CBP inspection do not use online

US customs enforcement is tightening

Jul 22, 2026 | , , ,

Importing into the United States is becoming significantly more complex as federal agencies introduce new compliance requirements that place greater responsibility on importers to prove the accuracy, legitimacy and traceability of every shipment.

President Trump's Executive Order on ‘Strengthening Customs Enforcement’ requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to overhaul importer eligibility regulations, customs guidance and enforcement policies, while introducing significantly tougher penalties for businesses that fail to comply. The Department has 180 days to implement the changes.

The focus is no longer simply on collecting duties. Authorities are strengthening oversight of product compliance, importer eligibility, valuation, supply chain transparency and customs declarations, with higher penalties for businesses that fail to meet their obligations.

Customs enforcement is entering a new era

While detailed regulations are still being developed, the direction of travel is already clear. Over the next six months, the Department of Homeland Security is expected to introduce the most significant changes to US customs compliance requirements in years. Importers should prepare for greater disclosure requirements, more extensive due diligence and substantially tougher financial penalties for non-compliance.

Future importer eligibility is likely to require more comprehensive information covering company ownership, business affiliations, production methods, anticipated import volumes, sanctions compliance and supply chain transparency.

The objective is to identify deliberate fraud more quickly, particularly around forced labour, transhipment, undervaluation and product misclassification. However, the measures are also likely to affect compliant businesses, making accurate documentation, complete supply chain visibility and robust internal controls more important than ever.

Current proposals would introduce substantially higher minimum penalties for customs breaches, potentially reducing the flexibility previously available where businesses voluntarily disclosed errors or where mistakes were considered administrative rather than deliberate.

Simple documentation errors, late duty payments or inaccurate declarations that might previously have been resolved with relatively modest consequences could carry much greater financial exposure.

For many businesses, the greater risk may not be the penalty itself, but the commercial impact of delayed cargo, disrupted production schedules and additional storage charges while customs investigations are completed.

eFiling raises the importance of product compliance

Alongside broader customs reforms, mandatory CPSC electronic filing since 8 July is now transforming how regulated consumer products enter the United States.

As Metro highlighted in previous updates, businesses importing products covered by Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations must now submit structured electronic certificate data before goods enter the country.

The early weeks of implementation have already revealed common compliance issues that increase the likelihood of inspections and customs intervention.

Many businesses continue to treat certification as a final documentation exercise immediately before shipment. In reality, compliance now needs to begin much earlier, with manufacturers, suppliers, testing laboratories, freight forwarders and customs brokers all working from consistent product information before cargo is booked.

Certificates must correspond precisely with the products being shipped. Even relatively minor differences in factory location, production batch, product specification or SKU can require different supporting documentation.

The emphasis has shifted from declarations to verifiable data. Informal assurances from suppliers are no longer sufficient if the underlying certification data cannot be submitted electronically in the correct format.

Visibility across the supply chain is becoming essential

These changes reinforce a wider trend across global trade. Whether responding to customs enforcement, product compliance requirements or supply chain security programmes, importers increasingly need complete visibility from manufacturing through to final customs clearance.

Businesses must understand not only where their products are, but how they were manufactured, which suppliers contributed components, what testing has been completed and whether every document can be matched accurately to each shipment.

Without that visibility, customs compliance becomes slower, more expensive and considerably more vulnerable to disruption.

Compliance should start before goods leave origin

The common thread linking every recent regulatory change is preparation.

Companies that establish product compliance, customs documentation and supply chain data before production is completed are far better positioned than those attempting to resolve issues after shipments have been booked.

As customs authorities continue strengthening enforcement, proactive compliance will increasingly become a competitive advantage, helping businesses avoid delays, reduce costs and maintain reliable access to one of the world's largest consumer markets.

Turning compliance into confidence

As Metro continues to expand its customs brokerage capability and operational footprint across the United States, with senior leadership currently visiting colleagues, customers and strategic partners nationwide, we're strengthening the expertise, relationships and technology that help businesses trade with confidence.

Combined with our US customs specialists, CuDoS automated customs platform and MVT supply chain visibility solution, Metro delivers end-to-end visibility from origin to final delivery, right down to SKU level. By integrating customs compliance, shipment tracking and supply chain intelligence into a single solution, we help businesses reduce risk, respond faster to disruption and keep cargo moving efficiently through US Customs.

