McALLEN, Texas — Beyond tariffs and ongoing negotiations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), trade stakeholders in the Rio Grande Valley are facing a new wave of federal regulatory compliance that promises to overhaul how goods cross the border.
Speaking at a recent McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) quarterly stakeholders committee meeting, Jorge Torres, president and founder of McAllen-based Interlink Trade Services, warned that upcoming rule changes from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will add unprecedented layers of complexity for importers and customs brokers alike.
At the center of the shift is Executive Order 14111, issued on June 3, which instructs federal customs enforcement to significantly tighten oversight, supply chain visibility, and party identification across all U.S. ports of entry.
On Sept. 2, federal authorities published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) outlining how these policies will be operationalized. Stakeholders have a 90-day window—ending Dec. 1—to respond to 64 specific questions raised by the federal government regarding implementation.
“Besides tariffs and USMCA, which we have to deal with, we’re now going to have to deal with this situation, which adds a layer of complexity to trade,” Torres told MEDC stakeholders. “What’s going on here? CBP is going to enhance import entry requirements to obtain greater traceability into the supply chain.”
According to Torres, the proposed rulemaking concentrates on three fundamental pillars: foreign export documentation reconciliation, comprehensive party identification, and technological tracing.
One of the most immediate challenges for cross-border logistics will be a requirement for importers to produce matching foreign export documentation from the origin country—such as Mexico—at the time of U.S. entry.
“Now Customs is saying that for an import transaction, they’re going to require the export documentation from the exporting country so they can match it and see the same values, same country of origin, same tariff classifications to validate that information,” Torres explained. “This is going to be a challenge, getting the company in Mexico to include the entry package on the U.S. side.”
Furthermore, CBP is moving to eliminate “shell company” entry practices. Historically, an entity could obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), secure a customs bond, and begin importing with minimal background scrutiny. Under the new guidelines, CBP will demand rigorous proof of legitimate operations.
“Now they’re going to ask: Send me pictures of your office. Who are the corporate officers? Send me your passports, IDs, articles of incorporation, bank accounts, tax returns,” Torres noted. “They want to know exactly what’s going on with these entities... You need to have assets, bank accounts, employees, and equipment.”
Torres recalled encounters where companies attempting to import from Monterrey listed a residential condo address as their corporate office. “That’s not an office, it’s just a building that they own. Customs wants that information, so we’re going to see more scrutiny next year.”
To enforce these sweeping requirements, CBP is leveraging cutting-edge technology and substantial federal funding. The agency is deploying a $3.5 billion budget dedicated to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into risk management, targeting, and inspection protocols, alongside partner agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Additionally, participation in the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)—currently a voluntary security framework—is expected to become mandatory for entities importing into the U.S. in the coming months.
Torres pointed out that Mexico implemented similar heightened traceability and documentation requirements last year, which took effect this year. The U.S. is following a similar trajectory, setting the stage for major structural changes in 2027 and heightened enforcement as early as next year.
While acknowledging the technical nature of the regulations, Torres emphasized that Rio Grande Valley trade professionals and trade-reliant businesses must prepare immediately.
“Things are changing dramatically,” Torres said. “More than likely, we’re going to see major changes in how we import goods into the United States next year.”
