Customs Fraud, Whistleblowers, and $1.8 Billion in Liability: Lessons for Importers

By Adrienne Braumiller, Partner & Founder, BLG

Between July 2011 and June 2014, California-based Perfectus Aluminum Inc., Perfectus Aluminum Acquisitions LLC, and four affiliated warehousing companies imported more than 2.2 million aluminum extrusions from China. These products were subject to significant antidumping and countervailing duties, including rates as high as 374.15%.

New Executive Order Strengthening CBP Enforcement

By Vicky Wu Partner and Francesca Jaubert, Summer Intern, Braumiller Law Group



On June 3, 2026, President Trump signed the new Executive Order “Strengthening Customs Enforcement.” This new order from the administration tackles different administrative priorities related to customs: Customs Reform and Combatting Customs Fraud. The order-related fact sheet goes into detail about how the Executive Order addresses these objectives and how this will affect importers moving forward.

Updates to DOJ and CBP Trade Fraud Task Force

By Jennifer Horvath, Partner, Braumiller Law Group

The Trade Fraud Task Force, established last year, is gaining even more teeth. The Trade Fraud Task Force (Task Force) is a cross-agency effort established in August 2025 between the DOJ and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs or CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). A link to the joint press release is found at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/departments-justice-and-homeland-security-partnering-cross-agency-trade-fraud-task-force [hereinafter Trade Fraud Task Force Creation].

The Taiwan Question

What are Investors Thinking After Trump’s Beijing Summit?



By Victoria Holmes, Braumiller Law Group

United States President Donald Trump met with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China at a summit in Beijing in mid-May. The two leaders spoke for about two hours behind closed doors, discussing the trade relationship between the world's two largest economies, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and energy cooperation. But it was a pointed comment from Xi about Taiwan that hinted at an unresolved issue that may make or break global relations. 

Agencies Request Comments on GENIUS Act Implementation

By James Holbein, Of Counsel, Braumiller Law Group PLLC, & Justin Holbein, American Digital Assets Consulting LLC

I. Introduction

The GENIUS Act has authorized several regulatory agencies to issue regulations to develop the first comprehensive federal regulatory framework governing payment stablecoins in the United States. The statute directs multiple federal financial regulators to implement a coordinated supervisory structure governing issuance, reserve management, redemption rights, anti-money laundering compliance, custody, and market structure.

What a “Mess”: IEEPA Refunds and the Emerging Wave of Consumer Litigation

By Eiyack-Cacho Ayala, Associate Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

When the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, it did more than reshape trade policy. The decision triggered a complex series of questions regarding tariff refunds, consumer rights, and corporate liability - questions whose effects continue to be felt far beyond the trade community, reaching businesses and households across the US.

Joint US-EU Action Plan & MOU for Critical Mineral Supply Chain

By James R. Holbein, Counsel to Braumiller Law Group PLLC, and Francesca Jaubert, Summer Law Clerk, Braumiller Law Group PLLC

Introduction

Global reliance on critical minerals for emerging technologies has created a competition between nations to secure reliable supply chains for continued innovation pertinent to national security. This is necessary from a national security perspective for both partners in this agreement. China controls more than 85% of heavy rare earth processing and rare earth magnet production. It is also one of the largest suppliers of many other critical minerals and battery materials.

Walmart’s Diversification of Sourcing From China – A Relationship Decades in the Making, So Breaking Up is Really Hard to Do

By Bob Brewer, Braumiller Law Group

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Walmart has been in China for about 30 years, entering the market in 1996 when it opened its first Walmart hypermarket and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen. There are now 342 retail stores, 279 Walmart Supercenters, and 63 Sam’s Clubs in China, as of January 31, 2026. The road to success has been somewhat rough through the years as Walmart has had multiple recurring run-ins with the Chinese government. These issues of friction fall into several categories such as regulatory enforcement, political sensitivities, labor compliance, pricing/supplychain disputes, and geopolitical retaliation.

A Success Story: Contested HTS Classification | Industrial Equipment | Duty-Free Restoration

By Kerry Wang, Senior Associate Attorney, Braumiller Law Group

The Situation

A U.S. importer of industrial dehumidifiers came under CBP scrutiny following a site visit by an import specialist who took the position that a higher-duty classification applied. CBP rate-advanced entries, required the importer to adopt the new classification immediately, and threatened penalty exposure requiring a prior disclosure. The client engaged Braumiller Law Group to assess the situation and develop a response strategy.

If you are so inclined and have a few minutes, here are the links to some of our recent podcasts, and short videos

Podcasts: https://www.braumillerlaw.com/blg-podcast/

Videos: https://www.braumillerlaw.com/videos/