To discover how Metro can simplify your US customs processes and build a more resilient international supply chain, EMAIL Managing Director Andrew Smith today.

QR code

Digital ATA Carnets Go Live from 1 June 2026

May 27, 2026 | ,

From 1 June 2026, the ATA Carnet system begins its digital transition, with eATA Carnets going live for movements involving the United Kingdom, EU, Norway and Switzerland. This is the first step in a phased global rollout that aims to make ATA Carnet procedures fully digital worldwide by 1 January 2028.

For businesses that regularly move professional equipment, exhibition and trade fair goods or commercial samples across borders on a temporary basis, this is a significant change and one that aligns closely with Metro’s broader investment in digital visibility and customs intelligence.

The ATA Carnet and what changes

An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows goods to be temporarily exported and imported into over 80 participating countries without paying duties or taxes, on the condition that they are re‑exported within the carnet’s validity period. It consolidates multiple customs declarations into a single document, simplifying border processes for temporary movements such as trade shows, product demos, film and TV shoots, sporting events and business travel with specialist equipment.

Under the new arrangements:

  • The process for obtaining a Carnet from issuing chambers remains broadly the same; applications are still submitted online to the relevant chamber.
  • Once issued, holders receive digital credentials (such as a PIN and QR code) and can download the Carnet into an official app or desktop interface.
  • At customs, the Carnet is presented digitally, typically by showing a QR code for scanning, instead of handing over a paper booklet.

During the transition, some routes will still require paper and others will support digital or both, depending on which countries have activated eATA procedures.

For Metro, this fits naturally alongside CuDoS, the AI‑powered customs operating system that is already helping automate declarations and improve classification accuracy. As Carnets become digital, the underlying data they generate may be linked to shipment tracking, analytics and risk profiling, giving customers a clearer end‑to‑end picture of temporary movements.

Practical steps before 1 June 2026

To prepare for the transition, businesses should:

  • Review upcoming movements
    Identify any temporary exports on or after 1 June 2026 involving the UK, EU, Norway or Switzerland that may need an ATA Carnet.
  • Check whether a digital Carnet will be required
    For relevant routes, confirm whether customs authorities on each leg are expecting an eATA Carnet, a paper Carnet or both, and plan accordingly.
  • Ensure staff understand the new process
    Anyone preparing, carrying or presenting Carnets – from logistics teams to travelling technicians and sales staff – should be briefed on how the digital process works and what to expect at customs.
  • Confirm access to the digital tools
    Make sure the person travelling with the goods, or the team managing the movement, has access to the required eATA app or desktop application, and knows how to retrieve and present the Carnet at border points.
  • Allow extra preparation time in early stages
    Build in additional time for applications, checks and customs formalities during the initial rollout period, while systems and users bed in.
  • Speak to your Carnet provider early
    Engage with your issuing chamber or customs partner in advance for any movements affected by the change to avoid last‑minute issues.

During the transition, it is strongly recommended that a paper Carnet is carried alongside the digital version whenever the itinerary crosses countries that are at different stages of the rollout. A single “paper‑only” country on the route means the paper Carnet must remain active throughout, even if eATA is available elsewhere.

Where Metro’s customs and tech capability helps

As a long‑standing customs intermediary, Metro already manages complex multi‑country documentation, guarantees and temporary admissions for customers in sectors such as events, engineering, automotive and high‑tech.

As eATA adoption expands, Carnet data may be integrated into wider shipment visibility and analytics for example, flagging expiring Carnets, tracking where goods are in relation to their authorised timelines, and highlighting any anomalies that could affect re‑export or future entries.

If you would like to discuss how the eATA rollout affects your planned events, demos or temporary equipment movements, or how to integrate Carnet processes into your wider customs and visibility strategy, please EMAIL Andy Fitchett, Metro’s Head of Customs & Compliance.

Quote button

New quote platform improves speed and accuracy

May 13, 2026 | , , ,

Metro’s updated online quote platform is helping businesses secure faster and more accurate freight solutions, as supply chains face growing time pressure and complexity.

The redesigned system captures more detailed shipment information at the enquiry stage, giving Metro’s commercial teams greater visibility of transport requirements from the outset and helping reduce delays caused by incomplete or fragmented information.

Customers can now specify transport mode, shipment type, cargo characteristics, customs requirements, pickup and delivery needs, and additional operational details within a single streamlined process. The enhanced structure is designed to support quicker turnaround times and more tailored responses, particularly for urgent, multimodal or specialist shipments.

