November 2025 | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

Jewelry Company Charged in $86M Duty Evasion Scheme

On November 17, 2025, the owner of an Indonesian jewelry company (USB Gold) and two employees were charged with taking part in a scheme to evade over $86 million in duties on jewelry imports.

The employees were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were detained. The company co-owner, who was also charged, remains in Indonesia and has not yet been arrested.

The defendants allegedly engaged in a complex scheme to import over $1.2 billion of jewelry and illegally defraud the United States out of more than $86 million in customs duties and tariffs.

The alleged scheme included two parts:

First, UBS Gold made jewelry in Indonesia and shipped it to Jordan, which had a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, before sending it to the United States. The defendants then falsely claimed that UBS Gold jewelry had been manufactured in Jordan, which avoided the duty that would otherwise apply.
Second, when the U.S. announced additional tariffs on Indonesia and Jordan earlier this year, the company began shipping scrap gold from the U.S. to Jordan, which they falsely claimed was gold jewelry that simply needed to be assembled or finished in Jordan. Instead, the defendants and co-conspirators swapped the scrap gold for UBS Gold jewelry made in Indonesia, which they then shipped from Jordan to the U.S. The […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-26T07:43:23-05:00November 26, 2025|Enforcement, Import, International Trade, Pre-compliance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off

ICYMI: Tri-Seal Advisory: Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria

On November 7, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), alongside the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce, issued a Tri-Seal Advisory: Sanctions and Export Controls Relief for Syria.

The Advisory follows President Trump’s Executive Order on June 30, 2025, formally removing U.S. sanctions on Syria and directing agencies to take additional measures to encourage U.S. private sector and foreign partner reengagement in Syria.

New Opportunities & Remaining Restrictions

The Advisory outlines what business with Syria is now permissible as well as what restrictions remain.

Permissible Business:

The United States no longer imposes comprehensive sanctions on Syria.
The Caesar Act is suspended, except for sanctionable transactions with Russia and Iran.
The transfer of most basic civilian use U.S.-origin goods, as well as software and technology, to or within Syria is permitted without a license.

Remaining Restrictions:

Sanctions remain on “the worst of the worst:” Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, and other destabilizing regional actors.
The U.S. Government continues to review Syria’s State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) designation.
Most Commerce Control List items going to Syria still require a U.S. export license.

What Exporters Should Do

The removal of Syria sanctions and the easing of […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-24T11:18:14-05:00November 24, 2025|Export, International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off

New AD/CVD Case Filed Against Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From Canada, Mexico, and China

A new antidumping and countervailing duty action has been filed against Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies Thereof From Canada, Mexico, and the People’s Republic of China (China). The allegation is that imports from Canada, Mexico, and China are unfairly subsidized and being dumped.

Full list of exporters here.

Full list of importers here.

Background on AD/CVD Investigations

Antidumping duty (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) investigations are brought jointly by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“USITC”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”). AD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports of particular goods from specific countries being sold at less than a fair value. Meanwhile, CVD investigations are triggered when a domestic industry alleges that it has been injured by competing imports that are being unfairly subsidized by their governments. The domestic industry initiating the investigation is known as the petitioner, while the foreign industry participating in the investigation is known as the respondent.

Scope of the Investigation

The merchandise covered by these investigations is van-type trailers and subassemblies thereof, whether finished or unfinished.

The products subject to the investigation are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under the following subheadings: 8716.39.0040, 8716.90.5060, 7308.30.5050, 7308.90.9590, 7326.90.8688, 8708.29.1500, 9708.99.8180, and 8716.90.5010.

Full scope here.

Next Steps

The Commerce Department will […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-24T11:10:57-05:00November 24, 2025|AD/CVD, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)|Comments Off

Breaking Trade News: New WRO Order, Brazil Tariffs Reduced, $86M Evasion Scheme

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

CBP issued a withhold release order against imports manufactured in Mauritius by Firemount Group. Effective November 18, CBP will immediately detain all garments, apparel, and textiles coming from Firemount factories in Mauritius.
CBP is accepting applications through December 19 for members of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC).
CBP completed a training with True Pedigree, a software provider specializing in detecting counterfeits and gray market diversions. True Pedigree’s AGMA One Device aims to help CBP officers with authenticating products entering the U.S. The tool could be rolled out at U.S. ports early next year.
Management of CBP’s drawback program, as well as its drawback specialists, has been moved to the Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Mineral Center of Excellence and Expertise in Houston.
CBP is urging customs brokers who filed entries after tariff exemptions on agricultural products retroactively took effect to file corrections as soon as possible.
CBP published a Federal Register notice amending its regulations for the Air Cargo Advanced Screening program (ACAS). The new regulations require additional data […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-21T08:24:42-05:00November 21, 2025|news, Snapshot|Comments Off

