Documents › Executive orders › 14411
Executive Order 14411
Strengthening Customs Enforcement
Signed June 3, 2026, printed at 91 FR 35125. 10 sections of substance, 2,650 words.
This order is about customs. It says goods must be tracked and duties paid. It asks for new rules on who may import.
Sec. 1. Purpose
Customs enforcement is essential to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Effective customs enforcement prevents the importation of unlawful and dangerous goods; ensures importers of record (IORs) are correctly identified and accountable for duties owed; and guarantees compliance with numerous Federal laws, including laws governing forced labor, rules of origin, origin marking, intellectual property, revenue collection, and product safety. Customs reform is long overdue. Systemic inefficiencies, loopholes, insufficient enforcement mechanisms, and outdated processes have created opportunities for malign actors to evade Federal law. Examples of noncompliance include undervaluing imports, withholding critical information about IORs and the goods being imported, and avoiding payment of duties through various arrangements and schemes. These actions threaten
Customs enforcement is essential to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Effective customs enforcement prevents the importation of unlawful and dangerous goods; ensures importers of record (IORs) are correctly identified and accountable for duties owed; and guarantees compliance with numerous Federal laws, including laws governing forced labor, rules of origin, origin marking, intellectual property, revenue collection, and product safety. Customs reform is long overdue. Systemic inefficiencies, loopholes, insufficient enforcement mechanisms, and outdated processes have created opportunities for malign actors to evade Federal law. Examples of noncompliance include undervaluing imports, withholding critical information about IORs and the goods being imported, and avoiding payment of duties through various arrangements and schemes. These actions threaten
This states the aim. It says customs work guards security and the economy. It stops unlawful goods coming in. It makes sure importers are known. It makes sure duties are paid. Forced labor laws are named. So are origin rules. So are patent rules. It says reform is overdue. It says loopholes let bad actors evade the law.
Sec. 2. Importers of Record
(a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) shall, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 66, 1484, 1498, 1623, 1624, and 4320, and any other applicable law, take steps to revise importer eligibility regulations, guidance, and policies consistent with the policy of this order. These revisions shall include: (i) requiring that an IOR maintain at all times a minimum level of tangible domestic assets, bonding, or both, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be necessary to ensure compliance with U.S. customs and trade laws, and increasing the minimum required bond coverage for an IOR; (ii) requiring that an IOR be designated and reported to CBP, and that a bond, or sufficient tangible domestic assets, or both, be required, for all formal entries under 19 U.S.C. 1484 and informal entries under regulations promulgated pursuant to 19
(a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) shall, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 66, 1484, 1498, 1623, 1624, and 4320, and any other applicable law, take steps to revise importer eligibility regulations, guidance, and policies consistent with the policy of this order. These revisions shall include: (i) requiring that an IOR maintain at all times a minimum level of tangible domestic assets, bonding, or both, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to be necessary to ensure compliance with U.S. customs and trade laws, and increasing the minimum required bond coverage for an IOR; (ii) requiring that an IOR be designated and reported to CBP, and that a bond, or sufficient tangible domestic assets, or both, be required, for all formal entries under 19 U.S.C. 1484 and informal entries under regulations promulgated pursuant to 19
This tightens who may import. Homeland Security has 180 days. Several customs laws give the power. An importer must hold assets here. A bond may serve instead. Customs sets the level. Bond minimums go up. An importer must be named to customs. That applies to formal entries. It applies to informal entries too.
