Trump Customs Enforcement Executive Order Tightens Importer of Record Rules and Eliminates Informal Entry for Foreign Shippers, Reshaping Cross-Border Supply Chains

President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled "Strengthening Customs Enforcement" on 3 June 2026, directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to tighten enforcement around importers of record, foreign importers, customs bonds, broker diligence, supply-chain disclosures, penalties, and duty evasion. The order, which takes effect within 180 days of signing, introduces significant new compliance requirements for both domestic and foreign companies moving goods into the United States.
Among the most impactful changes, the order eliminates informal entry capabilities for foreign importers of record. Type 11 informal entry — which allows imports below USD 2,500 to pass through customs in a streamlined manner with reduced compliance requirements — had been widely used by low-value importers since the US eliminated the de minimis exemption last year. Under the new rules, importers must provide ownership disclosures, anticipated volumes, production methods, and documentation verifying the accuracy of their supply chain information. Customs brokers are also required to conduct greater due diligence of their importers, per CBP guidance.
The order also raises bonding minimums and requires higher standards for importer record keeping and supply chain traceability. According to law firm Holland & Knight, cross-border shippers should evaluate any foreign importer-of-record arrangements currently in place, stress-test their bonding positions against higher minimums, and verify the accuracy of their ownership and supply chain disclosures and documentation before the order's implementation deadline. The White House has explicitly tied this order to its broader trade enforcement agenda, including the permanent repeal of the statutory basis for the de minimis exemption worldwide, effective 1 July 2027. Experts warn that the changes could cause some overseas sellers to shift focus to non-US markets to avoid the increased regulatory burden, though other major economies are simultaneously ramping up their own supply chain transparency regulations