Faster and more accurate responses for increasingly complex supply chains

As supply chains become more volatile, the ability to assess routing options and operational requirements quickly is becoming increasingly important. Delays at the enquiry stage can affect pricing accuracy, routing decisions and capacity availability, especially where shipments involve customs formalities, hazardous cargo, project freight or time-critical movements.

The revised quote process helps Metro gather the information needed to respond more effectively from the beginning, reducing the need for repeated follow-up communication and allowing solutions to be aligned more closely to customer requirements.

The platform has also been designed to reflect the increasingly varied nature of freight movements. Businesses can provide details covering road, sea, air, sea-air and project cargo requirements, alongside shipment type information including FCL, LCL, express, courier and full or part load transport.

Additional fields covering palletisation, stackability, hazardous cargo status and customs clearance requirements help improve operational planning and ensure enquiries are directed quickly to the appropriate specialist teams.

Supporting better planning and operational agility

The changes come at a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on agility, contingency planning and visibility across supply chains. Ongoing disruption across ocean, air and road freight continues to create operational uncertainty, increasing the importance of rapid decision-making and accurate information exchange between customers and logistics providers.

By improving the quality of information available at the start of the enquiry process, Metro aims to accelerate response times and provide customers with routing and pricing solutions that more closely reflect their operational priorities.

Businesses looking for faster response times, tailored freight solutions and competitive pricing can access the updated quote platform via the green button above.

CBP 1440x1080 1

US tariff refunds move closer as customs systems adapt to process large-scale repayments

Mar 18, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The process of refunding tariffs to US importers is beginning to take shape following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down duties imposed under emergency powers. 

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing a dedicated system within its Automated Commercial Environment to handle what is expected to be one of the largest refund exercises undertaken by the agency.

The process is being designed around four key stages: claim submission, automated validation and recalculation of duties, review and liquidation, and final refund payment. Importers will be required to submit detailed entry data, which the system will validate before calculating the amounts owed and issuing repayments electronically.

Although progress is being made, the scale of the task remains considerable. Tens of millions of entries are potentially affected, and the volume of data required means the process cannot be implemented immediately. Current timelines suggest the system will take several weeks to become fully operational, with further updates expected as development continues.

Data requirements will increase scrutiny on historical entries

The refund process will require importers to provide a comprehensive dataset covering entries where tariffs were paid. This includes classification details, country of origin, entry numbers, duty amounts and supporting documentation.

As a result, the process is likely to do more than simply return funds. By consolidating this level of information into a single submission, it effectively creates a detailed audit trail of past imports.

For businesses, this increases the importance of data accuracy and consistency. Any discrepancies in classification, valuation or origin could trigger further review, potentially extending timelines or leading to additional compliance checks.

Despite the scale of the opportunity, readiness across the importing community remains relatively low.

Only a small proportion of eligible importers have completed the necessary setup to receive refunds electronically. Until this process is finalised, any payments issued may be rejected, delaying recovery of funds.

At the same time, recent changes to US customs requirements mean that more detailed shipment information is already being requested earlier in the import process. Combined with the refund requirements, this is increasing the administrative burden on importers.

Submitting claims without fully validating the underlying data may expose businesses to additional scrutiny. Conversely, delaying preparation could result in slower access to funds once the system becomes fully operational.

This creates a balance between speed and compliance, where careful preparation is likely to be the most effective strategy.

Technology and expertise will play a critical role

Given the volume of entries and the level of detail required, technology is expected to play an increasingly important role in managing the process.

Automated systems can help organise entry data, validate submissions and identify inconsistencies before claims are filed. At the same time, experienced customs oversight remains essential to ensure that filings are accurate and aligned with regulatory requirements.

For many importers, this combination of technology and expertise will be key to navigating what is likely to be a complex and closely monitored process.

The tariff refund process presents a clear financial opportunity, but it also requires careful handling of data, compliance and submission timing.

Metro combines its US presence, local customs brokerage expertise and advanced systems, including its AI and machine-learning powered CuDoS platform, to support the CBP refund process - helping customers prepare accurate, compliant claims.

If you want to understand what you may be owed and how to approach the refund process with confidence, EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director at Metro, to discuss how Metro’s US customs team can support your submission strategy.

Category: MVT

Customs | MVT | News | United States

Latest News in this category