Artificial intelligence can help trade teams work through product information faster. It can identify patterns across product descriptions, surface likely tariff headings, flag missing attributes, and route uncertain cases to specialists. That potential is real. So is the control challenge.
For years, customs compliance has centered on getting the entry right: correct classification, declared value, country of origin, admissibility information, and supporting records. Those disciplines remain foundational. CBP’s newest regulatory initiative, however, signals a broader direction. The question is increasingly not only whether an importer can support a customs entry, but whether it can create a reliable, connected picture of the supply chain behind it.
Every year, importers tell themselves the same thing: this time, we will plan the holiday season earlier. In 2026, that resolution is no longer optional. Between an active conflict around the Strait of Hormuz, renewed threats to Red Sea shipping, oil prices swinging from $71 to $126 a barrel within a few months, and a tariff calendar that keeps rewriting itself, the runway to Black Friday and the December holidays has never been shorter or more uncertain.
As we reach the halfway point of 2026, many businesses are reviewing their operational goals. However, the import process is often overlooked, creating risks of delays and added costs. A mid-year import health check provides a crucial opportunity to identify inefficiencies, resolve recurring issues, and streamline your customs workflows—ensuring your team is fully prepared for the demands of the second half of the year.
Two Headquarters rulings issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in May 2026 carry practical lessons for importers operating across very different industries — leather goods and aviation. Together, they reinforce two foundational principles of U.S. customs law: how country of origin is determined when goods are processed abroad, and what actually constitutes a “sale” for customs valuation purposes. Here is what you need to know.
The global supply chain is facing a severe shockwave originating from the Middle East, and its impact is hitting the skies over Europe with unprecedented force. Following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in late February 2026, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a massive disruption in global energy markets. While much of the focus has been on crude oil and ocean shipping reroutes, a quieter but equally devastating crisis is unfolding: the rapid depletion of Europe’s jet fuel reserves.
