As export controls and sanctions have become more sophisticated, so have the strategies used to circumvent them. Products may be sold to a legitimate customer in one country, routed through another country, and then ultimately diverted to a restricted end user to a prohibited destination. This is known as diversion and is becoming a significant…
Remember when customs compliance was mostly about getting the classification, value, and country of origin right? Those were simpler times. CBP is considering new requirements that could give the agency much greater visibility into your supply chain, including who manufactured your goods, who sold them, who shipped them, where they came from, and what information was…
Parts 1 and 2 explored the changing USMCA landscape, the growing focus on Chinese-origin inputs, rules of origin, transshipment, tariffs, documentation, and the possible directions the agreement could take. Now comes the most important part: What should businesses do about it? The smartest approach is not panic. It is preparation. Businesses do not need to…
Did you know that the anti-boycott laws are part of export compliance? If not, you are not alone, as this is often an overlooked due diligence requirement necessary to comply with the U.S. export laws. Understanding what U.S. anti-boycott compliance means and how it affects day-to-day operations is key to adhering to the requirements. These…
Have you ever read a Federal Register notice and immediately felt overwhelmed by terms like “Interim Final Rule” (IFR), “License Exception STA”, or “Country Group A:1”? You’re not alone. Many businesses stop reading at the legal jargon, which means they often miss opportunities that could make exporting easier and more competitive. One recent example is…
If you’ve been bracing for a CMMC Level 2 audit this fall, take a breath, but don’t take your foot off the gas just yet. On July 13, 2026, the Department of War hit pause on CMMC Phase II, the rule that was going to require a formal third-party assessment before you could win or…
If you’ve ever wished importing consumer products came with just one more compliance requirement, congratulations – your wish has been granted. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has finalized its long-awaited electronic filing (eFiling) rule, ushering in one of the most significant changes to product import compliance in years. While “electronic filing of Certificates…
Every Independence Day, communities across the country celebrate with one of America’s favorite traditions: fireworks displays. Depending on the size of the event, a professional fireworks show can cost anywhere from $5,000 for a small municipal display to well over $100,000 for large city celebrations. Major metropolitan displays can easily exceed several hundred thousand dollars….
If you are an exporter, chances are you’ve had questions about complying with the export regulations. Understanding the regulations is one thing; applying them correctly in real-world situations is another. If you’ve ever wondered whether other exporters struggle with the same challenges, you’re not alone. Test your export compliance knowledge with some of the most…
When I think about artificial intelligence, my mind goes straight to the movies. Blade Runner, The Terminator, RoboCop, and of course, Johnny Five from Short Circuit. “Johnny Five is alive!” Still one of the best lines. More recent films like Ex Machina and Her push the idea even further, showing AI as something deeply embedded…