Enforcement Heat: Copper WRO, AD/CVD Shifts, and USMCA Review Gains Steam
NEWSLETTER | Trade Insight AI
CBP Detains Serbia Zijin Copper Products at All U.S. Ports
STR Trade Report • June 18, 2026
CBP issued a withhold release order effective June 16 detaining at all U.S. ports copper and copper products made in Serbia by Serbia Zijin Copper D.O.O., citing evidence of six International Labor Organization forced labor indicators. Importers must re-export or destroy detained goods or prove they were not produced with forced labor under 19 U.S.C. §1307. The action creates immediate compliance and supply chain risk for copper users across industries, necessitating heightened due diligence and documentation.
Trade Remedies & Enforcement
U.S. Issues Chassis AD/CVD Orders; Palladium From Russia Escapes Duties
STR Trade Report •June 19, 2026
Effective June 18, the U.S. finalized AD orders on chassis and subassemblies from Mexico (0%), Thailand (72.85% and 129.63%), and Vietnam (186.84%) and CVD orders on chassis from Mexico (76.91%) and Thailand (9.65–10.72%). Commerce also set a 45.33% CVD rate in the 2023 review of Indian glycine and preliminarily calculated a 78.17% dumping margin in the AD review of Taiwanese steel nails, while the ITC continued the India matchbooks orders after a sunset review. The ITC issued final negative injury determinations on unwrought palladium from Russia, so no AD/CVD orders will be imposed; importers should reassess cash deposit rates and sourcing exposure on affected lines.
USTR Launches 301 Investigation into Germany’s Underpayment for Innovative Drugs
USTR Press Releases •June 18, 2026
USTR Jamieson Greer opened a Section 301 investigation into Germany’s pharmaceutical pricing policies, alleging persistent underpayment for innovative drugs that burdens U.S. commerce and shifts R&D costs to American patients. USTR has requested consultations and opened a public docket, with comments due August 10, 2026, and a hearing set for September 22, 2026; outcomes could include negotiated changes or trade measures under Section 301. The move follows concerns over German efforts to further reduce drug spending and builds on recent U.S.–UK cooperation on pharmaceutical pricing.
AD/CVD Update: Steep Trailer Deposits, Compressor Cases Advance, Orders Upheld
STR Trade Report •June 18, 2026
U.S. authorities announced multiple AD/CVD developments: preliminary injury findings for air compressors from China, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and a preliminary AD decision on van‑type trailers from China establishing a 130.76% cash deposit requirement, including for subject trailers imported through third countries. Preliminary results in the administrative review of South Korean welded line pipe showed margins of 0% and 1.86% for Dec. 1, 2023–Nov. 30, 2024, while sunset reviews indicate continued duties on Vietnamese frozen fish fillets and Chinese wood moldings. Together, these actions signal ongoing duty exposure and, for covered trailers, immediate high cash deposit obligations.
North American Agreements & Market Access
USMCA Review Nears; Termination Unlikely as Talks Target Stricter Rules of Origin
STR Trade Report •June 19, 2026
President Trump’s comment that he is “not looking to renew” USMCA signals negotiating leverage, not imminent withdrawal; termination would require six months’ written notice. The pact’s first six-year review begins July 1, 2026, with formal U.S.-Mexico talks and reported outreach to Canada focusing on tighter rules of origin and regional production requirements. Expect potential adjustments to content calculations and sourcing strategies rather than an abrupt end to the agreement.
US, Mexico Advance USMCA Review; Endorse Chapter 12 Implementation Committee
USTR Press Releases •June 18, 2026
The U.S. and Mexico completed a second round of USMCA Joint Review talks in Washington (June 15–17), advancing work on rules of origin for industrial goods and economic security, and initiating conceptual discussions on agriculture, labor, and environment while addressing steel, aluminum, and autos. Both sides agreed to support creating a committee to review implementation of Chapter 12 (Sectoral Annexes) to improve regulatory compatibility, with a third round set for next month in Mexico City. Potential adjustments to ROO and sectoral annexes could reshape sourcing, certification, and compliance planning across North American manufacturing supply chains.
