USA Export Update – Origin Declarations

02 Sep USA Export Update – Origin Declarations

Following the recent industry forum, we’d like to share an important export update that requires close attention for consignments to the United States.
Recent tariff measures introduced under the Trump administration have resulted in heightened scrutiny from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on goods declared with an origin of Australia.
At the forum, Andrew Hudson of Rigby Cooke Lawyers highlighted a recent case where a company was fined millions of dollars for incorrectly declaring the country of origin—an important reminder of how seriously U.S. authorities treat compliance breaches.
Key points to note:
• CBP fines are far more severe than Australian Infringement Notices.
• Penalties for incorrect declarations can escalate into the tens of millions of dollars.
It is critical that all country-of-origin declarations are carefully verified and supported by accurate documentation before any shipment to the United States.