI or technology ethics. LRN recommends aligning codes with current risk assessments, including trade controls, sanctions, forced labor, data protection, and AI where relevant.
     Training remains effective but is reaching fewer employees, and confidence in reporting misconduct without retaliation has declined from 71% to 66%. LRN concludes that compliance programs should focus less on certification rates and more on usability, practical guidance, manager engagement, speak-up confidence, and whether employees actually rely on the code when making difficult decisions.
     . . . [Full article]

23. Skill Dynamics Presents: “Jurisdiction, Classification, & Confidence”
(Source: Skill Dynamics -- Previously Content Enablers)

24. List of Export/Import Job Openings
(Source: Editor)

RECENT:

FULL LIST (Includes above entries.):

25. Changes Coming to the Daily Bugle
(Source: Editor)

     Friends, for 25 years, I've published The Import/Export Daily Bugle as a free newsletter, but publishing expenses leave me with a tough choice: either start charging for subscriptions or stop publishing.
     I would hate to see the Daily Bugle end. Starting today, new subscribers will receive a free 14-day trial. After the trial, subscriptions will cost $10 per month or a discounted annual rate of $100. Current subscribers have until November 2^nd to resubscribe HERE. After November 2^nd, current subscribers who have not resubscribed will no longer receive the Bugle.
     The Daily Bugle has always been a labor of love, and I hope it has been useful to you over the years. If enough readers subscribe to cover costs—with, I hope, a little left over—the Bugle can continue for many years to come.
     Sincerely, Jim Bartlett

27. Bartlett's Unfamiliar Quotations
(Source: Brainy Quotes)

28. Today in History
(Source: History Channel)

     1781: Americans defeat the British at Yorktown. Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force on October 19, 1781, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Although the war persisted on the high seas and in other theaters, the Patriot victory at Yorktown effectively ended fighting in the American colonies. Peace negotiations began in 1782, and on September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally recognizing the United States as a free and independent nation after eight years of war.

29. Do You Need to Update Your Daily Bugle Profile?
(Source: Editor)

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30. 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.