CAFTA-DR Short Supply Expanded: Duty-Free Apparel Can Use Double-Weave Fabric
STR Trade Report •June 18, 2026
CITA approved a CAFTA-DR short supply request for certain double-weave nylon/polyester/spandex fabric (HTSUS 5407.72.0060). Effective June 11, the fabric was added to Annex 3.25 in unrestricted quantities, allowing duty-free treatment for apparel made in CAFTA-DR countries using this fabric regardless of sourcing origin. The move increases sourcing flexibility and may lower costs for brands and manufacturers relying on this material.
IP and Border Enforcement: FIFA Crackdown and 337
CBP Miami Intercepts Over 16,000 Counterfeit World Cup Jerseys
CBP Media Releases •June 18, 2026
CBP officers at Miami International Airport seized 8,400 counterfeit Nike FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys on June 17 as part of Trade Special Operation World Cup, valued at $252,000 domestically and $840,000 MSRP. The shipment—declared as T‑shirts—originated in China and was bound for Brazil, and was tied to a June 8 seizure of 7,857 similar jerseys from the same shipper and consignee, signaling a targeted crackdown on repeat offenders. With more than 1,400 World Cup–related seizures totaling $23 million MSRP, CBP warns of heightened IPR enforcement across mail/express channels, raising compliance and screening stakes for traders and logistics providers handling small parcels and in‑transit goods.
CBP Houston Seizes $6M FIFA 2026 Counterfeits, Targets E‑commerce Flows
CBP Media Releases •June 18, 2026
CBP’s Houston/Galveston team seized over $6 million in counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise, including ~12,000 Adidas jerseys, 4,500 soccer balls, 4,400 athletic shoes, and more than 2,200 counterfeit Apple-branded wearables, plus toys and perfumes. Most shipments originated from China and moved through small‑parcel channels as part of a pre‑event crackdown targeting recipients of infringing goods. Importers, brokers, and marketplaces should expect heightened IPR screening around major events and verify trademark authorizations to avoid seizures and penalties.
CBP Indianapolis Seizes 18 Shipments of Fake World Cup Merchandise
CBP Media Releases •June 15, 2026
In a June 1–5 enforcement blitz dubbed Operation Winner’s Circle, officers in Indianapolis seized 18 shipments carrying 1,578 counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 items (MSRP $134,594), largely originating from Hong Kong. The intelligence-led effort highlights heightened small‑parcel scrutiny around major events and CBP’s continued focus on e-commerce channels, where over 90% of counterfeit seizures occur—signaling importers and logistics providers to tighten IP compliance on branded goods.
ITC Adds 337 Actions: GPUs, Memory, High Chairs, Vehicle Violation
STR Trade Report •June 19, 2026
The U.S. ITC instituted two Section 337 patent investigations—337-TA-1505 on GPU/DPU computing systems (complainant Xockets; U.S. respondents) and 337-TA-1506 on NAND/DRAM memory chips and products (complainant MonolithIC 3D; respondents in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the U.S.)—while Kids2 filed a new complaint targeting convertible child high chairs with proposed respondents in Canada and the U.S. An ALJ also issued a final initial determination finding a 337 violation in the self-balancing vehicles case (337-TA-1440), signaling potential exclusion and cease-and-desist orders that could affect imports and downstream supply chains.
Global Policy & Governance
EU Tariff Bill Advances; U.S. Blacklist Stalls, Customs Ties Tighten, Labor Crackdown
STR Trade Report •June 18, 2026
The European Parliament advanced tariff legislation with stronger suspension, sunset and safeguard tools and tighter oversight, signaling more agile EU responses on duties. In the U.S., export‑control moves have slowed as officials hold off blacklisting 100+ firms, while Korea–U.S. customs leaders deepen cooperation to combat origin‑fraud schemes used to evade tariffs. Canada introduced a bill to toughen its forced‑labor ban by requiring enhanced supply‑chain tracing for high‑risk goods and deeming noncompliant imports prohibited—raising documentation and enforcement risks for importers.
