President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order to overhaul US customs enforcement, imposing strict new requirements on foreign importers that carry major implications for Asia-Pacific exporters and cross-border e-commerce platforms shipping goods into the United States.
The order, dated June 3, targets systemic loopholes that the administration says have allowed foreign actors to evade duties, undervalue imports, and exploit informal entry channels designed for low-value shipments. The reforms will directly affect how Asian manufacturers, exporters, and online retailers access the US market.
Under the new rules, foreign importers of record will face heightened scrutiny, including requirements to maintain tangible domestic assets or bonding in the United States, provide detailed ownership and beneficial ownership disclosures, and submit anticipated import volume data to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Critically, the order prohibits foreign importers from filing informal entries for low-value articles under existing regulations, a channel that has been heavily utilised by Chinese e-commerce platforms shipping millions of small parcels directly to American consumers. The White House stated that foreign importers of low-value goods are less familiar with US customs laws and face lower financial consequences for noncompliance.
For formal entries, foreign importers will no longer be able to rely solely on continuous bonds to meet entry requirements unless CBP determines that revenue is fully protected and compliance risk is low. The order also mandates that all formal and informal entries require a designated importer of record with appropriate bonding or domestic assets.
The Department of Homeland Security has 180 days to revise importer eligibility regulations, guidance, and policies to align with the new order. CBP will be empowered to increase minimum bond coverage requirements and demand additional identification data from importers.
The administration framed the reforms as necessary for national security, foreign policy, and economic protection. The order states that Customs enforcement prevents the importation of unlawful and dangerous goods, ensures importers are correctly identified and accountable for duties owed, and guarantees compliance with numerous federal laws.
Customs reform is long overdue, the White House said, pointing to systemic inefficiencies, enforcement loopholes, insufficient mechanisms, and outdated processes that have created opportunities for malign actors to evade federal law.
The order calls for comprehensive reform focused on protecting national security, promoting lawful trade, ensuring timely duty collection, modernising systems and processes, strengthening compliance mechanisms, increasing transparency, and protecting both American consumers and the domestic economy.
For Asia-Pacific businesses, the reforms signal a significant tightening of the US import regime. Exporters shipping to the United States will need to review their importer of record arrangements, ensure adequate US-based assets or bonding, and prepare for expanded data disclosures to CBP. E-commerce platforms relying on de minimis shipment thresholds face the most immediate operational impact.
