Episode:
NCBFAA Customs Committee Spotlight: 2025 Challenges, 2026 Opportunities & The Power of Community
Lalo Solorzano
Sandra (Sandy) Coty — Customs Committee Co-Chair
Mary Jo Muoio — Chair Emeritus
Ralph De La Rosa — Customs Committee Co-Chair
Lenny Feldman — Customs Committee Counsel
December 3, 2025
Approx. 44 min.
Global Training Center — Website
Episode Summary
In this special collaborative episode with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), Simply Trade highlights one of the organization’s most active and influential groups: the Customs Committee.
Host Lalo Solorzano is joined by committee co-chairs Sandy Coty and Ralph De La Rosa, alongside Mary Jo Muoio (Chair Emeritus) and counsel Lenny Feldman. Together, they unpack a highly dynamic 2025 driven by court cases, tariff unpredictability, modernization initiatives, and the ever-increasing complexity of trade policy.
This episode reveals what the Customs Committee does, how it supports the entire brokerage community, and why their work is essential for businesses of all sizes. From interpreting executive orders, to producing toolkits, to being the “eye of the storm” during regulatory upheaval — this group ensures brokers stay informed, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next.
The guests also look ahead to 2026, sharing expectations around tariff changes, new trade “deals,” evolving technology, and the crucial role of customs brokers as the industry continues to transform.
Key Learnings & Themes
1. What the Customs Committee Actually Does
The committee’s primary mission is to provide clarity for NCBFAA members on anything related to CBP, trade policy, or customs requirements. This includes:
Webinars, toolkits, and e-briefings
Monday morning updates (now almost daily due to rapid change)
Direct member support for complex questions
Coordinated outreach to CBP, Treasury, USTR, and other agencies
Flowcharts, FAQs, and practical guides to help brokers execute requirements accurately
The group acts as a force multiplier, ensuring that one broker’s question becomes clarity for all.
2. Wins and Progress in 2025
Sandy highlights several “first downs” toward long-sought industry improvements:
Revenue modernization progress tied to the federal executive order
Duty payment flexibility, including paying duties at any port in certain situations
10-day extensions for trade remedy-related entry rejections
Improved ACE reports, including inbound, AD/CVD certifications, and low-hanging but highly useful enhancements
Ralph notes additional recognition for NCBFAA this year:
Sandy and another committee member were appointed to COAC
CBP is increasingly seeking NCBFAA’s input due to the committee’s credibility and expertise
3. Guidance During Turbulent Policy Shifts
Mary Jo emphasizes the committee’s role as a stabilizing force:
They provide institutional knowledge during times that feel overwhelming
They help members understand complex topics like tariff stacking, enforcement spikes, and Supreme Court review scenarios
They translate shifting rules into actionable guidance
They ensure that small brokers have the same insight as large brokers
The committee helps the industry “act like we’ve been here before,” even when the environment is unprecedented.
4. Tariffs, IEEPA, and the Supreme Court Case
Lenny breaks down what’s at stake:
Whether Section 301/IEEPA tariffs remain valid
Whether tariff authority is properly delegated
Whether changes will apply prospectively or retroactively
How brokers should handle refunds, protests, or revenue collection depending on outcomes
His analogy:
It all comes down to donuts, duties, and delegation — and whether tariffs are a “donut hole” in the statute or “a different kind of pastry.”
Regardless of the ruling, the committee will deliver:
Updated tools
New flowcharts
Best-practice guidance
Member education sessions
5. Small Brokers Gain Big-Broker Capabilities
A recurring theme: NCBFAA levels the playing field.
Ralph shares examples:
The AD/CVD certification toolkit
Harp/Nice Harmonized Tariff Schedule sequencing toolkit
Penalty and liquidated damages working groups
Center of Excellence and Expertise outreach calls
Direct lines of communication to CBP
A small broker becomes instantly connected to subject-matter experts, best practices, and national discussions — a major competitive advantage.
6. Looking Ahead to 2026
Panelists expect:
New forms of tariff collection
Faster, deal-based trade agreements
Increased use of AI and machine learning in compliance and enforcement
More de minimis-related shifts into formal/informal entry channels
Technology-driven expectations for brokers
Greater pressure on revenue collection
Higher need for accurate guidance, FAQs, and toolkits
The brokerage role continues evolving — from “customs house broker” to customs concierge.
Takeaways for Listeners
NCBFAA’s Customs Committee is an unmatched resource for practical, real-world customs compliance guidance.
Even small brokers gain expert-level insight and decision support by being part of the community.
The association provides stability during rapid regulatory change.
The industry will continue evolving quickly — and NCBFAA helps members stay ahead, not behind.
Involvement (even at the local level) returns far more value than it requires.
Brokers, attorneys, carriers, and service providers all benefit from engagement.
Resources Mentioned
All references below include embedded official links.
NCBFAA — ncbfaa.org
NCBFAA Customs Committee — via membership resources
COAC (CBP Advisory Committee) — CBP COAC Page
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) — cbp.gov
U.S. Treasury Department — home.treasury.gov
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) — ustr.gov
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — dhs.gov
Department of Commerce — commerce.gov
IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) — Congress.gov Overview
Section 301 / Trade Remedies — USTR 301 Overview
Tariff Schedules (HTSUS) — HTS Search
ACE Reporting — CBP ACE Portal
AD/CVD (Antidumping & Countervailing Duties) — CBP AD/CVD Info
De Minimis / Section 321 — CBP Section 321
Federal Register Notices — federalregister.gov
Forced Labor Enforcement — CBP Forced Labor
AI in Trade Modernization — CBP Innovation Initiatives via CBP Trade Newsroom
Credits
Host:
Lalo Solorzano — Global Training Center
Guests:
Sandra (Sandy) Coty — LinkedIn
Mary Jo Muoio — LinkedIn
Ralph De La Rosa — LinkedIn
Lenny Feldman — LinkedIn
Presented by:
Global Training Center — Website
Global Training Center LinkedIn — Follow
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