WTO Chief Economist Urges Practical Reforms to Restore Credibility Post-MC14
WTO Latest News •June 16, 2026
Following MC14 in Yaoundé (March 2026), WTO Chief Economist Robert Staiger calls for realistic, results-focused reforms to renew the institution’s effectiveness—preserving consensus while enabling plurilateral deals, rebuilding transparency and subsidy notifications, keeping development and agriculture central, and restoring credible dispute settlement amid security- and state-driven distortions. He labels transparency the clearest test of WTO credibility and urges more tailored, effective special and differential treatment, including support for countries graduating from LDC status. For trade professionals, this signals tighter reporting expectations, more flexible negotiating pathways inside the WTO, and a medium-term push toward clearer subsidy disciplines and enforceable rules.
USTR Greer touts onshoring during California advanced manufacturing tour
USTR Press Releases •June 15, 2026
Ambassador Jamieson Greer toured California advanced manufacturing sites, including a semiconductor R&D facility and the nation’s largest drone maker, to highlight the administration’s onshoring push. He emphasized using the Made in America agenda, tariffs, and trade deals to lower barriers, expand domestic production of next-generation technologies, and support U.S. jobs and competitiveness. For trade professionals, this signals continued policy focus on reshoring and tech manufacturing with implications for tariffs, market access, and supply chain planning.
Compliance & Regulatory Calendar
This Week: Tariffs in Turmoil, IEEA Refunds, CBP Classification Comment Deadline
STR Trade Report •June 19, 2026
This week features two STR webinars—June 23 on Tariffs and Trade in Turmoil and June 24 on the IEEA Refund and Litigation Update—plus an AAEI session on building “comply chains.” The key regulatory milestone is June 26, when comments are due to CBP on proposed revocations of classification rulings. Importers potentially affected by reclassifications should review SKUs and duty exposure and submit comments or align positions before the cutoff.
Comments Sought on 232 Tariff Adjustments, Live Dog Imports, Mattress Flammability
STR Trade Report •June 19, 2026
U.S. agencies are requesting public comment on information collections covering CPSC’s mattress flammability standards (renewal); USDA’s rules for importing live dogs from regions with African swine fever (revision/extension); and Commerce’s Section 232-related programs, including the tariff offset program for automobiles, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and procedures for steel and aluminum producers committing to new U.S. production to obtain tariff adjustments (extensions/revisions). Trade compliance teams should assess reporting impacts and potential implications for tariff relief eligibility and submit feedback accordingly.
CBP Urges Small Businesses to Join CTPAT as Enforcement Tightens
STR Trade Report •June 18, 2026
CBP is encouraging eligible small businesses to enroll in CTPAT as a recent White House executive order directs a ramp-up in customs enforcement focused on importer accountability, foreign IORs, disclosures, and penalties. While changes will arrive via rulemaking—allowing time to comment—importers should anticipate higher bonding, added data submissions, and stricter compliance; CTPAT participation can mitigate risk through lower inspection rates, expedited processing, and other benefits.
CIT Pay.gov Maintenance June 20–21; CM/ECF Payments Unavailable
CIT News •June 16, 2026
Pay.gov will be offline for maintenance Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am ET Sunday, June 21. During this window, documents requiring Pay.gov payment cannot be filed via the CIT’s CM/ECF system; plan time-sensitive filings accordingly.
USCIT amends Rule 7; procedural changes take effect July 1
CIT News •June 15, 2026
The U.S. Court of International Trade approved amendments to USCIT Rule 7 on June 9, 2026, with an effective date of July 1, 2026. A redline is posted on the Court’s website; practitioners should review the revisions and confirm updates with any commercial rule publishers to ensure filing practices remain compliant on and after July 1.