Sec. 3. Import Disclosure and Certification Requirements
(a) The Secretary shall take steps to establish heightened import disclosure and certification requirements consistent with the policy of this order. These heightened requirements shall include certifying compliance with critical supply chain requirements like the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44), 18 U.S.C 545, and others to be determined by CBP, in consultation with the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies); disclosing certain foreign tax and global business identifiers; and providing detailed information about the imported good's supply chain and production methods, such as the manufacturer's product identifier (e.g., model or style number) or key specifications (e.g., composition, grade, or size). The Secretary shall enforce all applicable criminal fines and civil penalties in the event of noncompliance with these
(a) The Secretary shall take steps to establish heightened import disclosure and certification requirements consistent with the policy of this order. These heightened requirements shall include certifying compliance with critical supply chain requirements like the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44), 18 U.S.C 545, and others to be determined by CBP, in consultation with the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies); disclosing certain foreign tax and global business identifiers; and providing detailed information about the imported good's supply chain and production methods, such as the manufacturer's product identifier (e.g., model or style number) or key specifications (e.g., composition, grade, or size). The Secretary shall enforce all applicable criminal fines and civil penalties in the event of noncompliance with these
This demands more disclosure. Homeland Security must set the rules. Importers must certify they follow key laws. A sanctions law is named. So is a smuggling law. Foreign tax numbers must be given. So must global business ids. Supply chain details are required. Model numbers count. So do grade and size. Penalties follow a false claim.
Sec. 4. Enforcement and Penalties
(a) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, take any action he deems necessary to bolster the enforcement of customs laws, regulations, and other mandates, including conditions necessary for participation in the CTPAT program. These actions shall include enforcing liquidated damages claims against bonds for noncompliance; restricting in-bond utilization; increasing audits; and imposing maximum penalties for brokers who, for example, fail to conduct due diligence, repeatedly represent noncompliant clients, or fail to cooperate in a timely manner with requests for information by CBP. (b) The Secretary and the Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to prioritize the enforcement of Federal law relating to importations involving products produced by forced labor, and importations involving misclassification, undervaluation, and illegal
(a) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, take any action he deems necessary to bolster the enforcement of customs laws, regulations, and other mandates, including conditions necessary for participation in the CTPAT program. These actions shall include enforcing liquidated damages claims against bonds for noncompliance; restricting in-bond utilization; increasing audits; and imposing maximum penalties for brokers who, for example, fail to conduct due diligence, repeatedly represent noncompliant clients, or fail to cooperate in a timely manner with requests for information by CBP. (b) The Secretary and the Attorney General shall take all appropriate action to prioritize the enforcement of Federal law relating to importations involving products produced by forced labor, and importations involving misclassification, undervaluation, and illegal
This tightens enforcement. Homeland Security may take any step the law allows. Claims against bonds must be enforced. Goods moving in bond face limits. Audits go up. Brokers face the highest penalties. Failing to check a client is named. So is representing bad clients again and again. Justice must give priority to forced labor cases.
Sec. 5. Streamlined Disposal
Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, take actions to expedite and enhance the seizure and disposal of non- compliant imports. These actions shall include reducing or eliminating regulatory burdens to voluntary abandonment, increasing bond requirements for high-risk shipments, authorizing third-party disposal, and utilizing authorities under 19 U.S.C. 1612. [[Page 35128]]
Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, take actions to expedite and enhance the seizure and disposal of non- compliant imports. These actions shall include reducing or eliminating regulatory burdens to voluntary abandonment, increasing bond requirements for high-risk shipments, authorizing third-party disposal, and utilizing authorities under 19 U.S.C. 1612. [[Page 35128]]
This speeds disposal of bad goods. Homeland Security has 90 days. Seizure must move faster. So must disposal. Giving up goods voluntarily gets easier. Risky shipments need larger bonds. Outside firms may handle disposal. A customs law gives more power. The law still sets the limits.
Sec. 6. Transparency
Within 90 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, the Secretary shall enhance transparency in customs by taking steps to establish various requirements, standards, and practices consistent with the policy of this order. These measures shall include requiring periodic review and expiration of confidentiality requests, as appropriate; and publishing annual enforcement transparency reports. Each measure established under this section shall be consistent with applicable law, national security, and any other applicable limit on the disclosure of sensitive information.
Within 90 days of the date of this order, and in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, the Secretary shall enhance transparency in customs by taking steps to establish various requirements, standards, and practices consistent with the policy of this order. These measures shall include requiring periodic review and expiration of confidentiality requests, as appropriate; and publishing annual enforcement transparency reports. Each measure established under this section shall be consistent with applicable law, national security, and any other applicable limit on the disclosure of sensitive information.
