The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced some new customs regulations that are not official yet, but will take effect on December 19, 2023. These regulations are part of the modernization of the customs broker process, which aims to align with contemporary business practices and enhance efficiency and compliance.

Some of the key changes in the new regulations include:

• A single national permit for customs brokers, which will eliminate the need for district permits and fees.
• An increase in the customs broker license application fee for all applicants, to cover a portion of the costs associated with licensing.
• An expansion of the forms of accepted payment for customs broker fees, to include electronic options.
• A requirement for customs brokers to report their employees to CBP electronically, using the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) broker account portal.
• A requirement for customs brokers to verify the identity of their importer clients using a CBP-approved method, and to maintain records of such verification.
• A requirement for customs brokers to notify CBP of any cyber security breaches that may compromise their data or systems.

These new regulations are based on recommendations from CBP, the broker community, and the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC). They are designed to reflect the current business environment and to enable customs brokers to meet the challenges of the modern operating environment, while preserving robust U.S. trade operations.

For more information on these new regulations, please refer to the following sources:

• CBP Publishes Modernized Customs Broker Regulations
• Customs Broker Modernization Regulations 19 CFR 111