12/05/2025
U.S. Trade Representative Seeks Public Input for USMCA Automotive Goods Review Ahead of 2026 Report
Check out this week’s Customs Corner to read about the USMCA automotive goods review, customs broker permit user fee, and more.
Trade and Customs Updates
1) U.S. Trade Representative Seeks Public Input for USMCA Automotive Goods Review Ahead of 2026 Report
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced a comprehensive review of trade in automotive goods under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as mandated by law, with a final report due to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee by July 1, 2026.
As part of this process, USTR is inviting comments from automotive producers, labor organizations, and other interested stakeholders on a range of issues, including the operation and enforcement of USMCA’s automotive provisions, compliance with rules of origin, use of alternative staging regimes, and the effectiveness of these rules in the context of evolving technologies and manufacturing processes.
Submissions should address topics such as regional value content (RVC) requirements, North American steel and aluminum purchase mandates, labor value content (LVC) requirements, and the certification process, among others. The deadline for written comments is January 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
This public input will help inform USTR’s report to Congress on whether the USMCA’s automotive provisions remain effective and relevant given ongoing changes in the automotive sector.
Further information and the procedures for submission of comments can be found in the Federal Register.
Reference:
2) CBP Announces 2026 Annual Customs Broker Permit User Fee and Payment Deadline
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced the details for the annual Customs Broker permit user fee for the 2026 calendar year. All customs brokers holding active national permits issued on or before December 31, 2025, are required to pay a user fee of $185.38 by Friday, January 30, 2026.
CBP has streamlined the payment process through its online portal, eCBP, which can be accessed at https://e.cbp.dhs.gov/ecbp/#/main. The portal is open for fee submissions from December 2, 2025, until the deadline of January 30, 2026. Payments can be made using credit or debit cards, with no additional processing fees for online transactions. Brokers will receive electronic receipts upon payment for their records.
CBP reminds all permit holders to complete their payments in a timely manner to ensure compliance and avoid any disruption to their operations in the coming year.
Reference:
- CSMS # 66971728 - 2026 Customs Broker Annual Permit User Fee Due Date – January 30, 2026
- Federal Register :: Customs Broker Permit User Fee Payment for 2025
3) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit in Dallas
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially announced that the 2026 Trade and Cargo Security Summit is scheduled for April 28-30, 2026. The event will be held in Dallas, Texas, and will offer both in-person and virtual participation options to accommodate a wider audience.
CBP has indicated that further information regarding registration and the agenda will be released in the coming weeks. Interested participants and industry stakeholders are encouraged to stay tuned for updates.
For any inquiries regarding the summit, CBP has provided a dedicated contact email: [email protected].
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