By Jennifer Horvath, Partner at Braumiller Law Group
The Trade Fraud Task Force, established last year, is gaining even more teeth. The Trade Fraud Task Force (Task Force) is a cross-agency effort established in August 2025 between the DOJ and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs or CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
By: Vicky Wu, Partner, and Francesca Jaubert, Summer Intern, Braumiller Law Group
President Trump signed the new Executive Order “Strengthening Customs Enforcement.” This new order from the administration tackles different administrative priorities related to customs: Customs Reform and Combatting Customs Fraud. The order-related fact sheet goes into detail about how the Executive Order addresses these objectives and how this will affect importers moving forward.
By: Adrienne Braumiller, Founder of Braumiller Law Group
The outcome of this customs fraud criminal investigation case highlights significant compliance risks for importers, particularly in the areas of classification, documentation, and internal controls.
By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel, and Francesca Jaubert, Summer Law Clerk, Braumiller Law Group
Global reliance on critical minerals for emerging technologies has created a competition between nations to secure reliable supply chains for continued innovation pertinent to national security. This is necessary from a national security perspective for both partners in this agreement.
By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel, Braumiller Law Group and Justin Holbein, American Digital Assets Consulting LLC
The GENIUS Act has authorized several regulatory agencies to issue regulations to develop the first comprehensive federal regulatory framework governing payment stablecoins in the United States. The statute directs multiple federal financial regulators to implement a coordinated supervisory structure governing issuance, reserve management, redemption rights, anti-money laundering compliance, custody, and market structure.
By: Victoria Holmes, Braumiller Law Group
United States President Donald Trump met with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China at a summit in Beijing in mid-May. The two leaders spoke for about two hours behind closed doors, discussing the trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and energy cooperation. But it was a pointed comment from Xi about Taiwan that hinted at an unresolved issue that may make or break global relations.
By Eiyack-Cacho Ayala, Associate Attorney, Braumiller Law Group
When the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, it did more than reshape trade policy. The decision triggered a complex series of questions regarding tariff refunds, consumer rights, and corporate liability – questions whose effects continue to be felt far beyond the trade community, reaching businesses and households across the US.
By: Kerry Wang, Senior Associate, Braumiller Law Group
A U.S. importer of industrial dehumidifiers came under CBP scrutiny following a site visit by an import specialist who took the position that a higher-duty classification applied. CBP rate-advanced entries, required the importer to adopt the new classification immediately, and threatened penalty exposure requiring a prior disclosure.
By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group
Walmart has been in China for about 30 years, entering the market in 1996 when it opened its first Walmart hypermarket and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. There are now 342 retail stores, 279 Walmart Supercenters, and 63 Sam’s Clubs in China.
For: Brenda Cordova Braumiller Law Group Mexico Legal Counsel
Mexico’s tax authority (Servicio de Administración Tributaria – SAT) has postponed the mandatory implementation of the Electronic Value Manifest (Manifestación de Valor Electrónica – EVM). The requirement is now expected to become mandatory on June 1, 2026.
By: Adrienne Braumiller, Founder of Braumiller Law Group
The resurgence of Section 301 tariff investigations marks a pivotal shift in U.S. trade policy. Following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has turned to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 as a more durable legal pathway to reimpose and potentially expand tariff measures.
By: Kerry Wang, Senior Associate, Braumiller Law Group
We are operating in one of the most volatile trade environments in recent memory. Tariff policy is shifting faster than most compliance programs can absorb. In that context, CBP’s March 15 guidance on Section 232 content value is not just a technical update. It brings meaningful clarity and importers who move quickly may find real money on the table.
By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel, Braumiller Law Group
On March 20, 2026, the Trump Administration announced that it, “is committed to winning the AI race to usher in a new era of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people.“ The White House issued a new comprehensive national legislative framework that addresses six key objectives.
By: James R. Holbein, Of Counsel, Braumiller Law Group
In the final analysis, this case stands as one of the most important separation of powers decisions in the economic domain in U.S. history. It clarifies that tariffs are a form of taxation reserved to Congress, embeds the major questions doctrine in trade law, and reasserts the structural boundary between legislative and executive authority.
By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group
One of my recently published articles covered the World Economic Forum Davos speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where he summoned the middle powers of the earth to unite against the US forces who are demanding that they take a knee and capitulate, per Governor Newsom who was in attendance handing out knee pads. (Really) Well, to say the least, that’s not happening by even the longest stretch of anyone’s imagination.