Act NOW to Preserve Potential Tariff Refunds

Tariff policy is changing overnight, and all indicators signal that the Trump Administration will continue to impose tariffs to achieve its trade agenda. There are several lawsuits pending that may eventually invalidate some of the Administration’s tariffs. However, importers should not sit around and wait for the dust to settle. Importers must act NOW and take proactive measures to protect their ability to seek refunds if tariffs are ultimately found to be unlawful.

IEEPA Tariffs at the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on November 5, 2025. The case challenges whether the President has the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Administration relied heavily on IEEPA to impose new tariffs – including fentanyl tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, and global reciprocal tariffs. Many trade lawyers are predicting that the Court will rule in favor of importers and find that IEEPA does not grant the President the authority to impose sweeping tariffs.

Potential Refunds & What Importers Should Do

Although it remains unclear how CBP will handle refunds (should SCOTUS agree with the lower courts), it is likely that once an entry is liquidated and the liquidation becomes final, CBP may not grant a refund of duties paid, regardless of SCOTUS’s outcome. It will likely be the position that CBP only has to grant refunds to those parties that have a Court […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-17T09:01:18-05:00November 17, 2025|International Trade, Pre-compliance, Tariffs|Comments Off

Breaking Trade News: New Trade Deals Announced, Government Shutdown Ends, OFAC Advisory

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:

Congress

After 43 days of halted operations, the United States federal government reopened on November 12, 2025. The funding bill, approved by the Senate on November 10 and by the House later that day. The bill funds most government operations through January 30, 2026.
U.S. House Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick asking a series of pointed questions about the Administration’s decision to resume chip exports from Nexperia’s China factory.
All members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The letter urges the agency to delay implementation of the new U.S.-EU trade deal until the EU revises its deforestation reporting requirements, claiming the requirements would harm American timber exports.

Administration

President Trump announced trade deals with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala. As part of the deal, the U.S. is eliminating 15% tariffs on Ecuadoran bananas and cocoa, and 10% tariffs on Guatemalan coffee and Argentinian beef.
In an interview with Fox News, President Trump said that there will be upcoming “surgical” reductions to reciprocal tariffs. When […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-14T08:28:07-05:00November 14, 2025|news, Snapshot, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Breaking Trade News: EOs on Trade with China, Tariffs at the Supreme Court, Government Shutdown Impacts Airports

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:

Administration

President Trump issued an executive order on cutting fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%, effective Nov. 10.
President Trump issued an executive order extending the suspension of the 34% reciprocal tariff rate on China until Nov. 10, 2026.

Industry News

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump – the case that challenges whether the President has the authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA.
Diaz Trade Law filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging the legal authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA. The case was filed in the CIT on behalf of several importers.
A class action lawsuit was filed against the Trump Administration, challenging the legal authority to impose tariffs under IEEPA. The case was brought on behalf of small businesses that import from China and the EU and potentially includes thousands of class members.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

CBP issued a Harmonized System Update that covers updates for the Section 232 duties on medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
CBP officers […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2025-11-07T09:31:47-05:00November 7, 2025|news, Snapshot|Comments Off

Tariffs at the Supreme Court!

Yesterday was a big day for trade law! The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. The case challenges whether the President has the authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

There’s been a lot of back and forth among trade lawyers about how the court will rule.

Here are our predictions:

After today’s hearing, we’re confident that the Supreme Court will side with the importers and uphold the lower court’s ruling.

Several justices asked very pointed questions and seemed to express skepticism that IEEPA grants the President broad authority to impose tariffs. At one point, Justice Roberts, a key vote, even called the Administration’s reading of the law a “misfit.”

Importantly, Justice Coney Barrett discussed recovery and questioned whether relief for importers would be a “complete mess”. It is critical that importers file a lawsuit with the CIT to preserve their ability to recover tariff refunds if and when the court overturns the tariffs. Get in touch with Diaz Trade Law for assistance – 305-456-3830 or info@diaztradelaw.com.

Keep up with the latest tariff and trade deal news here.