US Customs crackdown on foreign importers remakes trade landscape
By Bradley Dress and Zack Budryk ( November 12, 2026, 20:53 GMT | Comment) -- US Customs and Border Protection pushed the trade community into new territory last week after announcing a major crackdown on foreign importers of record that increases the pressure on companies but is also likely to meet a number of challenges. CBP announced last week it would require foreign IORs to register with the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program or to find a customs broker that is CTPAT-validated, essentially forcing importers with global ties to undergo strict screening and security requirements. The move, coming after a June executive order from President Donald Trump that required CBP to tighten up trade enforcement, is expected to create a major new customs landscape and has already spurred a wave of companies and brokers to make changes.US Customs and Border Protection pushed the trade community into new territory last week after announcing a major crackdown on foreign importers of record (IORs) that increase the pressure on companies but is also likely to meet a number of challenges. ...
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