This adds openness. Homeland Security has 90 days. Other agencies are consulted. It must set new rules and practice. Requests to keep data secret must be checked from time to time. Those requests must run out. Yearly reports on enforcement must be made public. Security limits still hold. So do other limits on sharing.
Sec. 7. Consideration of Relevant Issues
In making the judgments in this order, I have considered all relevant alternatives including less restrictive alternatives, all legitimate reliance interests, and all other relevant issues and factors and determine that the action and policy judgments in this order are the reasonable result. For example, in ordering the action specified in section 2(b) and section 2(c) of this order, I have considered all relevant alternatives including less restrictive alternatives, all legitimate reliance interests, and all other relevant issues and factors, and I determine that prohibiting foreign IORs from filing informal entry pursuant to regulations promulgated under 19 U.S.C. 1498 and increasing the requirements for foreign IORs to use formal entry are reasonable policy judgments.
In making the judgments in this order, I have considered all relevant alternatives including less restrictive alternatives, all legitimate reliance interests, and all other relevant issues and factors and determine that the action and policy judgments in this order are the reasonable result. For example, in ordering the action specified in section 2(b) and section 2(c) of this order, I have considered all relevant alternatives including less restrictive alternatives, all legitimate reliance interests, and all other relevant issues and factors, and I determine that prohibiting foreign IORs from filing informal entry pursuant to regulations promulgated under 19 U.S.C. 1498 and increasing the requirements for foreign IORs to use formal entry are reasonable policy judgments.
This explains the reasoning. The President says he weighed other options. Lighter options were among them. He says he weighed reliance by those affected. He says the chosen steps are reasonable. He gives one example. Foreign importers may not use informal entry. Their formal entries face more requirements. He calls both choices sound.
Sec. 8. Legislation
Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall submit to the President, through the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, recommendations for legislation to strengthen customs enforcement.
Within 45 days of the date of this order, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall submit to the President, through the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, recommendations for legislation to strengthen customs enforcement.
This asks for a bill. Homeland Security has 45 days. The budget office is asked first. So are other agency heads. It must send the President a set of ideas. A trade counselor hands them on. The goal is a new law on customs.
Sec. 9. Reporting
Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary shall submit a report to the President, through the United States Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, on the effectiveness of the matters set forth in this order.
Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary shall submit a report to the President, through the United States Trade Representative, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, on the effectiveness of the matters set forth in this order.
This asks for a report. Homeland Security has one year. It goes to the President. Three officials pass it on. The trade office is one. A White House economic aide is another. A trade counselor is the third. The report must judge how well this order works.
Sec. 10. Definitions
For purposes of this order: (a) The term ``U.S. IOR'' means an IOR that, in the case of an individual, is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident, and in the case of an entity, is organized under the laws of the United States, is located in the United States, and has at all times controlling beneficial owner(s) who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents; or, in the case of an entity, owns a significant amount of real property in the United States, as determined by the Secretary. (b) The term ``foreign IOR'' means an IOR that does not meet the definition of ``U.S. IOR''--in the case of an individual, is not a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident, and in the case of an entity, is not organized under the laws of the United States, not located in the United States, does not have at all times controlling beneficial owner(s) who are United
For purposes of this order: (a) The term ``U.S. IOR'' means an IOR that, in the case of an individual, is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident, and in the case of an entity, is organized under the laws of the United States, is located in the United States, and has at all times controlling beneficial owner(s) who are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents; or, in the case of an entity, owns a significant amount of real property in the United States, as determined by the Secretary. (b) The term ``foreign IOR'' means an IOR that does not meet the definition of ``U.S. IOR''--in the case of an individual, is not a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident, and in the case of an entity, is not organized under the laws of the United States, not located in the United States, does not have at all times controlling beneficial owner(s) who are United
This defines two terms. A home importer is a citizen. A green card holder counts too. A firm counts if formed here and based here. Its owners must be citizens or such holders. Owning a lot of land here may serve instead. Homeland Security decides that. A foreign importer is one that fails those tests.
Sec. 11. Severability
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision of this order to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected.
If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision of this order to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected.
This is the standard severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands.
Sec. 12. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Homeland Security. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Homeland Security. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
How this order is quoted
Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.