Definition
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the federal agency responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. CBP processes customs entries, ISF filings, and cargo examinations through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system.
Why it matters
Every ocean import to the United States passes through CBP. The agency sets the filing deadlines (ISF 24 hours before laden, entry within 15 days of arrival), the penalty structures (up to $5,000 per ISF violation), and the examination authority that can delay cargo release.
CBP's examination authority and what it costs
CBP has the authority to physically examine any shipment entering the United States. An examination hold can delay cargo release by 2 to 10 business days or longer depending on the port and the type of examination. Examination costs, including unloading, handling, and reloading, are borne by the importer and typically run from $500 to several thousand dollars per container. Certain risk factors increase examination probability: inconsistent trade data, new importers, certain countries of origin, and high-risk commodity categories. An accurate and complete ISF and entry reduces the data signals that trigger examinations.
CBP's priority trade issues in 2026
CBP prioritizes enforcement resources on specific trade compliance areas called Priority Trade Issues (PTIs). In recent years these have included antidumping and countervailing duty evasion, Section 301 tariff enforcement (China origin goods), intellectual property rights, and forced labor enforcement under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Importers in affected commodity categories face heightened scrutiny. Freight forwarders who handle goods in these categories should ensure their customers' documentation is accurate and that country-of-origin claims can be substantiated, because a CBP detention for forced labor concerns or AD/CVD evasion is measured in weeks, not days.
The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program
C-TPAT is a voluntary CBP program that certifies importers, carriers, brokers, and forwarders who meet supply chain security standards. C-TPAT members receive benefits including reduced examination rates and expedited processing at the border. Freight forwarders who are C-TPAT certified and whose import customers are also certified gain a measurable operational advantage in clearance speed. The program is voluntary but widely adopted among larger importers because the reduced examination rate translates directly to lower detention costs and more predictable delivery times.
TIO pre-fills ISF and entry data from source documents for your licensed filer to review and submit through ACE. TIO never files with CBP autonomously.
Learn more →